Detroit area drummer, songwriter, and producer Drew Schultz entered the music industry at the age of 19, performing with legendary Motown group, the Four Tops, and appearing on stage with countless iconic soul artists, including The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, The Dramatics, The Miracles, The Contours, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, and more. In 2012 he released his debut album, "Back To Class." The record consists of 16 songs written by Schultz, featuring performances by the Four Tops, Dennis Coffey, James Jamerson Jr, Melvin Davis, Spyder Turner, Pat Lewis, Lenny Pickett, and many more. 50% of the profits go towards the music programs of the Detroit Public School System. As a continuation of the project last year, a series of Back To Class singles was launched with "Take It Slow" featuring Eddie Willis of Motown's legendary studio recording band, The Funk Brothers, and the follow-up single "So Long" featuring Detroit legends Buddy Smith and Thornetta Davis.

"Please (Don't Give Up On Your Dreams)" b/w "Waiting Game" is a new A-and-B-side single branching the Back To Class project out to the nation, with 50% of profits benefiting the Chicago Public Schools. The single is a tribute to one of Schultz's all time musical heroes, Curtis Mayfield, featuring the soaring falsettos of Reginald Torian of The Impressions and Cecil Jones of the Chicago Black Ensemble Theater's production of "The Story of Curtis Mayfield," as well as the master drumming of Mayfield's last drummer, Lee Goodness.

Please (Don't Give Up On Your Dreams) (feat. Reginald Torian of The Impressions)

Drew Schultz' single, "Take It Slow," is a continuation of his Back To Class project. 50% of the profits raised by the project are donated to support music education in public schools, and each song is an original composition by Schultz that features a legendary classic soul artist. "Take It Slow" benefits the music programs of the Detroit Public Schools. The song features Mr. Eddie Willis, original guitarist for The Funk Brothers. The Funk Brothers were the backing band on nearly every Motown song from 1959-1972, recording the instruments on legendary songs by Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and more. The lead vocalist on "Take It Slow" is Mr. Delbert Nelson, who sang with The Funk Brothers on their world tours that followed the release of their "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" documentary.

Take It Slow (feat. Eddie Willis of The Funk Brothers)

Nate Brent Live

First Rehearsal for Drew Schultz & The Broken Habits!

Broken Habits Practice

Prince Night Drum Solo Tease

"Back To Class" - the debut album by songwriter / drummer / percussionist Drew Schultz. The record features many of the soul legends Drew has worked with including The Four Tops, Dennis Coffey, Chairmen of the Board, Members of The Funk Brothers, Lenny Pickett, Spyder Turner, James Jamerson Jr, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, McKinley Jackson, Earl Van Dyke Jr, Joey "Kingfish" Stribbling, and Rob Carter, as well as up-and-coming young talent like Chris Ams, Kyle Allen, Elise McCoy, and Anna "Cartia" Carter.

Crying In A Whisper (Feat. The Four Tops & James Jamerson Jr)

"Back To Class" - the album by songwriter / drummer / percussionist Drew Schultz. The record features many of the soul legends Drew has worked with including The Four Tops, Dennis Coffey, Chairmen of the Board, Members of The Funk Brothers, Lenny Pickett, Spyder Turner, James Jamerson Jr, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, McKinley Jackson, Earl Van Dyke Jr, Joey "Kingfish" Stribbling, and Rob Carter, as well as up-and-coming young talent like Chris Ams, Kyle Allen, Elise McCoy, and Anna "Cartia" Carter.

What I'd Do For You (Feat. The Four Tops & James Jamerson Jr)

Drew is a soul music lover, who has been playing drums and percussion since the third grade. He has played with The Four Tops, Lenny Pickett, The Dramatics, The Miracles, The Contours, The Vandellas, Freda Payne, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Dennis Coffey, The Velvelettes, Spyder Turner, Melvin Davis, Eddie Kirkland, and countless orchestras, jazz ensembles, and gospel choirs. He has studied under Uriel Jones, Bill Ransom, Mike Clark, John Blackwell, Tony Moreno, Jamey Haddad, Lenny Pickett, Mike Richmond, and Dafnis Prieto. In the summer of 2009, he worked at Motown / UMe under Harry Weinger as a ProTools intern and Pre-Production Engineer. He is currently touring with his favorite band, The Four Tops, working on songs for his own debut album, and writing articles for Modern Drummer Magazine. For more information, go to www.DSdrums.com, or e-mail him at Drew@DSdrums.com

Drew’s first encounter with music came through his mother, a piano accompany / voice major who began teaching him piano at an early age. On the weekends, she sang in the “No Name Band,” a cover band consisting of Cleveland lawyers. While the songs by the Beatles and the Stones were nice, the songs Drew really fell in love with were those by the Tops, the Tempts, Martha Reeves, and Junior Walker. Looking to get away from the monotony of scales, he found himself watching Brent Buckley play the drums. While trying to learn all of the beats, he started listening to more and more Motown music. In fourth grade, he began taking lessons from Cleveland drummer Scott Flowers. In fifth grade he began playing drums in school, starting with orchestral percussion, and moving to the jazz ensembles. Throughout high school he played drums for various ensembles and choirs. During his senior year, Drew led the drumline, playing tenors in the marching band. Under the instruction of Bill Ransom, he began to dig deeper, learning everything from marimba to merengue, in both private lessons and Bill’s Cleveland Music School Settlement percussion ensembles. Throughout his high school years, Drew’s love and appreciation for soul music continued to grow.

He fell in love with the music of Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Smokey Robinson, the Funk Brothers, and many more. After studying during one summer with John Blackwell at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he was presented with a difficult choice. He knew that soul music was what he wanted to pursue, and preferably in a formal educational setting. He narrowed it down to continuing R&B studies at Berklee, or learning the ins and outs of jazz at New York University. With the help of Cleveland drummers Bill Ransom and Jamey Haddad, Drew chose New York. He has since played in ensembles with Lenny Pickett, Mordy Ferber, Ron McClure, Joe Beaty, Mike Richmond, Dave Pietro. Some of the teachers he has studied under include Mike Clark, Dafnis Prieto, Lenny Pickett, and Tony Moreno.

While trying to glean as much as he can from the professors at NYU, Drew has also surrounded himself with the music he loves, playing with his R&B outfit Drew Schultz and the New FAMF, and the NYU All University Gospel Choir. In 2007, the New FAMF was accepted as an All Square organization, becoming the official R&B Ensemble at New York University. In the summer of ‘07, the Mortal Quintet, a group Drew played with consisting of five NYU freshmen, traveled to Costa Rica to play under the direction of the NYU Jazz Department head Dr. Dave Schroeder.

Drew currently plays drums with his role models, The Four Tops. Longtime Tops and Temptations drummer Benjamin Corbett, original Funk Brother Uriel Jones, and musical director George Rountree have provided welcome guidance and inspiration. Drew is greatly enjoying playing and learning all he can from his fellow students, teachers, and the musicians that inspire him to continue.

Drew Schultz

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