About

Will Haywood Smith was raised in the North East of England and currently lives in New York City playing with various artists. Will most recently finished recording Paperdoll’s new album at Bushwick Studios in Brooklyn having returned from a tour of China with them in October. Will also helped record on Silvina Moreno’s latest album recorded at Quad Lakeside Studio, NY, continues to teach at the ever popular “School of Rock” in Manhattan and entertain local crowds playing with The Brit Pack.
 

Having begun playing at the age of 6, Will gained valuable early experience as the drummer for the Northumberland County Jazz Orchestra from 2000 to 2004 and played numerous gigs locally, nationally and internationally, touring France in the summer of 2000. Eager to progress, Will was the inaugural drummer with the North East Regional Jazz Orchestra, “Jambone”, from its formation in 2001, until 2006. One long held childhood ambition was achieved in performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2005 BBC Proms. This was broadcast live on BBC 4 television for which Will was interviewed and also live on BBC Radio 3. He toured Hungary with the band in the summer of 2006, which included playing at the hugely popular Sziget festival in Budapest.

Prior to leaving for the USA and Berklee College of Music to further his studies, Will found inspiration from warming up at drum clinics for such well-known drummers Jo Jo Mayer, Steve Ferrone, Zoro, Thomas Lang, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Steve White and Gary Husband. These experiences have proved invaluable in Wills own lessons to adults and children, lessons that Will finds as inspiring as being taught himself.

In November 2007 Will was seen in action as one of three finalists in the Mapex ‘Drummer of Tomorrow’ final at Music Live in Birmingham, UK. He came second in the 19-26 age group to a fellow Berklee graduate 3 years his senior.

As a student Will cemented his desire for music to be central to his life. Intent on performing for a living, he continues to study and has thrived under the guidance of the phenomenal Berklee drum faculty and such professionals as Dave DiCenso, Mike Mangini and Deantoni Parks. As testament to his hard work while at Berklee, Will was awarded the Vic Firth Scholarship during his final year before moving to New York City from which he continues to pursue various music projects both in the US and the UK.