John Wooton (USA)
Dr. John Wooton is the director of percussion studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. A native of Lafayette, La., he has received degrees from the University of Iowa, the University of North Texas and the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
From 1988 to 1992, Dr. Wooton was the athletic band director for the University of Iowa. As an instructor and performer, Dr. Wooton has been associated with five P.A.S.I.C. Marching Percussion Forum champions. He marched snare drum for four years with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Ill. (1981-84). During those years, Dr. Wooton held the Drum Corps Midwest Individual Snare Drum title, the Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum Individual title. From 1987 to 1989, he served as the percussion caption head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. In 1990, Dr. Wooton was their percussion consultant. For the 1990-91 drum corps seasons, he served as program coordinator/percussion arranger for “Nite Express” Drum and Bugle Corps of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Since joining the faculty at Southern Miss, Dr. Wooton, along with establishing a strong percussion studio, has introduced the USM Steel Band, Pop Percussion Ensemble, Samba Band and Salsa Band. He has served as the president of the Percussion Arts Society, Mississippi Chapter, and has been a member of the Percussive Arts Society Marching Committee since 1990. Dr. Wooton is a clinician for Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Drum Heads, and Row Loff Publications. He is member of the Vic Firth Education Team and is featured demonstrating all 40 snare drum rudiments on the Vic Firth web site (www.vicfirth.com). Recently John has performed clinics and concerts at the England Day of Percussion in Birmingham, England, the Patagonia Percussion Festival in General Roca, Argentina, Rimtos de Terra in Campinas, Brazil, Festival Internacional de Percussion in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Percusion Festival Internacional III in Cordoba, Argentina, Alberta Day of Percussion in Alberta, Canada and the Percussive Arts Society.
International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Within the United States Dr. Wooton has given clinics, recitals and concerts in all but two states. Dr. Wooton also plays vibraphone and drum set for the USM Jazz Quintet and leads his professional steel band “Kaiso!” playing steel pans.
Dr. Wooton has authored two books and numerous rudimental snare drum solos and marching percussion ensemble pieces. Most recently, his book “Dr. Throwdown’s Rudimental Remedies” consists of a two hour DVD, 951 play along tracks and 25 lessons. The “The Drummer’s Rudimental Reference Book” is a staple amongst universities throughout the U.S. and abroad. About Dr. Wooton’s Rudimental Reference Book, Thomas L. Davis said “Perhaps the most definitive rudimental technique book of our time.”
On steel pans Dr. Wooton has performed locally and around the world at various percussion festivals. Most of his performance activity takes place on the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Pensacola. His band, KAISO!, has been featured at the historic Snug Harbor Jazz Club in New Orleans as well as Sweet Lorraine’s and Charmaine Neville’s Jazz Club. They have also been featured at various Jazz Festivals including “Jazz in the Grove” in Bay Springs, the “Pensacola
Goombay Festival,” the “Pensacola Jazz Festival” and the “Seville Square Spring Concert Series.”
As a soloist pan player and singer, Dr. Wooton is as comfortable in a concert hall as playing for a party by a pool. This past year he had over 50 solo performances. He has appeared as a guest artist at several universities, jazz clubs and music festivals in North and South America.
SoMiSPO (Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra), under the direction of Dr. John Wooton, is comprised of students from the University of Southern Mississippi. This group performs regularly on and off campus. Recently they have been featured on several concert series programs in Meridian, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as well as Pensacola, Fla. and Gulf Shores, Ala. They recently finished recording their second cd and it will be available in May of 2012. Their first cd was recorded with renowned steel pan recording artist Andy Narell. The group has performed with some of the world’s finest steel pan artists including Andy Narell, Robert Greenidge, Ray Holman, Jeff Narell, Tom Miller, Gary Gibson and the Father of the Steel Pan, Dr. Ellie Mannette.
