Rick Shutter

Rick Shutter is an American drummer and percussionist. He performed in the band for the original New York production of Godspell at the age of 19 and for the soundtracks of the play and subsequent film adaptation. He has also been credited as Ricky Shutter and Riki Shutter.[1]

Rick Shutter
Rick Shutter performing in September 2012
Rick Shutter performing in September 2012
Background information
Also known asRicky Shutter, Riki Shutter
Occupation(s)Drummer, percussionist
Instrument(s)drums, percussion
Years active1964–present
LabelsArista
Bell
Mercury
RCA
Sony / CBS Records /
Columbia Pictures
Websitewww.facebook.com/Ricky.Shutter

Career

Shutter began playing the drums at the age of 8, and in 1964, at the age of 13, he joined The Young Executives (also known as The Executives), a trio of young teenagers from Malverne, New York. Entertainment manager Steve Paul described the musicians as "twelve-year-old kids dressed in business suits".[2] The band was signed by Mercury Records and its 1966 single, Everybody Do the Duck, broke into the national Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The B-side was "Come On In Baby".[4] The young band played shows and entertained in celebrity social circles in the New York City metropolitan area and the Hamptons. The teens played with or for such personalities as Leonard Bernstein,[5] Sammy Davis Jr.,[6] Andy Warhol,[7] and The Rolling Stones,[8] and in concerts and at clubs such as Steve Paul's The Scene,[7] Arthur, and Westhampton's The Barge[9] (where The Rascals were discovered in 1965.)[10] The band also appeared on the Clay Cole's Diskotek television show.[11] The trio disbanded in 1966.[3][5]: 40–65 

Shutter continued his career through his teen years. He worked club dates with Steven Scott Music, played the Catskills circuit, and backed up oldies acts such as Bo Diddley, The Shirelles, and Gary U.S. Bonds.

Godspell

In 1971 at the age of 19, Shutter began playing drums and percussion in the original four-piece band of the New York production of Godspell, whose score was created by Stephen Schwartz. Shutter then played in Godspell's Los Angeles company and on its national tour.[nb 1] He also played on the Godspell cast album and the soundtrack for the ensuing film adaptation.[13][14] While doing eight performances a week for the show, Shutter also did extensive session work that included demos, spec deals for record labels, and projects by singer-songwriters.[15]

The stage production of Godspell features soft-rock music in a variety of styles.[16] Paul Shaffer, music director of David Letterman's late-night talk shows, described Shutter's "big drums" as being "the defining sound" of the cast album. (Shaffer was music director of Godspell's Toronto production and participated in the film soundtrack recording sessions).[17] Modern Drummer magazine described Shutter as bringing "serious rock power" to the music.[18]

The cast album was a commercial success, spending months as the only theatrical cast album in the top 100 in sales.[19] Boosted by the strength of its "gargantuan hit single"[18] Day by Day[nb 2] (which reached the top 10), the album's sales earned a Gold Record certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and ultimately reached the Platinum sales threshold.[22] The cast album also garnered 1971 Grammy awards for "Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album".[23][nb 3] The film soundtrack, released in 1973, was somewhat different from the cast album and was also a commercial success. The soundtrack reached the Top 40 and remained on the charts for almost a year, earning Gold Record status.[24]

To support the growing franchise,[25] Shutter and the stage ensemble performed in numerous media outlets, including the telecast of the 14th Annual Grammy Awards,[26] ABC's Directions, Midday Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and video news productions for German television and the Japanese Television Network. Live performances occurred in New York City's Central Park and at Madison Square Garden.[5]: 176 [27] The soundtrack was also heard in the documentary The Filming of Godspell, broadcast on CBS.[28][29][30][31]

Later career

After leaving Godspell, Shutter was a staff session player for various record companies and recording studios; he has been independent since 1984. Shutter has worked on a variety of projects, including commercials and film soundtracks, and has continued to record and perform with regional and national acts.[27][32][33][34] In 2018, Shutter joined Shaffer, Alice Ripley, Ben Vereen, and Don Scardino in a Godspell tribute at The Cutting Room music venue in New York City. The occasion was a benefit concert for the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, one of the charitable causes favored by Schwartz.[35] In 2021, Shutter started playing with The Drifters.

Shutter endorses DW Drums, Evans Drumheads,[36] GMS Drums, Humes & Berg drum cases, LP (Latin Percussion), and ProMark drumsticks.[27][37]

Shutter works with regional projects and bands in New York.[27]

Selected credits[1]

Albums

  • Godspell (Arista / Sony, 1971) - original cast recording
  • Godspell: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - (Arista / Sony, 1973)
  • Pepper (RCA, 1977) - Pepper
  • Varela (Sunlost, 1977) - Varela
  • Rock On: 1972 Chartbusters (MCA, 1996) - compilation includes Day by Day[38]
  • Test of Time (Gourmet, 2008) - Jesse Cutler[27][39]
  • Godspell: 40th Anniversary Cast Recording (Sony, 2011)

Singles

  • Everybody Do the Duck (Mercury, 1966) - The Young Executives
  • Day by Day (Arista, 1972) - Godspell cast recording
  • Beautiful City (Arista, 1973) - Godspell film soundtrack
  • So Wild (RCA, 1977) - Pepper
  • You're the One[40] (1982) - The Chaperones

Film and television soundtracks

  • Godspell
  • The Filming of Godspell
  • John Wayne: The Duke Lives On"[41]

Television appearances

  • Grammy Awards
  • The Tonight Show
  • The Today Show
  • Good Morning America
  • Midday Live
  • Directions
  • Clay Cole's Diskotek
  • Wonderama
  • German television
  • Japanese Television Network

Awards
Year of Release Work Award Category
1971 Godspell cast album Grammy Best Score From Original Cast Show Album
Gold Record
1973 Godspell film soundtrack Gold Record

Notes
  1. Shutter's replacement in the New York company was Max Weinberg, who left the position when he won the audition to play in the E Street Band for Bruce Springsteen.[12]
  2. As of 2010, according to Godspell recordings collector Tom Peters, "It [Day by Day] was the last showtune to chart as performed by the original cast."[20][21]
  3. In 2011, the Grammy awards category "Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album" was renamed "Best Musical Theater Album."

References
  1. "Ricky Shutter". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  2. McCabe, David; Dalton, David (2003). A Year in the Life of Andy Warhol. Phaidon Press Inc. p. 158. ISBN 0714843229.
  3. Vislocky, Lauren (August 12, 2008). "A Life in Music". ASCAP.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  4. "The Young Executives". 45cat.com. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  5. Cutler, Jesse (2008). Starlust: The Price of Fame. Morgan James, LLC. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-60037-418-0. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. "Sammy Davis Sits In With The 'Executives' of Malverne". Newsday. No. 296. August 20, 1965.
  7. Dever, Joseph X. (August 18, 1965). "Gotham-Go-Round". New York World-Telegram and Sun.
  8. Mason, Brooke. "What Is The Price of Fame? - A Book Review / Interview With Jesse Cutler". Bitchinentertainment.com. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  9. Daytime Hollywood Insider. Youtube.com. Event occurs at 2:42. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  10. Brady, Tom. "The Rascals". Bradcoweb.com/rockgroups. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  11. "The Clay Cole Show (syndicated) (1959-67)". Ctva.biz. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  12. Hoffman, Jan (June 29, 2000). "PUBLIC LIVES; A Drummer on a Roll Revisits His Past Life". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  13. Stewart, John (2006). Broadway Musicals, 1943 - 2004. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 0-7864-2244-0. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  14. "Ricky Shutter: Credits". Allmusic.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  15. "What Do you Know About...? Rick Shutter". Moderndrummer.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  16. Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway Musicals, 1910-2007: Casts, Credits, Songs, Critical Reception and Performance Data of more than 1,800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-7864-3399-5. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  17. Shaffer, Paul; Ritz, David (2009). We'll Be Here for the Rest of our Lives: A Swingin' Showbiz Saga. USA: Anchor Books. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7679-2886-1. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  18. Rose, Willie; Milkowski, Bill; Bidwell, Stephen (September 1, 2020). "Rick Shutter". Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  19. Laird, Paul R. (2014). The Musical Theater of Stephen Schwartz: From 'Godspell' to 'Wicked' and Beyond. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-8108-9191-3. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  20. "'Godspell' Songs: Stephen Schwartz Answers Questions About the 'Godspell' Score" (PDF). Stephenschwartz.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  21. de Giere, Carol. "'Godspell' Recordings: Interviews with Collectors". Stephenschwartz.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  22. "Searchable Database". Riaa.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  23. "Winners [1971]". Grammy.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  24. Ruhlmann, William. "Overview: Godspell (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Allmusic.com. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  25. de Giere, Carol; Schwartz, Stephen (2014). The Godspell Experience: Inside a Transformative Musical. Scene 1 Arts, LLC. ISBN 978-0989566001.
  26. Martin, Andrew (August 2, 2011). "The Original Women of 'Godspell' Are Still All Mighty!". Themartinreport.wordpress.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  27. "Bio". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  28. "The Filming of Godspell (1973) (Part 2/3)". Youtube.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  29. "The Filming of Godspell (1973) (Part 3/3)". Youtube.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  30. "The Filming of Godspell > Film Cast". Castalbums.org. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  31. "Camera Three". Tv.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  32. "Since You've Been Asking, This is What I've Been Doing Lately". Tommymandel.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  33. "Pepper - 1977 Pepper". Glorydazemusic.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  34. "Andy Aledort / Joe Vicino at the Viking". Andyaledort.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  35. DeGiere, Carol. "Orphaned Song Concert with Stephen Schwartz Remembered". Theschwartzscene.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  36. "Artists: Drum Set". Evansdrumheads.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  37. "Artists: Drum Set". Promark.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  38. "Rock On: Top 40, 1972 Chartbusters (CD)". Tower.com. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  39. Hetrick, Adam (July 11, 2008). "'Godspell' Grammy Winner Cutler Releases 'Test of Time' Album". Playbill.com. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  40. Library of Congress, Copyright Office (1978). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Fourth Series: Sound Recordings, Part 7. Vol. 1. p. 618. ISBN 9780894540011. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  41. "John Wayne the Duke Lives On: A Tribute, Full Cast & Crew". Imdb.com. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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