Musician Eric Seats of The Next Great Drummer Guests on Eye on Entertainment

Eric Seats is an accomplished drummer to the stars, single father of one daughter, mentor and now an Executive Producer of the “Next Great Drummer”.  “The Next Great Drummer” show will follow aspiring drummers on a nationwide tour, covering contestants as they compete for the title of “top drummer” in their city.  Seats is the featured drummer on the new Omarion music video and is the host for the Nationwide Next Great Drummer Competitions.

The Next Great Drummer Competitions are being held nationwide at Sam Ash Music Stores, a family owned chain since 1924. Sonicbids.com has also come aboard as a partner in the online competitions. A finale’ competition will take place at Knott’s Berry Farm on July 10, 2010 to benefit the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Organization.   Sam Ash Music Store Locations hosting the competitions are in the following states:  California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas & Virginia.

The drum competitions provide a safe, yet fun forum for all ages to display their drum skills and network with other drum professionals and peers. Contestants are judged by award-winning drummers and music producers, who offer constructive criticism to encourage and inspire growth.  The tour will be followed by a national and international competition for the world's 'Next Great Drummer'.  The show is sponsored by Sam Ash Music and Spaun Drums, and is currently touring to venues across the country, with plans already in the works for Japan and Europe.  

Seats is also part of Key Beats, Inc., an amazing team of music/song writers and producers. This team was established in 1997 by both Rapture Stewart and Eric Seats. Together, Stewart and Seats toured with major artists such as Montel Jordan.  Stewart went on to become the music director for Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Playa.  Timbaland took note of the production skills of Stewart and Seats and signed them both to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell.   Eric’s music experience has paid off in chart topping successes like, "Where My Girls At" for 702, in collaboration with Missy Elliot. This song paved the way for a management deal with Blackground Entertainment. He and his team went on to produce songs for the Jet Li and Aaliyah hit movie and soundtrack "Romeo Must Die".

While producing a song for Destiny’s Child member Beyonce Knowles, the opportunity came to also produce "Independent Women (Pt. 2)" for the "Survivor" CD. This was the original version that was recorded for the Drew Barrymore film "Charlie’s Angels".  After the success of the Survivor soundtrack, Aaliyah requested that Seats and his team work on her upcoming project as well. The result was production for half of her record "Aaliyah", which included the number one hit "Rock Da Boat", written by Static. Seats, along with his team,  have gone on to produce and write music projects with such artists as:  Playa, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, DJ Whoo Kid, Travis Barker, T.I., DJ Drama, Young Dro, Jay-Z, Tweet, Nelly, Murphy Lee, DMX, Ashanti, Ja Rule, DJ Reflex, DJ Dense, Yung Joc, Diddy, Pharell, Busta Rhymes, Chingy, Fabolous, Tank, Keyshia Cole, Kanye West, Bubba Sparxxx, Nelly Furtado, Rich Boy, Soulja Boy, Lil’ Mo, D4L, En Vogue, Karen Clark-Sheard, The Soul Seekers, Mary Mary, Chante Moore, Kenny Latimore, Dave Hollister, Lalah Hathaway, Kelly Price, Patti LaBelle and Stevie Wonder.   In the future, keep an eye out for Eric’s Broadway musical, 'Timeless'.  

See the interview at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIvx187_yHo

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