Episode 12 - Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel/Slim Kings)

On this episode, my guest is drummer Liberty DeVitto. For thirty years, Liberty was the driving force behind the legendary Billy Joel. Known for his intense drive and New York swagger, he created the grooves to multiple platinum Billy Joel albums that have sold over 150 million copies. He also went on to work as a session drummer for a variety of other artists including Meat Loaf, Paul McCartney, Karen Carpenter, and Stevie Nicks In 2020, he released his memoir, Liberty- Life, Billy and The Pursuit of Happiness, which is a honest reflection of following and fulfilling your dream and an inside look at the music and career of Billy Joel. Today, Liberty continues to work with a variety of artists including The Lords of 52nd Street, and The Slim Kings and spends much of his time encouraging other drummers to follow their passions  In our interview, we talk about the value of finding your own voice as a musician, even when you are faced with discouragement, why it’s important to always put the song first when creating the perfect drum parts and the importance of remaining true to yourself and continue to find joy in your life despite the challenges that you may encounter. Check out Liberty's Autobiography https://hudsonmusic.com/product/liberty/