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Shay Godwin is a drummer residing in the LA area since 2000. He has played in many pop/rock and alt. rock projects, including Freeman (Warner Publishing), Matt Jordan (independent), and Charlotte Martin (RCA). He also does recording sessions, is active in the jazz scene, and maintains a heavy teaching schedule. Shay joined Butterfly Boucher (A&M) on tour in the US and Canada opening for Sarah McLachlan's Summer 2004 tour. Jamming with friends in his hometown of Ithaca, NY, Shay started playing drums at age 14. It was a long time coming, as music is in his blood (Shay’s father is a voice professor and Julliard graduate) and the drums fascinated Shay from an early age. Stewart Copeland of the Police was an influence years before Shay picked up sticks. Playing on a borrowed kit initially, Shay soon bought a kit and formed a band, Wire Crickets. After getting started with some covers, the band soon started writing original tunes influenced by the college radio of the day (U2, the Smiths), reggae music, classic rock, and well as punk /hardcore (Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains). Before long Wire Crickets had a big following in the central NY area, playing shows opening for legendary punk band Circle Jerks and college radio sensation Jesus and Mary Chain. Legally, the band was too young to be playing in the clubs they played in! The plug was pulled on the Wire Crickets project just as the band was about to be signed to the now infamous SST Records. Around this time Shay’s ears started to open up to jazz and many other musical movements/styles. For his senior year of high school Shay was privileged to attend Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where he became very serious in his pursuit of learning and improvement. After his studies at Interlochen, Shay then went back to his home town of Ithaca, New York to study at Ithaca College with the great Gordon Stout. Shay became immersed in mallets (with a heavy emphasis on the marimba), played timpani in the Orchestra, participated in Percussion Ensemble, played in the “A” Jazz band, played in musical theater productions, played in bands, and generally stretched himself too thin. Gordon Stout’s amazing teaching helped Shay become a better percussionist and raised his level of musicality, his work ethic, and his sense of possibility. After graduating from Ithaca College with a Bachellor Degree in Percussion Performance, Shay played drums for Carnival Cruise Lines, where his drumset skills increased dramatically. The gig required sightreading, the ability to play many different styles within any given hour, click track skills, and a lot of endurance! Shay moved to Los Angeles in 2000, playing in aforementioned projects amongst others. See the resume page for details on Shay's projects. Shay endorses Vater drumsticks, Aquarian drumheads, Turkish cymbals, Epad practice pads, as well as Axis pedals and hardware.