# Tris Imboden

Gregory Tristan "Tris" Imboden (born July 27, 1951) is an American rock and jazz drummer. As a performer, he has been in studio sessions and on tour with some of the most notable and highest-selling musicians of all time. He was the drummer for the multi-platinum band Chicago from 1990 to 2018. He is a multi-platinum selling artist. As an educator, he has been a drum clinician and author of tutorial materials.
Some of Imboden's most notable work include recordings with Neil Diamond, Kenny Loggins, Firefall, Richard Marx, Steve Vai, Roger Daltrey, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Chicago, Anita Baker, Julio Iglesias and Stevie Wonder.
In addition he has toured the world with rock and jazz acts such as Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Firefall, Cock Robin, Michael McDonald, Chicago, and other notable groups.
As a full-time band member, Imboden's career has included Honk, the Kenny Loggins Band (including "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" featuring Michael Jackson, the six-time platinum Number One hit "Footloose", and "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack), and Chicago. His career with Chicago has seen the release of thirteen albums, several of them certified as platinum.

## Biography

Aside from a brief, early, move to Germany, Tris Imboden was raised in various beachside communities of Orange County in Southern California. As a primarily self-taught, lifetime career musician, his musical interests were stirred by seeing a parade when he was five years old.
   I still remember the day my dad took me to a Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach. This marching band from Compton came down the street and the cadence that they were playing almost made me hysterical. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
   ... the drum section was just smoking ... I was so deeply moved. But I knew at that moment that was what I was going to have to do.
   So from that point on I was always drawn toward drums.
His formal training began from grade school; and until there was an available position in the percussion section of the school band, he drummed at home on a practice pad and studied basic music theory on the trumpet at school. He ultimately reached the position of second chair trumpeter before switching to the then-available percussion section in junior high school. He currently resides in Malibu, California, and on the island of Kauai, Hawai'i, where he is an avid surfer.

## Career

Imboden began his adolescent career in various surf bands, and then achieved professional status in a high school band called The Other Half. The band performed at venues ranging from sock hops to Hollywood's venerable Teenage Fair, where Imboden said their popularity "clogged the whole entrance".$^{:21}$ Out of Newport Harbor High School, Imboden cofounded Honk in 1970. After recording some demo songs, the band's first album was the soundtrack for the surf movie Five Summer Stories, crediting Imboden as composer, producer, drummer, harmonica player, and vocalist. Imboden established a career trend, ultimately lasting through to Chicago, of occasionally being featured on harmonica. The song "Pipeline Sequence" reached No. 1 on Hawai'i radio. Being a member of Honk provided Imboden with formative future career experience as the band built their studio recording skills, their touring skills, and innumerable industry contacts. They worked with bands which would eventually serve as Imboden's future professional base, by touring with Loggins and Messina, Jackson Browne, and The Beach Boys—and by opening Chicago's concerts. Honk went on hiatus from 1976 to 1986, when they established a tradition of periodic reunion concerts in their original home area of Southern California, as band members' schedules permit.
From 1977 to 1986, Imboden became a full-time recording and touring member of the Kenny Loggins Band, and then would do part-time work with them until 1989, for a total of 12 years of collaboration. During his full-time tenure there, he composed and performed the drum set arrangements for popular 1980s motion picture soundtracks: Caddyshack and Footloose.
From the end of his full-time duration with Kenny Loggins in 1986, until 1989, Imboden's career became a full-time composite of various part-time session recordings and live performances with various groups. His consistent work throughout that entire duration included the following: part-time work with Kenny Loggins; stage support for Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, Al Jarreau; and "Queen of Funk-Soul", Chaka Khan. In 1986, he performed drum set overdub sessions for Neil Diamond's Headed for the Future album. This album provided a venue for Imboden's studio session collaboration with a then-member of Chicago, Bill Champlin. In 1988, he was a studio session player with former member of Chicago, bassist/lead vocalist, Peter Cetera, on Cetera's solo album titled One More Story.
In 1990, his career reshaped by joining the multi-platinum Chicago. With the departure of founding drummer Danny Seraphine, Imboden joined the band as the full-time drummer in time for the band's 1991 release titled Twenty 1. As an integral part of Chicago for the latter half of the band's 57-year total career, Imboden would contribute to twelve Chicago records, and to tours alongside The Beach Boys, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and The Doobie Brothers. Since 2012, his drum set was accompanied by Chicago's newest full-time member, veteran auxiliary percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr. On January 17, 2018, Imboden announced his resignation from the band to focus on family time with his new wife and due to the band's schedule of touring intensely for the most of each year.

## Discography

Select discography :
| Year | Artist | Album | Credit | Achievement |
| 1972 | Honk | The Original Sound Track from Five Summer Stories | Composer, producer, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals |
| 1979 | Kenny Loggins | Keep the Fire | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1984 | [Original Soundtrack] | Footloose | Drums | Billboard #1 6× platinum |
| 1986 | Neil Diamond | Headed for the Future | Drums, Background Vocals | Billboard 200 #20 |
| 1986 | Howard Hewett | I Commit to Love | Drums (Tracks 2, 3, 5, and 9) | |
| 1987 | Richard Marx | Richard Marx | Drums | Billboard #1 single Billboard 200 #8 album 3× platinum |
| 1987 | [Original Soundtrack] | St. Elmo's Fire | Drums | Billboard Hot 100 #1 Grammy nomination |
| 1990 | Steve Vai | Passion and Warfare | Drums (Tracks 7, 9) |
| 1991 | Chicago | Twenty 1 | Drums |
| 1994 | Crosby, Stills & Nash | After the Storm | Drums |
| 1995 | Chicago | Night & Day: Big Band | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1997 | Chicago | The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997 | Drums (Tracks 7, 10) | "Here in My Heart": AC #1 "The Only One": AC Top 20 Billboard 200 #55 |
| 1998 | Chicago | The Heart of Chicago 1967–1998 Volume II | |
| 1998 | Chicago | Chicago's First Christmas | Drums |
| 1998 | Chicago | Chicago 25: The Christmas Album | Drums |
| 1999 | Chicago | Chicago XXVI – The Live Album | Drums |
| 2000 | Steve Vai | 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies – Archive | Drums |
| 2002 | Chicago | Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Chicago Story: The Complete Greatest Hits 1967–2002 | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Chicago: The Box [Bonus DVD] | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa | Arranger, Drums |
| 2008 | Chicago | Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2011 | Chicago | O Christmas Three | Arranger, Drums |
| 2013 | Chicago | The Nashville Sessions | Drums |
| 2014 | Chicago | Chicago XXXVI: Now | Drums |
Complete discography :
| Year | Artist | Album | Credit |
| 1972 | Honk | The Original Sound Track from Five Summer Stories | Composer, producer, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals |
| 1973 | Honk | Honk [1973] | Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals |
| 1975 | Bert Jansch | Santa Barbara Honeymoon | Drums |
| 1975 | Iain Matthews | Go for Broke | Drums |
| 1976 | La Seine | Like a River | Drums |
| 1976 | Iain Matthews | Hit and Run | Drums |
| 1976 | John Reid | Façade | Drums |
| 1976 | Harriet Schock | You Don't Know What You're in For | Drums |
| 1978 | Kenny Loggins | Nightwatch | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1979 | Kenny Loggins | Keep the Fire | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1980 | Kenny Loggins | Kenny Loggins Alive | Harmonica, Drums, Vocals |
| 1980 | Thunder | Thunder [1980] | Drums |
| 1981 | Firefall | Clouds Across the Sun | Drums |
| 1981 | Firefall | Best of Firefall | Drums |
| 1981 | Thunder | Headphones for Cows | Drums |
| 1981 | Gary Wright | Right Place | Drums |
| 1982 | Jay Ferguson | White Noise | Drums |
| 1982 | Firefall | Break of Dawn | Drums |
| 1982 | Kenny Loggins | High Adventure | Harmonica, Percussion, Drums |
| 1982 | Tom Snow | Hungry Nights | Drums |
| 1983 | Don Felder | Airborne | Drums |
| 1984 | Fee Waybill | Read My Lips | Drums |
| 1984 | Original Soundtrack | Footloose | Drums |
| 1985 | Kenny Loggins | Vox Humana | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1986 | Stanley Clarke | Hideaway | Drums |
| 1986 | Neil Diamond | Headed for the Future | Drums, Background Vocals |
| 1986 | David Foster | David Foster | Drum Overdubs |
| 1986 | Howard Hewett | I Commit to Love | Drums |
| 1987 | Roger Daltrey | Can't Wait to See the Movie | Drum Overdubs |
| 1987 | Richard Marx | Richard Marx | Drums |
| 1987 | Original Soundtrack | St. Elmo's Fire | Drums |
| 1987 | Original Soundtrack | The Secret of My Success | Drum Overdubs |
| 1988 | Peter Cetera | One More Story | Hi Hat |
| 1988 | Neil Diamond | Best Years of Our Lives | Drums |
| 1988 | Girls | That's What Dreams Are For | Drums |
| 1988 | Julio Iglesias | Non Stop | Drum Programming |
| 1988 | Brian Wilson | Brian Wilson | Cymbals, Drums, Hi Hat |
| 1989 | Clare Fischer | Lembrancas | Drums |
| 1989 | Michael Paulo | One Passion | Percussion, Drums |
| 1990 | Steve Vai | Passion and Warfare | Drums |
| 1991 | Chicago | Twenty 1 | Drums |
| 1991 | Honk | Five Summer Stories | Composer, producer, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals |
| 1991 | Honk | Coach House Live | Drums, producer |
| 1991 | Kenny Loggins | Leap of Faith | Drums |
| 1991 | Usual Suspects | Usual Suspects | Drums |
| 1992 | Firefall | Greatest Hits | Percussion, Drums |
| 1993 | Johnny Clegg & Savuka | Heat, Dust and Dreams | Drums |
| 1994 | Bill Champlin | Burn Down the Night | Drums |
| 1994 | Crosby, Stills & Nash | After the Storm | Drums |
| 1994 | Rosco Martinez | Aqui Estoy | Drums |
| 1994 | Michael Paulo | Save the Children | Drums |
| 1994 | Various Artists | Voice of the Homeless, Vol. 1 | Drums |
| 1995 | Cecilio & Kapono | Goodtimes Together | Drums |
| 1995 | Chicago | Night and Day: Big-Band | Harmonica, Drums |
| 1995 | Kalapana | Back in Your Heart Again | Drums |
| 1995 | Freddie Ravel | Sol to Soul | Drums |
| 1995 | Ricardo Silveira | Storyteller | Drums |
| 1996 | Tamara Champlin | You Won't Get to Heaven Alive | Drums |
| 1996 | Neil Diamond | In My Lifetime | Musician |
| 1996 | Michael Paulo | My Heart and Soul | Drums |
| 1996 | Various Artists | Sheffield Pop Experience | Drums |
| 1997 | Chicago | Heart of Chicago 1967–1997 | |
| 1997 | David Garfield & Friends | Tribute to Jeff | Drums |
| 1997 | Kenny Loggins | Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow : The Greatest Hits | Percussion, Drums |
| 1997 | Kenny Loggins | Unimaginable Life | Drums |
| 1998 | Jeff Berlin | Crossroads | Drums |
| 1998 | Jeff Berlin | Pump It! | Drums |
| 1998 | Chicago | Heart of Chicago, Vol. 2: 1967–1998 | |
| 1998 | Chicago | Chicago's First Christmas | Drums |
| 1998 | Chicago | Chicago 25: The Christmas Album | Drums |
| 1998 | Clare Fischer/Metropole Orchestra | Latin Side | Drums |
| 1998 | Gary Wright | Best of the Dream Weaver | Drums |
| 1998 | Original Soundtrack | Footloose [Expanded Edition] | Drums |
| 1999 | Chicago | Chicago XXVI – The Live Album | |
| 1999 | Michael Paulo | Midnight Passion | Drums |
| 2000 | Steve Vai | 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies – Archive | Drums |
| 2001 | The Howland Imboden Project | | |
| 2001 | Freddie Ravel | Freddie Ravel | Drums, Drums |
| 2002 | Chicago | Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2002 | Kalapana | Blue Album | Drums |
| 2002 | Holly Near | And Still We Sing: The Outspoken Collection | Drums |
| 2002 | Holly Near | Crushed! The Love Song Collection | Drums |
| 2002 | Rusty Wier | Black Hat Saloon/Stacked Deck | Drums |
| 2002 | Original Cast Recordings | Footloose [Australian Bonus Tracks] | Drums |
| 2002 | Various Artists | Movie Soundtracks | Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Chicago Story: The Complete Greatest Hits 1967–2002 | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Chicago: The Box [Bonus DVD] | Harmonica, Drums |
| 2003 | Chicago | Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa | Arranger, Drums |
| 2003 | Robert Lamm | Subtlety & Passion | Harmonica, Drums cowriter of "It's Always Something" |
| 2003 | Steve Vai | Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology | Drums |
| 2003 | David Foster | Best of Me | Drums |
| 2004 | Firefall | Break of Dawn/Mirror of the World | Drums, Guest Appearance |
| 2004 | Firefall | Undertow/Clouds Across the Sun | Drums, musician |
| 2007 | Larry Klimas | The Ledge | Drums |
| 2007 | Amy Hanai'alii Gilliom | Generation Hawai'i | Drums, percussion, and tahitian drums |
| 2008 | Chicago | Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus | Drums |
| 2011 | Chicago | O Christmas Three | Arranger, Drums |
| 2013 | Chicago | The Nashville Sessions | Drums |
| 2014 | Chicago | Chicago XXXVI: Now | Drums |

## Videography

| Year | Artist | Title | Credit |
| 1972 | Honk | Five Summer Stories (film soundtrack) | Composer, producer, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals |
| 1980 | Kenny Loggins | Kenny Loggins Alive | Drums |
| 1989 | Tris Imboden | Latin Rock for Gringos | Drums, instruction |
| 2012 | Kenny Loggins | Keep the Fire (film soundtrack) | Drums |
| 2002 | Chicago | A&E Live by Request: Chicago | Drums |
| 2004 | Chicago | Soundstage Presents Chicago Live | Drums |
| 2005 | Chicago | Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre | Drums |

## Equipment

Tris Imboden currently endorses and uses the following products:
* Groove Juice Cymbal Cleaner
* DW drums, hardware and pedals
* Gibraltar drum racks
* Remo drum heads
* Paiste cymbals
* Vic Firth drumsticks
* Beato Bags
* Latin Percussion