"It is such a pleasure to work with Warren. He is one of the most sensitive drummers I know. Warren is so musical, he just knows all the little nuances."
Joe Foss, pianist/entertainment director, Sun Valley Lodge
O
riginally from San Diego, California, Warren spent only very few years just being a kid. When he was nine, his father noticed a newspaper article in the newspaper "Young musicians needed for new band. No talent necessary." Bonham Brothers Mortuary supported marching bands for thirty years under direction of Jules Jacques, former lead trumpet with John Phillip Sousa; this was the newest version. Without any musical experience at all, Warren and his dad arrived to find out the only instruments left were drums or tuba. The rest as they, is history.One of the first major challenges of his young career was being left handed. Immediately after his first lesson, his teacher, Myron Collins, insisted he learn to play drums with a right hand lead. It proved to be one of the most important lessons of his musical career.
At nineteen he became percussionist with the San Diego Symphony under André
Previn, the youngest person to ever hold such a position. He performed with the
symphony for six years, working with numerous conductors, including Jose Iturbi,
Ferde Grofé, Arthur Fiedler, John Barnett, Robert Shaw and Daniel Lewis.
Warren's career covers a vast spectrum of experiences and is as consistent as it is colorful. From a marimba quintet on the Ed Sullivan show, several symphony orchestras, three years with the "California Story" with Meredith Wilson, and orchestras backing popular stars like Peggy Lee, Andy Williams, the Kingston Trio, Anita Bryant and the Mills Brothers. As a student at San Diego State, he performed with the San Diego State College concert and marching bands and the Sam Goldwyn All College Band on a USC scholarship.
Upon joining the Army he naturally hooked up with the Army band and participated in the worldwide all-Army entertainment contest. Following this came Reno hotel jobs with numerous acts. An original member of the Mickey Finn Show, Warren played a 13-week engagement on NBC-TV the summer 1965.
From there he worked for a number of years in Las Vegas with Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Brenda Lee, Frankie Laine and Sandler & Young. He then went on to work with the Esquivel Show during which the orchestra played at the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico.
He eventually came to work for Disneyland with the New Dixie Rebellion and Ernie Carson. And from there he moved to Florida to open Walt Disney World in 1971. Performing as a staff musician for 29 years he did everything from marching down Main Street, to performing with the Walt Disney World orchestra, to working with Bob Hope, Roger Williams, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Steve Allen, Gordon McRae, Jack Jones, Kay Star....the list goes on. During this time he also worked with many big bands including Bob Crosby, Ray Block, Ray McKinley, Buddy Morrow, Les Elgart and Jimmy Dorsey.
Incredibly,
at the same time, he was the drummer with the original world famous "Rosie O'
Grady's Goodtime Jazz Band" where he worked for sixteen years. This band enjoyed
many years of festivals and traveling both here and abroad.
Following Rosies and Disney he went on to work with the Bill Allred Classic Jazz band, the Wild Bill Davison Legacy Band, the Mickey Finn Show, Michael Andrew and Swingerhead, and many more. His list of festival credits over the past 30 years has taken him around the world and reads like an encyclopedia. And Warren's recordings number more than 50 albums and CDs with ensembles from symphony to Dixieland, with groups of all types and sizes. Warren continues to work and travel with a variety of bands, including his newly formed "Sweet & Sauer Jazz." He is endorsed by Zildjian cymbals. (click here for credit listings)
His driving style and excellent time add to the impeccable sharpness and energy of the bands with whom he works. "One of the things I learned early on, the hard way, is the drummer drives the band, he doesn't lead it. I'm here to give the band its support, not be its star. It's a lesson more musicians should learn." Warren earned his place among his musical peers, along with the name, "Father Time." "There's nothing better than playing with a band, especially a rhythm section, that respects each other and understands the music. It makes the experience so energizing and so much fun."
When Warren isn't playing drums, he's teaching them. Creating a drum and percussion instruction program in 2000, he has gained a reputation as a patient and dedicated teacher. Students of all ages come to him to learn and hope to someday follow in his footsteps. "Being a professional musician is an exciting life, though not an easy one. It has brought me great joy and taken me around the world. I hope some of my students have the opportunity to experience the same."
