TUCSON TALENTS
by Tucson Citizen on Feb. 07, 2008, under Calendar
In a competition against hundreds of other drummers last month, Tucsonan Erik Truelove placed first, earning the title "World's Most Accurate Drummer" for the fourth time.
Old Pueblo’s Truelove wins drumming contest
Drummer Erik Truelove is going to have to make more room on his trophy shelf.
Last month the Tucsonan won the “World’s Most Accurate Drummer” competition for the fourth time with the highest score ever at the National Association of Music Merchants show in Anaheim, Calif., according to a news release.
Facing off against hundreds of others, Truelove scored 758 out of a possible 800, the highest mark recorded to date. The competition involved playing the same two-bar rhythm for at least one minute on a Beatnik Rhythm Analyzer electronic drum pad, the release states. Drummers were given three days to record their best time on the analyzer.
“The first few times that I won I was pretty shocked, but I feel like I am continually improving my sense of timing and I felt confident going into this year’s competition,” said Truelove, who owns Tucson Drum Studio and performs with bands in the U.S. and internationally.
More than 70,000 participants, including accomplished and budding recording artists, music manufacturers and retailers, attended the annual show organized by NAMM .
Other projects may be in the works for Truelove, a self-taught drummer who started playing drums at 15. He’s begun discussions with OnBoard Research about producing an instructional DVD to accompany each Beatnik Rhythmic Analyzer. Plus, he’s talked with SilverFox Percussion about an “Erik Truelove” signature model drumstick, which may be released later this year.
UA grad Kinni still alive in ‘Rock of Love 2′
University of Arizona graduate Jessica Kinni is still in the running to score “the ultimate rock and roll romance” with Bret Michaels on VH1′s “Rock of Love 2.”
The 25-year-old from Scottsdale is among the 11 women vying for a love connection with the 44-year-old former lead singer of rock ‘n’ roll band Poison.
In her profile, Kinni says she holds a degree in physiological science from UA and is addicted to mind benders, sudoku and crossword puzzles.
“I am very sociable and love meeting people and making new friends!” she writes. “I am very close to my family and we spend a lot of time together. I like to go out and am always on the dance floor with my girls! The most important thing in life is to smile and laugh as much as possible – and try to learn something new everyday!”
The show airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on VH1.
Entertainment news about personalities and events with an Old Pueblo connection.
Send submissions to calendarplus@ tucsoncitizen.com
