Biography
Todd Sucherman, a rock drummer born in Chicago, Illinois, entered the world as the son of Dr. Arnold J. Sucherman, who balanced a medical career with his role as house drummer at the Chez Parre' club alongside Lena Horne, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sophie Tucker, Joe E. Lewis, Jack Benny, and others. His mother was actress Jo Seiwert, while his older brothers Paul Sucherman on keyboards and Joel Sucherman on bass likewise built careers in music. Early lessons from his father equipped him with drumming technique and music-reading skills, after which the Sucherman Brothers quickly began working professionally. One year at the Berklee College of Music preceded private study with Gary Chaffee. In 1988 Sucherman returned to Chicago and established himself as a session drummer.
When founding member John Panozzo of veteran Chicago rock group Styx grew too ill to perform, Sucherman received an invitation in 1996 to join the reunion lineup. He toured with the band and made his recorded debut on the live album/video Return to Paradise (1997), then appeared on the studio album Brave New World (1999). Two additional live releases followed: Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, shared with REO Speedwagon, and Styx World: Live 2001. The studio album Cyclorama arrived in 2003.
Even while fulfilling commitments to Styx, Sucherman has recorded with the Angelic Voices of Faith, Bag It, Bee, Michael Bolton, Jim Brickman, Peter Cetera, the Christianaires, Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Tim Cunningham, Bill Dickens, the Falling Wallendas, Dottie Jones, Fareed Haque, Wade Hubbard, Into the Green, Henry Kapono, R. Kelly, Steve Kolander, Danny Kravitz, Donald Malloy, Bob Mamet, Nicholas Markos, Douglas Miller, Taylor Mills, Not the Joneses, Lee Nysted, Billy Ocean, Jim Peterik, Greg Ridley, Kane Roberts, Rochelle, Morty Shallman, Tommy Shaw, Survivor, Joe Lynn Turner, John Wetton, and Brian Wilson. Live performances have included dates with Cole, Culbertson, Dickens, the Falling Wallendas, Haque, Mamet, Wilson, Josie Aiello, Rick Braun, Lionel Cole, Bobby Enriquez, David Hasselhoff, Darryl Jones, Eric Marienthal, Michael McDermott, Spinal Tap, Sandy Torano, Dave Uhrich, and Peter White. In August 2008 Sucherman issued the instructional video Methods & Mechanics -- For Useful Musical Drumming.
When founding member John Panozzo of veteran Chicago rock group Styx grew too ill to perform, Sucherman received an invitation in 1996 to join the reunion lineup. He toured with the band and made his recorded debut on the live album/video Return to Paradise (1997), then appeared on the studio album Brave New World (1999). Two additional live releases followed: Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, shared with REO Speedwagon, and Styx World: Live 2001. The studio album Cyclorama arrived in 2003.
Even while fulfilling commitments to Styx, Sucherman has recorded with the Angelic Voices of Faith, Bag It, Bee, Michael Bolton, Jim Brickman, Peter Cetera, the Christianaires, Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Tim Cunningham, Bill Dickens, the Falling Wallendas, Dottie Jones, Fareed Haque, Wade Hubbard, Into the Green, Henry Kapono, R. Kelly, Steve Kolander, Danny Kravitz, Donald Malloy, Bob Mamet, Nicholas Markos, Douglas Miller, Taylor Mills, Not the Joneses, Lee Nysted, Billy Ocean, Jim Peterik, Greg Ridley, Kane Roberts, Rochelle, Morty Shallman, Tommy Shaw, Survivor, Joe Lynn Turner, John Wetton, and Brian Wilson. Live performances have included dates with Cole, Culbertson, Dickens, the Falling Wallendas, Haque, Mamet, Wilson, Josie Aiello, Rick Braun, Lionel Cole, Bobby Enriquez, David Hasselhoff, Darryl Jones, Eric Marienthal, Michael McDermott, Spinal Tap, Sandy Torano, Dave Uhrich, and Peter White. In August 2008 Sucherman issued the instructional video Methods & Mechanics -- For Useful Musical Drumming.
Albums