Zoro has relocated to Nashville, TN from Los Angeles. For those seeking private lessons, that means you can either catch him on the road (see the events page), or, when in Nashville, contact him at 818-257-2414. Zoro will be teaching exclusively at Forks Drum Closet, the top drum store in the region.
February 20, 2007, St. Louis, MO
Zoro, visited the
St. Louis
home and gave a powerful message from his heart as a father. He shared his story of growing up in a broken home with six brothers and sisters and only a single mother to raise them. As a result of the abandonment and rejection he experienced as a child, he developed a need to win acceptance and approval from others. It was from his brokenness that God became real to him and filled the role of a father in his heart.
Read the entire release at the Mercy Ministries site
Mainstream Rock Drummer Zoro—Keeps Family Focus On The Real Reason For The Season
Nashville, Tennessee) --December 13, 2006 -- Mainstream rock legend, Zoro, whose passion on drums has rewarded him with scores of major music awards and industry accolades and has taken him to the best stages in the world, holds special memories to share with his two children about the real meaning of Christmas.
Zoro, who this year became a major global voice for the work of Compassion International in their sponsorship of the world’s neediest children, was himself a child of poverty. One of seven children raised fatherless on the tough streets of Los Angeles’ Compton district, Z’s mother, Maria always made Christmas special for her children. Debilitated by crippling arthritis, her family was forced to rely on welfare and food stamps with Christmas for the children often coming through the generosity of strangers and gifts provided by Toys For Tots.
As Zoro relates to author Amy Hammond Hagberg in her new book My Favorite Christmas, published by Integrity House:
“When I think about my favorite Christmas memory, one in particular really jumps out,” Z today recalls in the book. “As a kid, I loved to bang on things—coffee cans, or whatever I could get my hands on. For years I wanted a real drum set—but I knew in our circumstances there was no way this could happen. This particular Christmas morning when I looked under the tree, there was an enormous box with my name on it. I ripped the box open and found a whole set of drums in it. I can still see it to this day—with the picture of Mickey Mouse on the bass drum. Man, to say I was overjoyed would be a huge understatement!”
He continues: “I think my mother had more joy than I did just watching me, because it had taken everything she had to be able to get those drums for me. I banged happily on them all Christmas Day and night until the paper skins finally ripped right through. That Christmas changed my destiny—it set a fire in me. Fortunately,my mother lived to see what happened with that one gift she gave me and the seed it planted in my life.”
Zoro and his wife Renee now have children of their own, son Jarod, now 7, and daughter Jordan, 5. “Since they were toddlers, we’ve taught them what the word ‘compassion’ means," notes Z. "One Christmas I took them to Toys ‘R' Us and told them to pick out what they wanted the most as a gift. Of course, they both picked the biggest, coolest thing they could find. Then I said, ‘Now you’re going to get the best gift of all in the experience of learning to give. We’re going to take these toys to the fire department and put them in the big Toys For Tots bin and bless someone else.'"
"I explained that there were kids all around us who didn’t have money to buy presents, so we’re going to give those children our presents and make them the happiest kids in the world. I told them, ‘When I was a little boy, I was one of those children—and if it weren’t for the kindness of strangers, I wouldn’t have had a gift for Christmas. This has now become our special family tradition at Christmastime, and because of this experience our kids have become real, true givers.”
It's a Christmas lesson that has paid rich dividends.
"Last year I went on a missions trip to Ghana, West Africa. When I returned I was showing the kids the photos of the children—including one little African boy who had lost a finger. My son looked up at me and asked me how much a finger cost. He wanted to buy a new one for that little boy for Christmas. Tears poured down my cheeks, because I knew in that instant my son now understood what ‘compassion’ meant –and in understanding that, had learned the true meaning of Christmas.”
Zoro, who was in November a major profile subject of CBN's popular "700 Club," has reaped a harvest of blessings many times over from the seeds planted by the gift of a drum set from
a childhood Christmas of long ago. In addition to global touring and international drum clinics, 2007 will find Z expanding his work worldwide for Compassion International. Major Christian speaking and "life coach" motivational appearances are being set for Zoro in what promises to be an ambitious New Year of 'giving back' through his music and ministry.
For more information on Zoro's personal work with Compassion International, resource on line at:
http://zorothedrummer.com/compassion/index.html
.
For more information about sponsoring a Compassion Child this Christmas resource: www.compassioninternational.com
Zoro is profiled this coming Saturday, November 18th on One Cubed USA, which airs on ABC Family at 3am on Friday-Saturday morning. Yeah, it's early, so set your Tivo on "Inspire"!
See the One Cubed webcast now!
You can also watch Zoro’s story on The 700 Club on Thursday, Nov. 30.
The 700 Club is an hour-long program and airs on the following stations (check your local listings or click here to see program times for your area):
NATIONAL
ABC Family Channel 9am/11pm/3am ET and PT
Trinity Broadcasting Network 3pmET/12pm PT
New Book “God Unplugged” Reveals Life of Persistently Funky Drummer For God
(Nashville, Tennessee) – November 16, 2006—
Viewers this weekend of CBN-TV’s cool and eclectic video/music program 1Cubed will have the rare treat of a trip inside the life of Zoro—multi-awarded and multi-platinum drummer in mainstream rock music’s star driven solar system—and a man on a mission to change lives for God in the rest of the known universe.
1Cubed producer Janet White and the CBN film crew track Zoro on a day that’s as much a ‘lesson in life’ as it is a day in the life of the man multiple times voted “#1 R&B Drummer” in industry polls from Modern Drummer to Drum! Magazine. In addition to rocking out on the best stages in mainstream with artists of the caliber of Lenny Kravitz and Bobby Brown, to drop only two of a score of names, “Z” is a dedicated author and teacher (his mastery of drums takes him around the globe with teaching clinics for major endorsement sponsors) –and is now emerging as an in-demand motivational speaker on the national circuit. As viewers will see, one source of fuel propels the multiple engines that rocket the cool and funky charisma of Z forward: God.
1Cubed will air this Saturday, November 18th on the ABC Family Network, (2:00 A.M. Eastern) as well as on Family Net, Sky Angel, and a list of national market affiliate stations locally. Check local listings and for complete airdate information resource online at: http://www.1cubedusa.com/
With a major feature profile in the current issue of Christian Musician Magazine, Z is also a fascinating chapter study in the newly released book How Do You Know He’s Real? God Unplugged, the second book in a series by author Amy Hammond Hagberg released by Destiny Image Publishers. Recently signed as a global spokesperson for Compassion International, Zoro is a passionate voice for sponsorship of children in the world’s neediest countries, and will be making Compassion related commitments throughout next year as part of his international tour scheduling. He is also planning a series of national engagements as a speaker in both mainstream and Christian genres.
Zoro is featured in the new release "How Do You Know He’s Real? God Unplugged " and "My Favorite Christmas" both by Amy Hammond Hagberg (Destiny Image).
Buy them now!
Young garage band gets encouragement from one of the world's most celebrated musicians.
(Nashville, Tennessee) – September 7, 2006 –Style Network’s hot new reality series for the housekeeping challenged among us—Clean House—will air next week with a special celebrity guest in the clean-up crew. World famous rock R&B drummer, Zoro, whose command of the stage on drums for top artists such as Lenny Kravitz and Bobby Brown has lined his walls with platinum albums and virtually every singular award available for his musicianship, put down his drumsticks to help the Miller family of five have a creative clean-up around their California digs.
The premise of the show—to create order out of chaos—and give families a fresh beginning on the road to tidiness—had a unique spin with Zoro in the mix. The three Miller boys, who have formed their own band, The Sheds, dreamed of a rehearsal room for their growing assortment of band gear. In addition to show host Niecy Nash and the Clean House crew of interior interventionists, the production crew put out a call for a musical mentor for the boys.
Enter Zoro—who not only grooves like no other drummer in rock music—but is also an increasingly in-demand motivational speaker with a heart for encouraging kids. As viewers will see next week—the Millers home clean-up became a sweeping success! The Miller Kids—Mac, age 14, Evan age 13, and Morgan, age 10, not only got their rehearsal room in the unveiling of their reborn home—but a stage load of new professional band gear—guitars, bass, new sound system and all accessories from Musiciansfriend.com. Drum equipment included gear from major Zoro sponsors Sabian cymbals and Evans drumheads.
Zoro’s personally delivered gifts to the boys included a brick of a dozen sets of his Vic Firth signature drumsticks, an autographed copy of his best selling book and DVD The Commandments of R&B Drumming, and signed Z posters for the rehearsal room walls. No one was more enthusiastic about the episode than Z himself. “It was a pleasure to guest on Clean House, to meet the Miller family and to listen to The Sheds,” Z noted onset. “I live to launch people into their destinies, and thoroughly enjoyed being an instrument of encouragement to the Miller boys.” Added Angie Brown of the Clean House production team: “Zoro encouraged the boys to dedicate themselves to their music and we’ve since heard The Sheds have taken his advice to heart and are performing in Southern California.”
Zoro, who will be in Europe conducting master level drum clinics in September, won’t be home in L.A. to catch the scheduled September 13th airing. But he will monitor the progress of The Sheds and their dream of a career in Z's professional world. Zoro, who grew up fatherless on the tough streets of L.A. only to reach the pinnacle of success in the music world is one man who dramatically understands the power of a dream. “As a father myself, it touched my soul deeply to see parents so happy for their children. It was truly a blessing and an honor to be part of such a special moment in the life of one American family who dares to dream” noted Zoro.
Catch local listings for Clean House on the Style Network, airing Wednesdays nationally.
(Los Angeles, California) - August 2, 2006 -- The mark of the "Z" has had a major impact in rock and roll history for more than two decades. Now Zoro wants to impact America's youth,and beyond that, the entire culture with a message beyond the music.
Z breaks all the "rock star" rules and molds. The only "high" that has affected his life amidst the glitz and glam of rock ‘n roll is the one he's interested in getting you hooked on: Jesus Christ.
Internally jet-propelled with unlimited energy and passion for life, Z is the "thinking man's musician." Articulate and well read, he combines his natural charisma with warmth and humor-and more importantly with a deeper desire to live life with purpose, prayer, and a dedication to excellence. The pinnacle of worldly success in the mainstream music industry is, Zoro feels, a platform for greater good in the arena of another calling he feels drawn to.
With the advent of summer '06, Zoro is emerging from behind the drum kit to use his giftings as a speaker/motivator to America's youth-and beyond-from a planned series of national speaking engagements, Christian festival appearances, and a continuing series of nationally sponsored master level drum clinics that prove to be lessons in life as well as in musicianship.
Zoro has also this month aligned his influence and personal energies in an ongoing high profile alliance as an international voice for the work of Compassion International. A Christian organization dedicated to the sponsorship of the world's neediest children through their work in more than 30 countries around the world, it's a misssion close to the heart of Z, who grew up fatherless as one of seven children in the tough environment of Los Angeles' poorer districts.
In the midst of a full schedule of mainstream commitments, Zoro will be a key speaker for Compassion's global mission with a much anticipated August 11-12th appearance at Rock The Canyon, a major Christian music festival being staged at Twin Falls, Idaho.
Additional news on major media and television appearances for Zoro will follow immediately.
