Frank Reina
BIOGRAPHY:
Frank Reina was born in Houston, Texas. He got his first drum set when he was 4 years old and a guitar at age 6. He took guitar lessons for a while, but soon discovered how much more fun it was to play by ear. He remembers the first time he ever heard Led Zeppelin and said, “This is the best band in the world – that’s it, I want to play like this.” In 7th grade, he and his two buddies started a band. They didn’t have a bass player or know you even needed one. They played everything from Zeppelin to Kiss to The Stones. That was when Frank “figured out that there was no way I could EVER play lead guitar like Jimmy Page, so I let it go and really focused on drums.” John Bonham was his major influence. “I used to sit in my room and play to Zeppelin records all day long, and every day after school.”
Soon after, he was exposed to Stewert Copeland, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Bill Bruford. “Those guys changed my life completely.” Having never had a drum lesson in his life, Frank decided to audition for PIT in Hollywood. When he got the list of things to play for the audition he had no idea what to do. “I didn’t know what a Samba, or a Naningo beat was.” So he paid “Texas Tim Root” to demonstrate each beat for him, and recorded it on a cassette. He went home and did his best to emulate each one. Miraculously he was accepted to PIT, moved to LA and the rest is history. “l learned a lot at PIT – mainly I learned how to read music and hung out with my heroes. It was the best experience of my life at the time.”
Frank’s major influences are Zeppelin, The Police, XTC, Frank Zappa, John Coltrane and Miles Davis, among others. Frank is extremely versatile and plays all styles, but he really enjoys just ROCKIN’! “I love playing drums live, but I REALLY love recording and working with producers. I love being given direction and being told what a certain producer may want, then being able to deliver it. Check out what a few producers have to say about Frank...
TESTIMONIALS:
" Frank Reina is one of the best drummers I have ever worked with. And I have worked with some of the best drummers in the world. I earned my first platinum record with Frank. He plays great in a live setting, along to tracks, a click, and with loops. He is a true professional. I recommend him highly. You won't be disappointed and you will get the takes your looking for."
--Doug Grean, (http://www.douglasgrean.com) producer for Scott Weiland, co-writer with Sheryl Crow, engineer for Velvet Revolver, Stone Temple Pilots, and many others
"I have had the pleasure of knowing Frank Reina for a number of years,
watching his talent and experience grow into the fine musician that he is! Every session we have done together has been a wonderful creative experience both for myself, and the artist I am producing. He is a perfectionist and extremely creative with a giving attitude. It is a joy to have him on any project!"
--Derek Nakamoto, producer for Michael Bolton, Keiko Matsui, Hiroshima,and Teddy Pendergrass
"Frank Reina is such a fantastic drummer because he has the instinct to choose the right part and the chops to execute it with the right feel. He grooves righteously, and he makes it easy to cut great records."
--Michael James, Producer/Mixer for Robben Ford, New Radicals, Hole (www.alternatorrecords.com)
"Frank came into my studio last week and crushed a track for a picky
client and saved my butt. His drum set up time is fast, his creativity is
unmatched and he bangs the click like nobody's business. No beat detective
needed! Frank Reina has become a staple studio drummer for all my
sessions from rock to pop."
--James Lugo (http://www.VocalAsylum.com) Clients of Vocal Asylum include: Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, 213, Ninette of ‘Powder,’
Alison Sweeney, ‘Days Of Our Lives’ NBC, Columbia Records,