We don’t break—we bloom. Art. Legacy. Catnap in between.
Garey Williams Tribute — Educator, Percussionist, Legacy
In Loving Memory of Garey Williams (1962 – 2021)
“A tribute to the teacher, artist, and mentor—Garey Williams’s free teaching legacy lives on here.”
Garey Williams was a masterful percussionist, dedicated educator, and cherished mentor whose influence continues to inspire the music community. With a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance and years teaching at Central Washington University, Garey shaped generations of jazz and contemporary musicians with precision and passion.
• Performances: Garey performed across genres, from jazz combos to large-scale festivals, collaborating with icons like Dizzy Gillespie, Diana Krall, and Bud Shank.
• Ecstasy in Numbers: As drummer and executive producer of this jazz-rock fusion trio (with Mike Mattingly on guitar and Rick White on bass), he released albums like The Search (2002) and Spellbound, noted for his “beautiful touch and emotion” (Amazon reviews).
• Recordings and Media: Featured on studio and live recordings, his work appeared in Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes, and other international publications. He authored instructional works, including The Hi-Hat Foot and Drummer’s Guide to Big Band, distributed by Alfred Music and Hudson Music.
Educational Impact
Garey believed music education should be accessible to all, sharing free resources via YouTube and community workshops. His students have pursued careers in performance, teaching, and recording, attending prestigious institutions like Berklee and North Texas State. He conducted clinics for brands like Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Remo Drumheads, and Ludwig Drums, emphasizing technical health and artistic integrity.
Garey’s legacy lives on not just through the notes he played, but through the students he empowered, the family he loved, and the joy he brought to every rhythm.
Ecstasy In Numbers is: Garey Williams – Drums Mike Mattingly – Guitar Rick White – Bass.
Legacy Preservation
This tribute on SkoldLegacyCreative.com aims to honor Garey’s commitment to free education, countering the paywalling of his instructional videos. Visitors can share memories via a contact form on the site to keep his spirit alive.
Garey Williams is giving a drum clinic at the 1993 World Drumming Festival in Seattle, WA. Garey ends his clinic by soloing over a groove.
The Search (2002 CD) – A trio release with Garey on drums and executive production alongside guitarist Mike Mattingly and bassist Rick White.
In His Own Words
Garey’s lifelong passion for music began in a musical family, leading to a distinguished career marked by awards like the Washington State Percussive Arts Society Drumset Competition and performances with CWU’s award-winning Jazz Ensemble. His studies with luminaries like John Moawad, Jeff Hamilton, and Billy Cobham shaped his versatile, authentic approach.
Call to Action
Share your memories of Garey at SkoldLegacyCreative.com to preserve his legacy of education, excellence, and community.
In the Words of Others – Space for tributes from friends, students, family
Preserving the Legacy –
This is a tribute page for Garey on my family history and legacy site, SkoldLegacyCreative.com. It’s a space to honor his contributions as an artist, educator, and mentor—especially for all the people who learned from him or played beside him.
I’ve noticed that many of his educational videos were removed from YouTube and are now behind a paywall, which doesn’t reflect the generous, accessible spirit he always shared. This page is my way of preserving his real legacy—the one rooted in education, excellence, and community.
Contact / Share Memories – A form or email where others can send memories
As one of the youngest children in a large musical family, I grew up listening to my dad’s big band music, my brothers who played piano, guitar, clarinet and organ while my mom and sisters sang and played piano. I have fond memories of watching my brother’s band practicing rock-n-roll songs and attending jazz concerts with my dad. Eventually I joined the middle school concert band and jazz band while taking private drum lessons from a local teacher when I was twelve.
In high school I began playing in the wind ensemble, orchestra, pep band, jazz band, as well as, playing professionally with my own rock band. I received jazz band awards, the John Philip Sousa Award and was chosen by Louise Bellson to be the winner of the Washington State Percussive Arts Society Drumset Competition – High School division.
My love of jazz led me to Central Washington University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music in Percussion and Drumset Performance. I was determined to work with pioneering jazz educator, John Moawad and I was the drummer for his award-winning Jazz Ensemble for a record four years. We won 1st Place in the West Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival in Berkeley, CA, recorded the album, In a Mellow Tone and performed with jazz great, Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Williams.
During my later years at CWU, I performed in numerous ensembles including receiving national attention by being chosen as one of six groups nationwide for the 1st Collegiate Jazz Festival at Epcott Center in Florida with the Bruce Babad Quintet.
After graduation, I continued my quest to claim mastery of several diverse musical genres. As a jazz drummer I performed in Seattle Big Bands and numerous jazz combos. As a rock/commercial music drummer I performed in many regional
groups and recorded for a number of bands and solo artistis. I have performed with Diana Krall, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Shank, Howard Roberts and many other jazz greats.
My drumming has been featured on numerous studio and live recordings and I have worked professionally with my own Fusion trio, Ecstasy In Numbers. The band released three studio CDs, one live CD, were featured and reviewed in such international publications as: Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes, Rhythm Magazine and many European publications.
Besides drumming and teaching, I am also a published author as well as a guest speaker, clinician and adjudicator. I conduct clinics for: Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drumheads, Latin Percussion and Ludwig Drums. I have authored three books, The Hi-Hat Foot, Drummers Guide to Big Band
Media, distributed by Alred Music and Hudsommusic.com.
I am passionate about teaching drummers how to play in different genres while maintaining technical health and artistic integrity. Many of my students have gone on to performing, teaching and recording careers and/or have attended prestigious schools like Berklee School of Music, North Texas State, PIT and LA Academy of Music.
I also love working with innovative teachers so l can continue to improve and learn new techniques. My significant teachers include: John Moawad for drumset styles and big band drumming, Mike Derosier of Heart for rock and roll drumming and solo development, Jeff Hamilton for ride cymbal techniques, Brushes and improvisation and Andrew Spencer for Orchestral Percussion while earning my Masters Degree in Percussion/Drumset Performance and Jazz Studies.
I have studied privately and/or attended clinics and master classes from the following drummers: Billy Cobham, Steve Smith, Bernard Purdie, Louis Bellson, Jim Chapin, Dave Weckl, Kenny Aronoff, Michael Shrieve, Ed Soph, Larry London, Stewart Copeland, Vinnie Calaiuta, Chad Wackerman, Dom Famularo, David Garabaldi, Jack DeJohnette, Gerry Brown, Tony Williams, Russ McKinnon, Tony Verderosa, Gregg Bissonette, Steve Houghton, Peter Erskine, Carl Allen, Virgil Donati, Billy Ward, Joe Morello, Freddy Gruber, Ed Shaugnessey, Omar Hakim, Cindy Blackman, Tommy Igoe, Gary Chaffee, John Riley, Thomas Lang and Bill Stewart.
Sköld Legacy Creative – Rise to the Ashes 
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