066 – Marlon Patton: Genre-hopping, Building a Home Studio, Searching for Sounds

Marlon Patton was born and raised in the Atlanta area, attended college down the road at The University of Georgia in Athens, then returned home to Atlanta where he has lived and worked ever since. He is a true genre-hopper, in terms of the many types of music he plays and the many types of work he does. Any given day could find him mixing a jazz record in his studio, tracking a rock record in someone else’s, playing a live show in one of Atlanta’s many venues, or out on the road as a hired gun. Over the years his huge skill set, fine-tuned musical sensibilities, and affable humor have made him indispensable to artists and bands all over the region as a drummer and engineer.

In this podcast, Marlon talks about:

The long, gradual process of acquiring the gear and skills needed to run his home studio

Recording jazz vs. other genres

Attending The University of Georgia in Athens (home of R.E.M., The B-52’s, and many others) and the wide variety of playing opportunities he found there, in and out of school

How breaking his ankle led to one of his original projects, Weisshund

Playing with bassist Robby Handley in The ATL Collective and Kenosha Kid

Balancing local work with road work

Marlon Patton endorses C&C Drums.