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It was the summer of 1989, at the age of 12, when Gene first stepped on stage. He began playing with his father and uncle in their family band. Gene was a self taught musician until his junior year when he first studied music formally in the high school marching, concert and jazz bands. While in high school he would also begin working with other bands, including his high school band director’s country band and the Houston Concert Band based out of Rice University, directed by Dr. Ken Dye. Thanks to Mr. Al Sulak and Mr. Sean Williams, he learned basic music theory, drum rudiments and began to read music pretty quickly. After graduating, Gene was invited back to his high school while attending college to mentor and teach the drum line. It was in college when early networking, making friends & meeting other musicians from all backgrounds and styles of music set the stage for the next chapter of his life. With his father and uncle’s blessing, he eventually left his family band to pursue his dreams of being a touring and working drummer.

Gene is a diverse drummer playing all styles of music. While working with local bands in the Houston area playing Country & Western, Rock, Tejano, Conjunto, Blues, Jazz, and Funk music, the opportunity to tour with a Tejano band was offered and he accepted. This opened doors to work with other bands and would eventually lead him to play more locally; he would leave the road for a regular working schedule and family. Gene worked in other parts of the music industry that included a Houston music retail shop for 10 years and later landing a full time job at Pro Mark Corporation. After four years at Pro Mark it was time to move on to the next step in his life.  A short few years of staying home with his young daughter and special needs son, he began working for a new, local company making mallets, marching sticks, marching accessories and later, drumsticks. With a text and short call, Gene rejoined his former co-worker and friend, Bruce Salyers at the new Salyers Percussion.

Now working at Salyers Percussion, also as a drummer and private instructor, Gene is available to teach drum lessons, he is an active live and studio drummer and plays at church on Sunday mornings. Using his 25 years of live performance experience alongside trusted textbooks and technology, each individual lesson for his students is customized to their preference. As an educator his current student roster consists of beginner to advanced drummers. Most weekends you can find him at home with family or playing with a band or church in and around the Houston, Texas area.