Women Behind the Kit-Featuring Bea Gayle -The Contrast Project Lounge Podcast-Season 3-Episode 17
Born on the North-East side of Jacksonville, Fl. to Dana and Robert Gayle. Bea’s parents moved to Jacksonville in 1969 from Suffolk,Va, Leaving behind a huge extended family from several parts of southeastern Virginia. Bea grew up traveling back and forth to Virginia from the first week of birth and to various vacationing spots up and down the east coast in a Chevrolet conversion van that her parents owned and attributes those adventures to her passion for touring and the love of music. “Music became my life” says Bea.
“I was exposed to B-bop, Classic country and Bluegrass on a 24/7 basis! Both my parents were big country and bluegrass fans. My father would drum on the dash wherever we would go and that was just instilled in my mind early on.
My parents were incredible characters. Fishing and music was at the heart of their souls. Their happy place was any fishing spot and their fave was the Virginia beach and Jacksonville beach piers. Bea got her first drum kit from her late great brother in-law Harry white of “Harry white and the Texas outlaws” from Norfolk,Virginia. That group collaborated with the likes of Jackie Phelts of “Hee-Haw” fame, and Paul Taylor and Earnest Tubb. Bea’s playing style is organic, solid yet versatile. “I’m a team player. I play for the song. In the groove and in the pocket!”
“My influences are more that of musical outfits as a whole , Singers/Songwriters rather than individual drummers and include but are not limited to: The Eagles/ Don Henley, John Bonham, Journey/Steve Perry, Louis Armstrong, Waylon Jennings, Deftones, kings of leon, Band of horses, The Black Keys, Alanis Morissette, Alabama, Fleetwood mac,The roots, Jill Scott, JJ Grey/Mofro, Anthony cole, Stanton moore, Matt Chamberlain, Jay Bellerose, Brady Blade, Levon helm,Questlove,and MANY,MANY more. I love music, period. All kinds. Country AND western!”
In 2001, Bea landed on a U.S. summer tour with North Florida funksters, “Mofro” and was the final pick from a whopping number of 30 MEN auditioning for the spot of their first touring drummer ever!! . John “JJ” Grey has dubbed Bea as, “The pocket master”!
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Until next time, Peace.
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