Lloyd Ryan
English drummer and educator known for big band drumming.
Lloyd Ryan is an English drummer and educator known for his expertise in big band drumming. He worked extensively as a session musician and served as a support act for Buddy Rich at the 1986 Lewisham Jazz Festival.
- field
- Drummer, educator
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Session musician; big band leader
Lore & Background
Lloyd Ryan has been active since the 1960s, working as a session musician with artists including Tony Christie, Matt Monro, Brotherhood of Man, the New Seekers, Tommy Cooper, Bobby Davro, Gene Vincent, and P.J. Proby. He also served as a support act to Buddy Rich at the Lewisham Jazz Festival in 1986. Ryan has led his own big band since the 1980s and released his first big band album in 2012.
Reader's Guide
Lloyd Ryan's significance lies in his dual role as a performer and educator. As a teacher, he instructed Phil Collins in basic drum rudiments, a contribution Collins himself acknowledged. Ryan also taught other successful professional drummers, including John Coghlan, Keef Hartley, Derrick McKenzie of Jamiroquai, Nick Simms of Cornershop, Graham Broad, Blaine Harrison of Mystery Jets, and Ralph Salmins. Beyond music, Ryan was the manager and spokesman of masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki in British professional wrestling from 1990 until 2007, when he and Nagasaki fell out in kayfabe. His career spans session work, big band leadership, and a notable presence in wrestling entertainment.
Did You Know?
- Lloyd Ryan was a support act to Buddy Rich at the Lewisham Jazz Festival in 1986.
- He released his first big band album in 2012.
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