Todd Nance facts for kids

Todd Nance (born November 20, 1962 – died August 19, 2020) was an American musician. He was famous as the first drummer for the band Widespread Panic. He played with the band until he left in 2016. Todd Nance passed away in 2020 after facing health challenges.

Early Life and Musical Start

Todd Nance was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. When he was a child, he started playing the guitar. On Christmas Day in 1975, he received his first drum set. Around this time, he went to his first concert, which was Lynyrd Skynyrd. This show inspired him to take music more seriously.

In high school, around 1977 or 1978, he met Michael Houser. Michael would later become his bandmate in Widespread Panic. They formed a band together called Just Us. After finishing high school in 1981, Nance moved to Atlanta.

Playing with Widespread Panic

In 1986, Todd Nance reconnected with Michael Houser. He joined the band that Michael had started with John Bell and Dave Schools. This group of four musicians played their first show as Widespread Panic in February 1986.

The band first became popular in Athens, Georgia. Later, they grew into a nationally known music group. Todd Nance played drums on the first eleven studio albums released by Widespread Panic. He did not play on their 2015 album, Street Dogs. However, he did help write all the songs on that album.

Brute. Side Project

Todd Nance and the other members of Widespread Panic also played in another band called brute.. This band was active between 1995 and 2002. It included everyone from Widespread Panic at the time, plus Vic Chesnutt. Brute. released two albums: Nine High a Pallet and Co-Balt.

Leaving Widespread Panic

Todd Nance took a break from Widespread Panic in late 2014. He needed time to deal with personal reasons. During his break, Duane Trucks filled in for him at all live shows. Nance returned to play four concerts in February 2016. These shows were part of their "Panic en La Playa" event. After these shows, Widespread Panic announced that Nance had officially left the band. Duane Trucks then became the permanent drummer.

Other Music Projects

In 1997, Todd Nance helped create a band called Barbara Cue. This group was a supergroup, meaning it had members from other well-known bands. The original idea was to be a NRBQ cover band. But they soon started writing their own songs. Barbara Cue released three studio albums.

During his break from Widespread Panic, Nance sometimes performed with a band called Todd Nance & Friends. Some musicians who played with him in this group included Luther Dickinson and Jerry Joseph. After leaving Widespread Panic, Nance also played with other bands. These included Bloodkin and the Dyrty Byrds.

Passing Away

Todd Nance passed away on August 19, 2020, in Athens, Georgia. He was 57 years old. His death was first shared by a musician he worked with, Cody Dickinson. It was later confirmed by Relix magazine. The specific health challenges that led to his death have not been shared publicly.