Todd Richard, since childhood, has been on a mission to make real the sounds and songs in his head. A driven and diverse musician, this mission has travelled through strange and unfamiliar territory, and continues to surprise even him. Now known to most as the Rocket, he brings with him on this journey every bit, byte, and sample from all his previous points of interest. A quick glance at his resume and record collection can verify where he’s been, but neither make a promise for what’s next.
the Rocket sees himself as backward-leaning but forward-thinking, somewhere between classic resonances and modern musicality. A multi-disciplinary drummer, percussionist, dj, producer and remix artist, he draws influences and inspiration from an expansive list of artists which include the Jacksons, Jazzanova, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Grandmaster Flash, Gangstarr, and countless others. the Rocket has a working fascination with musical intersections; the places where musics collide, intertwine and merge.
the Rocket has always unapologetically been a child of pop music and the MTV movement. A second-generation preacher’s kid, he grew up not only in a home, but a church, filled with music. Dad and Uncle John sang in a barbershop quartet, and Mom taught clogging dance lessons at the local Y. It was there that the Rocket saw a sign for breakdancing classes. While the thought of these lessons is funny now, the idea was serious; being able to emulate the moves in the music videos (along with early electro music and a pleather “Beat It” outfit) was no laughing matter. the Rocket bolstered his vinyl and cassette collections by sending his small allowance to the Columbia Record and Tape Club for several years, eventually acquiring no less than 3 copies of “Thriller.” Along with this, there was a strange LP of his Dad’s that he couldn’t seem to get out of his head. It was “Equinox,” by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66.
After singing in choirs for several years, the Rocket was given his first drumset for Christmas at age 14. He immediately put on his headphones, learning to drum by playing along with his favorite music. In essence, he’s not taken them off since. His high school years on Nantucket were busy with “on-the-job training,” taking every gig available to him. In a lot of ways, this remains the same. the Rocket’s schedule has become increasingly packed with sessions, tours, showcases, studio dates and command performances for myriad songwriters, producers, artists, and events alike.
The love of hip hop, dance, and pop music is something that has become a defining movement in the Rocket’s career. Simplicity, brevity, impact, respect for voices, and appreciation of form, all tenets of the pop credo, are in play throughout his range of work, mixed with a flair for dynamics and tongue-in-cheek wit.
the Rocket currently lives and travels around New England, splitting his time between the micro-urbania of Portland, Maine and the summer resort getaway of Nantucket Island, with regular engagements in Boston, Providence, and Brooklyn. Recently, the Rocket has played country music at the largest venues in New England and Nashville with the Don Campbell Band, recorded music for NPR’s “Echoes” program with Ambient Americana trio the Sumner McKane Group, and toured the US and Canada with Pop-Funk phenoms Miss Fairchild. In addition, DJ rocket.one holds several club residencies and is a featured guest at many high-profile events, spinning a rich mix of broken beats, soul jazz, rare disco funk, classic hip hop and pop party jams.
For the latest news about the Rocket, please visit the blog:
www.therocket.name
