098 – Hubert Payne: Drumming for Little Big Town, “Stepping Out On Faith”, Rising Above Great Adversity, Building a Simple But Effective Recording Rig

Hubert Payne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Although, he was heavily influenced by his father who was a professional drummer, he was encouraged to focus on sports and higher education. During high school Hubert excelled at football and won two State Championships. His athletic skill landed him with a scholarship to play college football. While at Maryville College in Tennessee, he was voted captain by his teammates, and received All Conference honors.

Throughout his youth and into college, Hubert had always retained his love and interest in drumming. But it wasn’t until 2006 that he began working as a professional musician in Nashville. From 2006-2009, he was a member of the Tyrone Smith Revue Funk Band, and decided in ’09 to move to Los Angeles to hone his craft at the LA Music Academy.

In January of 2010, Hubert was tragically attacked by a stranger at a Nashville concert venue. He was stabbed multiple times in the hand and leg. Hubert underwent surgery on a severed hand tendon, and required a year of rehabilitation. Even after sustaining a permanent handicap in his left hand from the attack, Hubert applied the discipline he learned during his athletic career to his musical goals.

Since then, Hubert Payne has landed positions with many nationally-touring country artists including: Love & Theft, Jana Kramer, David Nail, Casey James, Josh Gracin, Danielle Peck, Joel Crouse, and currently (since January 2015) resides as the drummer for Little Big Town.

Hubert added a couple impressive recording credits in 2016 including Little Big Town and Pharrell Williams.

When he is not on tour with LBT, Hubert travels all over the country telling his story. His motivational speeches surround his message of how to “Prepare for the Performance Moment”, which is the routine that Hubert has perfected.

In this podcast, Hubert talks about:

Being a person of color, touring through middle America with a country act and the challenges and opportunities it presents

His gig with Little Big Town

Recording with Pharrell Williams

Creating a recording environment to practice and learn how to perform in the studio

Building a simple recording rig that works

The influence of his pro drumming father

Studying at the LA Music Acadamy

Getting stabbed in the hand and leg at a night club

“Stepping out on faith” and opening himself up to new opportunities

Hubert endorses: Sakae Drums, Vicfirth sticks, Zildjian cymbals, Cymbolt Percussion Dynamics

This episode is sponsored by Sonor Drums