Georg Voros is a professional drummer, teacher and author with extensive involvement in the music industry. His drumming experience is across the board: professional cabaret work in five star hotels, working with signed pop/rock bands achieving chart success, running a private drum tuition studio, teaching in the forces and schools, military band experience from taking on the role of lead side drummer to playing in the jazz ensemble - orchestral percussionist - touring with notable artists, recording sessions with well known artists and producers, and… virtually every area that a working pro drummer undertakes to stay in the business. From refugee Hungarian parents, Georg Voros was born in Swaziland and later grew up in South Africa. He started his affair with drumming at an early age:
"I guess I was around six years old when my parents took me to a wedding where this band was playing. I can’t remember a thing about the band but what I clearly recall is the drummers drum kit. It was a three piece – bass drum , snare and one mounted tom, hi hats and one cymbal. Strangely enough it was the cymbal that turned me onto the drums. At that time I didn’t even know it was called a cymbal, but realised one thing for sure, I was totally mesmerised by the sound of this strange object. Bssssh … I can still hear the sound in my head and reckon it was probably an old 20" crash/ride or similar. From that day onward I was hooked. As a result, my parents bought me a toy drum which I banged the hell out until it didn’t resemble a drum anymore. Little did I know that this was the beginning of many hours of practise which I would eventually put in over the coming years."
His early drumming influences started with drummers such as Carl Palmer, Bill Bruford, Charlie Watts, Billy Cobham, Clive Bunker, and South African drummers such as session master Tony Moore, Mike Gray (ex Duncan Mackay - 10CC) and Derek 'Bokkie' de Beer of Johnny Clegg fame. As Georg started to do more recording sessions, session players like Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro and J.R. Robinson played an important part in creating more awareness of how important versatility can be in a drummers arsenal of playing styles. It is due to this that he was able to do such varied work from cabaret to military to rock to country to ?...
In the UK, the artists, producers and engineers he has worked live and in the studio with are: Black Star Liner – 1999 Mercury Music Award 'Best Album' nominees, The Stu Page Band – four times winners of the British Country Music Association best band award, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds – Seventies chart topping soul act, Lyn Paul - solo artist and ex 'New Seekers', Brendan Croker – producer/solo artist and member of 'The Notting Hillbillies', Steve Jones – engineer/producer whose credits include 'Lyle Lovett' and 'Acoustic Alchemy', Johnny Earle – solo artist and the only singer to have toured with the Original Elvis band and also 'The Jordanaires', Velvet Jungle – Sony signed chart funk band, Alan Barton – the late lead singer with multi chart hit band 'Smokie', Gail Davies – critically acclaimed Nashville based singer and songwriter, Wozani – South African UK based band world music band released in Europe, engineer/producer Nick Hunt - engineer/producer whose credits include 'Dave Stewart' and 'The Warm Jets', Gerry Hogan – The UK’s foremost steel guitarist and bandleader of Albert Lee’s Hogans Heroes, Umoja - The South African Hit Musical West End show...
In South Africa Georg has worked with: e’Void – successful number I chart hit band, Neil Solomon – well respected solo recording artist, Mara Louw – top selling solo female artist, Geraldine Brannigan – national tour with this Irish country singer, Pierre de Charmoy – solo MOR chart artist, Rene Arnell (Via Afrika), Cult Seventies band Steve Linnegars Snakeshed, and worked with musicians from top South African bands such as Hotline, Zia, Buttercup, City Limits, Backtrax.
Spanning the last two years:
Georg was the drummer for London based rock band Passionhouse. A hot live act which included bassist PJ Phillips (credits include Tom Jones and Vanessa Mae) and guitarist Ed Fermor (formely with renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie and Drum Theatre). Georg's split with the band was amicable and due to his other commitments including a busy teaching schedule.
In 2001 Georg recorded tracks with the eclectic Black Star Liner for their latest album. This was the follow-up to their amazing, critically acclaimed 'Bengali Bantam Youth Experience' album.
Georg has completed his book DRUMMERCISE. Publication of this is on hold as he feels that he has moved on regarding certain aspects of his approach and that parts of the book require a rewrite.
Prior to leaving the UK:
In 2002 following health complications with the resident drummer of the South African Hit Musical UMOJA currently running at the Queens Theatre, West End, London, Georg was drafted in to fill the vacant drum stool. Receiving an emergency call from the shows producer Georg went in the next day, had a few 'run throughs' of the show material with the band, sketched out some quick charts and was ready to play for that evenings performance. No mean task, as anyone who has seen the show will know how demanding a gig this can be - incorporating all the different rhythms, stops and starts which are scattered thoughout the two hour show. The owner and creator of the show Thembi Nyandeni remarked how Georg had 'saved' the show as other drummers had been drafted in, but hadn't 'cut' the material. UMOJA MD Joe Theron's words were "you really know how to play this music". Georg's personal message is thanks to everyone at the UMOJA office and cast, and specifically the excellent band. I had a blast.
Georg received a call from solo singer/songwriter Erik Windrich inviting him to lay down drum tracks for his latest album 'Songs of Experience'. The recording took place in January/February of 2003. Check out news and availability on the the album at Erik's website www.multikultimusic.com
Back in South Africa
Georg arrived back in South Africa in March 2003. Since being back he has recorded a number of sessions and performed live with Artists such as Tamara Dey and Neill Solomon. He also recorded drums and percussion for the stage show aired at the 2003 World Parks Summit, attended by President Thabo Mbheki and former President Nelson Mandela. He was invited to perform on a nationwide Roadshow tour for South African cellphone company Cell C with South African hip hop artist Ramesh.
Georg is playing Sabian cymbals and Premier drums. Special thanks to Dayne Marshall at Marshall Music South Africa, Premier Drums in England and Sabian cymbals in Canada.
In June 2004 Georg toured South Africa with Dom Famularo in the first ever double drum clinic tour. He is co-founder and organiser of South Africa's biggest drumming event - The Johannesburg Drumfest. He operates a busy private teaching practice in Johannesburg teaching all standards from beginner to advanced. Georg is an active clinician appearing regularly at drum events and clinics nationwide. He founded of drums&percussionSA - South Africa's first and only magazine for drummers and percussionists, he is however not involved with this publication anymore. He has also written a new book entitled ENTERTAINING STARDOM, which deals with general aspects of forging a career in the entertainment industry and is aimed at all performers. He is currently in negotiations with publishers concerning the release of this book.
He is currently working on his own musical project which includes writing material, recording an album and putting a band together to tour and showcase the music.
Click HERE to find out about 1 on 1 Focused Drum Tuition with Georg Voros.