I'm 70 years old. I began when Ringo was making Ludwig a household name amongst drummers. Back in 2001 the family threw a surprise 50th b'day party for me. It really was especially a surprise because they did it not on my b'day.
Trying to keep what can be a long story short.. I quit the music business around 1970, because of all the insane corruption I was witnessing to with musicians who were all like sheep being led to the slaughter. I quit cold turkey. And, yes... prior to that, I had been for a relatively short time involved with sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was considered one of the top drummers where I lived. Music had been my life. Got saved at college one day while reading a tract... and, without knowing why, had the grace power in me to quit.
Driving - swinging, drumming can easily be considered as an evil by stiff religious types. Though asked, I avoided as much as possible playing drums in church at Bible college for that reason. I ran from it.
Well.. to keep this as short as I can.
On my 50th b'day the family pooled their funds and bought me an introductory level drum set from Mars Music. Anyone remember Mars? There they were, in front of me. Refusing to play like I had before I was saved, I sat behind the set and began playing in a style I had never played before. Now, that was after about thirty years of no playing....
Shortly, things began to progress. No more public playing. I only practiced in a house that I was sharing rent. I ended up trading up that set, and later went all out and purchased a thin shelled three ply maple, studio set, to feel comfortable with.
Here I was fifty years old and found myself wanting to make at least one professional recording of my playing for posterity's sake. Found a Christian engineer at a Guitar Center and he agreed to record at his small studio in his house. Found out during the session he had done some missionary work.
If I could upload the file I would share it here. The forum software does not recognize my file.
(update)
Just found a way to link to an online upload I did a few years ago....
https://www.drumforum.org/attachments/drum-soul-los-full-wma.265079/
There we go!
Grace and peace...