…Grammy winning, drum phenom
Gene Coye taught himself to play drums. By the time he was a teen, Gene was playing in numerous community choirs and jazz ensembles spanning from Chicago to NY. Today he is rhythmic foundation for the Lao Tizer Band who will perform on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. Gene received his BFA in jazz at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he studied under famed jazz legend Joe Labarbara. While in college Gene toured with Carlos Santana and his son Salvador. Upon graduating, he quickly established himself as one of the most sought after drummers in Los Angeles. Of late, Gene has won a Grammy with the John Daversa big band, and has been recording, touring and performing in Europe and the US with SEAL, Larry Carlton, Hiromi SonicWonder, Bob Reynolds, Richard Bona, Mike Landau, Robben Ford, Stanley Clarke, Terrence Blanchard, Pharoah Sanders, Tom Scott, Bennie Maupin, John Beasly’s Monkestra, Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Cody Chestnut, DJ Khalil, Big Krit, Rick Ross, Mali Music, Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote), Leslie Odom jr. … all in addition to recording and producing his own band and numerous other artists from LA to NY.
