From the West Shore to the West Coast, drummer Fred Griggs has enthralled and impressed audiences and seasoned musicians with his fiercely passionate way of performing jazz-infused music, with a style many drummers spend a lifetime trying to achieve.
In fact, Griggs, a senior at Carlisle High School, already has found success that most drummers seldom experience, including performing at numerous pre- and post-Grammy Award functions in Los Angeles this past February.
“I’m always thinking about music. When I am at school or at home, everything is about music. I’m not the type to sit around and play video games or watch TV. If I’m not playing the drums, I’m learning about them or thinking about them and ways to become a better musician,” Griggs said after he returned home from a jubilant and impressive journey to the West Coast as the only drummer in the national and highly prestigious Grammy Jazz Camp band for 2013.
Selected as one of 32 high school musicians and the only drummer from across the nation, the honor came with a bevy of perks, such as a free trip to Los Angeles in February, where the band spent a week among music superstars, red carpet events and all the glitter and glamour that is Hollywood.
Not bad for a guy yet to turn 18.
“Being part of the band was a huge honor for me and a really cool experience. It was amazing to work with so many talented young musicians from across the country and have the opportunity to perform at the different events,” Griggs said. “It was also cool to have the chance to see so many talented musicians and jazz legends and hear them perform. It was truly an experience I will never forget.”
The program, operated by the Grammy Foundation, was established in 1989 to encourage and reward the nation’s best young musicians. This year, students hailed from 15 states; Griggs was the only Pennsylvanian chosen.
Previous participants over the years have included Grammy-nominated singer Brandon Heath, two-time Grammy-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton, New York Philharmonic bassist David Grossman and saxophonist Jonathan Ragonese, a Harrisburg-area native who participated in 2007.
For Griggs and his fellow band mates, the trip to Los Angeles was a hectic and amazing experience. The band had only a couple of days to rehearse before they were scheduled to perform at the University of Southern California. Another gig included a jazz concert at a noted restaurant, followed by a visit to a music mecca—Capital Studios and Mastering in Hollywood, where the band took a spin at making a recording.
And, of course, the group attended the star-studded Grammy Awards show at the Staples Center, where they had the opportunity to rub elbows with the biggest names in the industry.
“It was so cool to attend the Grammys and see all the musicians and the crowds that gathered out front of the Staples Center.” Griggs said. “We saw so many major musicians. It was an unreal experience.”
The experience and all his success come back to three main factors: the support of family and friends, a commitment to learn and pure talent.
“When Fred first started with me, he was a very talented drummer for his age,” said Lancaster-based drum instructor, Paul Gallello. “Over the past three-and-a-half years, he has become a very talented drummer … period. His technique and musicality transcend any age or grade-related qualifications.”
Griggs noted that his main goal since 10th grade was trying to land a spot in the band, a challenge he met with hours of practicing every day.
“Drumming is my life. That’s it. I love this and, now that I have gotten back from the Grammys, I have been busy getting ready to apply for college, where I want to study jazz music and someday teach at a conservatory,” said Griggs, the son of Josephine and the late Les Griggs, who bought him his first drum kit in the fourth grade.
Already, Griggs has played at numerous events across the area. He’s gigged at Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz concerts and with some of the best names in music, including the acclaimed jazz pianist, Steve Rudolph.
“Fred has an amazing commitment to jazz and its history. For someone his age, Fred is an excellent drummer and can play in many different styles of jazz,” said Rudolph.
What the future holds for Fred has yet to be written as he starts the next chapter in his life and heads off to college. One thing is certain: his journey will be one filled with music and jazz.
“For me, jazz is a way to convey any emotions I might have from sadness or joy. I love how the music is always changing, always evolving and never the same,” Griggs said. “The improvisational part of jazz and how it is so unexpected is what attracts me and keeps me interested. Music really is my life.”
