Harvey Mason
Mason in 2004
Mason in 2004
Background information
Birth nameHarvey William Mason
Born (1947-02-22) February 22, 1947 (age 76)
Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresJazz, smooth jazz, rock, pop, R&B, soul, country, classical, Latin
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, composer
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1970–present
LabelsArista, Atlantic, Concord
Websiteharveymason.net
Mason performing

Harvey William Mason (born February 22, 1947)[1] is an American jazz drummer, record producer, and member of the band Fourplay. He was the original drummer for Herbie Hancock’s band The Headhunters.

Mason, who attended Berklee for a year and a half in the 1960s and transferred to New England Conservatory where he studied with Vic Firth. Mason received an Honorary Doctorate at Berklee's 2015 Commencement Ceremony for his achievement and influence in music and for his enduring contributions to American and international culture.[2]

Life and career

Mason was born and grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States,[1] and attended Atlantic City High School.[3] He began playing drums at the age of four with the support of his father, a drummer in the army band.[4]

Equipment

Mason endorses Canopus drums,[5] Murat Diril cymbals,[6] Remo drumheads, DW pedals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.[7] Mason has his own Vic Firth Harvey Mason signature drumstick[7] and Vic Firth Harvey Mason Chameleon signature drumstick.[7]

Discography

As leader

Title Label Released
Marching in the Street Arista 1976
Earth Mover Arista 1977
Funk in a Mason Jar Arista 1977
Groovin' You Arista 1979
M.V.P Arista 1981
Stone Mason Atlantic 1982
Ratamacue Atlantic 1996
Trios Videoarts Music 2003
With All My Heart RCA 2004
Changing Partners Videoarts Music 2006
Chameleon Concord 2014

With Fourplay

Title Label Released
Fourplay Warner Bros. 1991
Between the Sheets Warner Bros. 1993
Elixir Warner Bros. 1995
The Best of Fourplay Warner Bros. 1997
4 Warner Bros. 1998
Snowbound Warner Bros. 1999
Yes, Please! Warner Bros. 2000
Heartfelt Bluebird 2002
Journey Bluebird 2004
X Bluebird 2006
Energy Heads Up 2008
Let's Touch the Sky Heads Up 2010
Esprit de Four Heads Up 2012
Silver Heads Up 2015

As sideman

References

  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1637. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "Harvey Mason to Receive Honorary Degree at Berklee Commencement". Modern Drummer Magazine. April 16, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Jackson, Vincent. "AC native Harvey Mason moves to the beat of his drum; Native son returns to Atlantic City Saturday to perform his own music", The Press of Atlantic City, June 23, 2015. Accessed August 8, 2018. "'It was a one-of-a-kind kind of situation, and unfortunately, it doesn't exist that way, but I was very, very fortunate,' said Mason, who began playing drums professionally during the 1960s while attending Atlantic City High School."
  4. ^ Feather, Leonard (1987). The encyclopedia of jazz in the seventies. New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 234–235. ISBN 978-0-306-80290-4.
  5. ^ "Harvey Mason Profile". Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Harvey Mason: Murat Diril Cymbals". muratdiril.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Artists". Vic Firth. June 20, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2016.

External links

Fourplay
Authority control databases
Categories