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 If there’s one word that describes drummer Liberty DeVitto’s approach it’s infectious. At a live show or on a recording, perhaps on one of Billy Joe’s many hits, the energy is abundant. It bounces the track along and makes you want to dance. And this, of course, is the role of the good pop session drummer.
Many might be surprised to hear that, aside from his recording and live duties, Liberty’s an eloquent clinician and tireless educator, whose work with the Manhattan after-school program Little Kids Rock has been cited by Time magazine.
Born in Brooklyn in 1950, DeVitto is essentially a self-taught drummer, who, like so many of his peers, gravitated to Ringo Starr following that historic Beatles appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Liberty’s first name live gig was Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, a frenetic rock/soul band that charted in the late sixties and early seventies. Departing the Wheels, Liberty’s first major recording was Supa’s Jamboree, released on Paramount.
A motor vehicle accident on black ice derailed his career for a year but Liberty resurfaced with Topper, which would go on to become Billy Joel’s backing band. Of all the numerous Billy Joel hits, such as “Only the Good Die Young”, one comes to mind as definitive of Liberty’s craft: “Just the Way You Are”. The drummer’s work is deceivingly complex. He weaves a blend of Latin and rock that builds patiently to a climax. Decades later, the song is still a favorite at weddings, where drummers will seek to emulate DeVitto’s seamless and fluid transitions—no easy task.
The mention of “Latin” brings up Liberty’s affiliation with LP. The projection and durability of LP bells are particularly important to DeVitto, a hard hitting rock drummer. As well, Liberty uses a variety of LP percussion instruments live and in the studio.
A thirty-year career with Billy Joel and a growing session tally, including tracks with Icelandic sensation Johanna, keep DeVitto busy. In addition he can be seen around The Apple with his side project, the NYC Hit Squad. An appropriately named act, it boasts a revolving roster of session players who’ve played with most of the major acts of our time.
Recently, Liberty appeared at Kosa, a “summer camp” for drummers and percussionists led by fellow LP endorser Aldo Mazza. As Liberty remarks on his website www.libertydevitto.com, his passion for music, educational pursuits, and, above all, drumming steers his journey.
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