Lee Kelley

Session Drums/Percussion/Loops

starstarstarstarstar
13 Reviews (12 Verified)
Lee Kelley on SoundBetter

Currently the drummer for Country Music Hall Of Fame Member, Hank Williams Jr. Hello all inquiring minds. Since 1997, I've worked with national/international acts such as Mark Chesnutt, Gary Allan, Heidi Newfield, Chris Knight, Kellie Pickler, Loverboy, Dustin Lynch, Eric Paslay, Aaron Tippin, Kendell Marvel and More.

I can make you 13 tracks of live acoustic drums in addition to accompanying percussion.
Loops too.
Rock, Pop, Country, Americana, Funk, Fusion, etc.
Skype/FaceTime consultation available

Please visit Leekelleyondrums.com to learn more about me and what I bring to the table.

Recording Gear:
Drums: Yamaha Recording Custom Kit
Snares: Various depending on track:
Yamaha 6.5x14 Recording Custom Aluminum
Yamaha 8x14 80s Recording Custom Birch
Yamaha 6.5x14 Manu Katche Custom Model
Yamaha 6x14 Absolute Hybrid Maple
Yamaha 6.5x14 Recording Custom Brass
Ludwig 5x14 '68 Supraphonic
Ludwig 6.5x14 Supraphonic
Ludwig 5x14 70s Acrolite
Pearl Steve Ferrone 6 1/2x14
Pearl Sensitone 5x14 NIckel over Brass
Billy Baker 6.5x14 Nickel over Brass
Ayotte 6x14 Maple
Taye 7x14 Birch
Taye 6.5x14 Aluminum w/Wood Hoops
Taye 6.5x14 Steel

Cymbals: Full array of Sabian HH, AAX, HHX, AA Models (Endorsee since 2002)
Electronics: Alesis SR-16
Percussion: Congas, Bongos, Shakers, Tambourines & more...whatever the song calls for.

Mic types: AKG D112 (Kick)
Solomon LoFreq (Kick)
Shure SM57 (Snare/Rack Toms/Perc.)
Senheiser 421 (Floor Toms)
Shure KSM137 (HH/Overheard)

All the above run through Focusrite Mic-Pres into a MacBookPro running Logic Pro.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

13 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Lee Kelley
  1. Review by Shehzad Bhanji
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Lee is fantastic, aside from being very musical and having a great feel, he is also a great communicator. I have worked him on my previous tracks so it was a no brainer to choose Lee for my new project. He gets a great sound out of his kits and room that takes a track to the next level. I will call on Lee without a doubt for my next project. He was an absolute pleasure to work with.

  2. Review by Torbjørn V.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    It has been a pleasure working with Lee Kelley. quick response and delivery. He gave us exactly the drumtracks we needed.
    Torbjørn

  3. Review by GeoZero
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Solid drummer. Gave what was needed of the track, great sounding drums.

  4. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Another song brought to life by a great drummer. Lee you rule MAN.

  5. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Another song with King Lee and the song sounds alive. Excellent drum takes to a very tough song. Get ready for more.

  6. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    One more song completed with Lee.

    It is a pleasure working with Lee. Job well done.

    Masoud.

  7. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    One more song with Lee. I swear this guy reads what is on my mind. Hi is a magician.

    Masoud

  8. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Lee is the man. A second song was done in no time. His playing is heavenly. Are you ready for the next song? Actually, next SONGS LEE?

    Lee is king. Long Live the King.

    Masoud

  9. Review by Masoud B.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Lee Kelley is the guy for live drums. Excellent takes. Excellent sounding drums. He feels the song, lives it, then translates that in the way he plays the drums.

  10. Review by Shehzad Bhanji
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Lee was on board right from the first time we spoke as if he knew what I was looking for. I worked with Lee on 2 projects and we managed to complete the project in the first take. Lee is THE MAN if you are after great, driving drums! Will use him for all my future projects! 10/10

  11. Review by Terry A.
    starstarstarstarstar_border
    check_circleVerified

    Lee did exactly as I ask him to and added some outstanding percussion tracks to my song. Easy to work with. Highly recommend!

  12. Review by Jeff I.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Lee was terrific to work with. He is a consummate professional and a master behind his kit. Lee took the time to really understand my song and as a songwriter that means a lot. Lee is like a polyglot except with drum technique; he is fluent in every style. Thanks Lee!

  13. Review by Profile User 250387
    starstarstarstarstar

    Great drummer with a great pocket and tones. Would highly recommend!

Interview with Lee Kelley

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: Worked on a song a few years ago with a singer/songwriter out of LA where I ended up recording 22-23 tracks of drum kit, percussion and multi-track tom parts. It's just a good representation of what I can do for a client. Coming soon will be a promo of my "Boom Boom Drum Room" using part of this song. Also, the Jett Blakk project, one song of which is on my profile....that's when I really got my playing where I wanted it for recording. Plus, it was recorded pretty much with no accompaniment except click track and chart sheets so it gave for confidence to that skill as well.

  3. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  4. A: Shure, Senheiser, AKG, Solomon Mics into 16 Channel Focusrite Pres into a MacBook Pro running Logic Pro. Live Drum kit in 13 channels. Other percussion/electronic percussion added depending on the song.

  5. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  6. A: George Martin, Tom Petty, Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Hal Blaine, Rick Rubin, Sturgill Simpson, Tony Brown, Eddie Bayers, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner, Levon Helm, Pete Townshend, Dave Grohl

  7. Q: How would you describe your style?

  8. A: North American Musical Groove.

  9. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  10. A: Recording stuff for clients out of here & doing a bit of freelance gigging until Hank Williams Jr. goes back on the road next year.

  11. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  12. A: I like the purity and warmth of analog but the portability and function of digital. As long as digital is used like analog in not altering to much what is laid done so the feel isn't lost.

  13. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  14. A: That I will make sure they are happy with what I've done for them.

  15. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  16. A: That I get to do something I love and create.

  17. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  18. A: That it's easy. It's only easy because I've done it so long, I now know where to take it.

  19. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  20. A: See above question.

  21. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  22. A: Please supply me with all the tracks you have along with the click for me to have the most information to do the best job for you.

  23. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  24. A: Kick, Snare, Hat, Record console, record collection

  25. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  26. A: My complete bio is on my website but heres the short version. Been a professional musician for right on 25 years and have been playing and practicing my craft for 40 yrs. I began life as a professional musician straight out of college. Spent 5-6 year touring the SouthEast with various bands while living in Charlotte, NC. Moved to Nashville, TN in 1997 and have been living, working, gigging, touring and recording out of here since then. Many of the acts I've worked with are listed on my profile.

  27. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  28. A: Paul McCartney...Because of his openness to suggest or try anything along with some of the most amazing song sensibility of the past half century.

  29. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  30. A: Make sure to have clean, clear signals between instruments and tracking. And keep an open mind.

  31. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  32. A: It varies...Rock, Pop, Country, Americana, etc.....Kind of anything or anyone looking for a good feeling groove under what they are trying to convey.

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: In the musical realm, it's having empathy for the song, song writer and producer and being able to interpret what they would like to hear from me while keeping an open mind.

  35. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  36. A: Sensibility to the song itself and to give that song the support it deserves and requires. It is my work to help bring the artist's vision to fruition along with understanding what they want.

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. A: If available, request all of the stems from the client. The more information I have, the better job I do for them. Set up the session and create a click (if not supplied) and a cue mix that gives me the best parts to lock in with. Essentially, in a lot of my work, I'm replacing drum programming that have real time instruments and vocals recorded on top so I'm "picking up a house and replacing the floor." Next is charting the song using the Nashville Number System form and getting the song under my hands and into my ears. Once I get a little comfortable with the form, I begin tracking. In tracking the full drum kit for a song, I will get the whole performance. By that, I mean: No Punch ins on the drum track performance because that's what it is. A performance that is connected from start to finish. Once getting the whole drum track, I go back to add any needed percussion; which I do punch in from section to section where needed. A rough MP3 mix is then created to send to the client for approval and any changes or additions requested are made. Once done, approved and payment is received, all drum/percussion stems are sent to the client and I retain all original stems for my files for any future reference or possible promotion with the original creators permission.

  39. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  40. A: I record and send live acoustic drum and percussion tracks for clients. Live drum replacement for programmed drums and a bit of electronic programming if required or requested.

loading
play_arrowpause
skip_previous
skip_next
Jett Blakk-Rock Revolution

I was the Drummer/Percussionist in this production

Terms Of Service

Revisions for Satisfaction Until The Client Is Happy with parts for their songs.
3-5 day turn around...usually less.

GenresSounds Like
  • Jim Keltner
  • Eddie Bayers
  • Steve Jordan
Gear Highlights
  • Yamaha Drums
  • Sabian Cymbals
  • Pearl Percussion
  • Yamaha/Alesis Electronic Percussion
  • Evans Drumheads
  • Shure
  • Senheiser
  • AKG
  • AudioTechnica
  • Solomon Mics
  • Presonus StudioOne
More Photos
More Samples