   steve elliott smith (born on august 21, 1954 in whitman, massachusetts) is an american drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band journey during their peak years of success. modern drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 all-around drummer five years in a row. in 2001, modern drummer named steve as one of the top 25 drummers of all time, and in 2002 he was voted into the modern drummer hall of fame. ==biography== at age nine, in 1963, smith began studying the drums with local boston area teacher bill flanagan, who played in big bands in the swing era. smith performed in the usual school band program and garage bands while in his teens, but also began to broaden his performing experience by playing in a professional concert band and the big band at local bridgewater state college. after high school, he attended the berklee college of music in boston, massachusetts. smith toured with jazz violinist jean-luc ponty, was the drummer on the last focus album focus con proby, as well as drumming with ronnie montrose before joining the rock band journey in 1978. he occupied the drum chair from late 1978 through mid-1985. smith left the band in 1985, but he returned in 1995 for the band's 1996 comeback album, trial by fire. in the interim, he played with journey offshoot the storm. he has also worked as a session musician for pop artists such as mariah carey, andrea bocelli, elisa, vasco rossi, zucchero, savage garden, bryan adams, as well as world m
1954_births American_jazz_drummers Berklee_College_of_Music_alumni Bryan_Adams Journey_(band)_members Living_people Musicians_from_Massachusetts People_from_Whitman,_Massachusetts