Sonny Emory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny Emory
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Emory performing in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 23, 1962 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Genres | R&B, soul, Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1983-present |
| Associated acts | Earth, Wind & Fire, Lee Ritenour, George Howard, Bruce Hornsby |
Sonny Emory, born on December 23, 1962, is an American musician. He is a talented singer, songwriter, drummer, and percussionist. Sonny was once a member of the famous band Earth, Wind & Fire. He has also played with many other well-known artists like Bruce Hornsby, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, and Bette Midler.
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Sonny Emory's Early Life
Sonny Emory grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He got his very first drum set when he was just five years old! He went to Frederick Douglass High School. Later, he studied at Georgia State University. He earned a special degree in Jazz and Classical Performance. After college, Sonny started his exciting career as a professional percussionist.
Sonny Emory's Music Career
Sonny Emory began his professional music journey in 1987. He played drums on guitarist Bruce Hampton's album Arkansas. He also worked on keyboardist Joe Sample's album Roles.
Joining Earth, Wind & Fire
In 1987, Sonny joined the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire. He played drums on several of their albums. These included Heritage (1990), Millennium (1993), and In the Name of Love (1997).
Working with Other Artists
Sonny Emory has played with many different musicians. In 1988, he performed on saxophonist Brandon Fields' album The Traveler. He also played on the soundtrack for the 1989 movie Lethal Weapon 2. For this film, he worked alongside famous artists like Eric Clapton and David Sanborn.
Sonny played drums on The B-52's' 1989 album Cosmic Thing. He also contributed to Phyllis Hyman's 1991 album Prime of My Life. Other albums he worked on include Peabo Bryson's 1991 LP Can You Stop the Rain and Chic's 1992 album Chic-ism.
He also played on George Howard's 1993 album When Summer Comes. Sonny worked on Rhythm Stories by Bobby Lyle in 1994. He also played on Common Ground by Everette Harp that same year. In 1997, he was part of the Urban Knights II album.
Sonny Emory also played percussion for Lee Ritenour's 1997 album Alive in L.A.. He worked on Ritenour's 1998 album This Is Love. In 2000, he played on Steely Dan's album Two Against Nature.
Later, he performed on Miki Howard's 2001 album Three Wishes, which was nominated for a Grammy. He also played on Alex Bugnon's albums Southern Living (2003) and Free (2005). In 2008, he contributed to Brian Culbertson's album Bringing Back the Funk. He also worked on Lee Ritenour's 2012 album Rhythm Sessions.
From 2002 to 2018, Sonny was a member of Bruce Hornsby's band, called The Noisemakers.
Sonny Emory as a Teacher
Besides performing, Sonny Emory also shares his knowledge with others. He teaches as a professor at Georgia State University. He focuses on Applied Percussion, helping students learn how to play drums and other percussion instruments.
