George Heid III is a drummer, percussionist, and composer whose diverse musical passions range from jazz and classical to world and electronic genres.

George Heid III grew up in his father’s recording studio and began playing drums and piano at age 3. His earliest lessons took place at home with his father, George Edward Heid—a great musician and true champion of the music. In this environment, he was always immersed in music and surrounded by powerful musical influences, such as jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder and his uncle Bill Heid, a world-class pianist and Hammond B3 jazz musician. Those formative years laid the roots of George’s musical journey.

By age 10, George was attending classes at the Afro-American Music Institute, studying with Thomas Wendt and James Johnson III. Later, he graduated from Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School, where he was mentored by jazz drumming legend Roger Humphries. After high school, he attended Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University as well as the State University of New York at Purchase, where he studied with master jazz drummers Kenny Washington, John Riley, and Richie Morales.

George has toured and played at numerous notable jazz venues across the United States and China, including three multi-month residencies in Hangzhou, China. He has recorded with numerous well-known artists, including Bill Heid, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Paul Thompson, Steve Shehan, Jamey Haddad, Joe “Sonny” Barbato, Victor Provost, Warren Wolf, Arsen Petrosyan, Daniel May, Antonio Croes, Ron Blake, Henry "The Skipper" Franklin, Sean Jones, Bob Reynolds, David Budway, Orrin Evans and his Elevations bandmates, Brett Williams, Anton DeFade, Michael Stephenson and Benny Benack III. He’s also performed at numerous festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, Tri-C Jazz Fest Cleveland, Washington Jazz Festival, among others.

George is the recipient of numerous awards as both a performer and composer, including the The ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, Downbeat magazine’s 2013 Best Original Jazz Composition award, and back-to-back Outstanding Soloist awards at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival awards in 2011 and 2012.

George currently leads groups under his own name and performs with The Precipice Community Band, Arcadia, The Dwayne Dolphin Fo'tet and Paul Thompson's Wayntet.

George also serves on the board of Lighthouse Arts, Inc., a nonprofit founded by his father, George Edward Heid, and Dr. Harry Clark. Lighthouse Arts is a passionate collective dedicated to restoring jazz’s central place in American culture through artist advocacy, education, and high-level performance. With deep respect for the music’s history and a commitment to its future, the organization works to preserve jazz’s legacy, support the artists who carry it forward, and connect communities across generations through dynamic programs, partnerships, and outreach.

Please note: All of the tracks are solo efforts, some with backing tracks I created myself. For nearly 54 years I've been a full time jazz, blues, funk pianist and Hammond B-3 organist with numerous records on the Highnote/Savant label as well as Doodlin' Records, Black Magic Records and as sideman for Alligator Records. I did 27 adult film music soundtracks for John Leslie from 1987 through 2007(VCA films), and toured and worked overseas for 7 years in China, Japan, Europe and for the US State Department in numerous Asian and African countries. I've been honored to have played and recorded with so many great jazz and blues artists. I can sum up my nutty career by quoting Yankee great Babe Ruth: "I don't plan to play till I'm dead but I plan to play till I'm damn near dead!"

❤️✌️🎶 I make various kinds of electronic music. Sometimes it's good!

I'm a Piano/B3/Keyboard player and Singer/Songwriter. I like the jazzy side of blues and the bluesy side of jazz and whatsin ever I play, it's got to be funky.

I’m here to promote my daughter, Morgan Day. Please, if you made it this far, hop on over to her Cloud and give her a listen. She’s not had the opportunity to record professionally, but her voice shines through. 
 I’m also here to support the Pittsburgh Jazz scene :)

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