I was born into a musical household. My brother, Barry Miles, ten years older than me, was a child prodigy drummer/pianist/vibist/composer in the mid-late '50s appearing on bills with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Lester Young, and Billie Holiday among others. Read accolades by celebrities of the day, and liner notes by Woody Herman  to Barry's first album, "Miles Of Genius". I remember hearing music all day long from Barry's record collection, his jam sessions, and performances with his bands that included newcomers Woody Shaw, Jimmy Owens, and Eddie Gomez. 

Drawing from his early experiences, Barry began developing a new form of music called "syncretic". It was his word describing the fusion of jazz with Indian and other ethnic rhythms, the electric energy of rock, classical, R&B and anything else inspiring. His "Syncretic Compositions"  album, recorded in 1966, marks one of, if not the first effort that later was labeled "fusion". 

By 1969, I began to practice drums regularly. Barry recognized my talent and gave me the opportunity to focus my routine on material he was writing specifically for a new album. This music became a natural part of me, and in 1971, at the age of 14, I recorded my first album, Barry's "White Heat". It inspired young musicians including Pat Metheny  and helped launch the careers of Pat Martino, John Abercrombie and Lew Tabackin who played on it. I became aware there were other musicians paving a similar path in jazz, but it was my own unique musical world that made my drumming progress the way it did. Although they inspired me, these musicians were my peers, not mentors. 

I compiled some of the concepts I played during that time, particularly "over the bar line" patterns, and wrote a drum instruction book, "The Featured Drummer". It has recently been re-published by Music Sales with an audio CD of me playing the exercises along with Barry and John Patitucci. Read praise  from several of my contemporaries. 

While many great musicians came through my brother's "Barry Miles and Silverlight" band, including those who were beginning their careers such as  Al DiMeola, I continued to help Barry develop this music throughout the '70's. After attending Princeton University, I decided to become a freelancer on the New York music scene. In a variety of styles, I played on countless albums , jingles, TV shows, films, and live performances. 

All along, I've had a simultaneous career as a composer/songwriter/arranger/producer. Several of my songs  have been recorded, and many pieces have been used for TV, jingles and film. 

Recently, I formed my own group, the "Terry Silverlight Band". I combined my varied musical experiences as a drummer/writer and pieced them together into the musical setting I originally started out with. I've recorded three solo artist CDs. On "Wild!", bassist Will Lee  graced me with his co-producing and extraordinary playing along with Paul Shaffer, Edgar Winter, Hiram Bullock, Chuck Loeb, Lew Soloff and David Mann. On my latest CD, "Diamond In The Riff", I've reunited with Barry who co-produced with me and plays amazing piano throughout, and Will Lee. There's live video footage of the recording session, along with my other videos on YouTube. 

I've continued to freelance as a drummer and I'm a member of arranger  David Matthews's big band, the "Manhattan Jazz Orchestra" which I tour Japan regularly with, have played on recent recordings for various artists, and I'm active as a clinician and educator. I've been a featured artist at PASIC, and have participated in worldwide internet clinics hosted by Allan Molnar 's Alive Project. Recently, I co-authored another book published by Music Sales, "The Stick Bag Book of Jazz, Funk and Fusion".  I'm also glad to say that many of my students over the years have had successful drumming careers of their own. 

--Terry Silverlight