Van Romaine

Van Romaine (born September 7, 1962) is an American drummer, music producer, musical director and composer who has worked with many bands and artists, both live and in the studio. He first gained recognition after joining The Steve Morse Band in 1989 with whom he has recorded 8 albums. In 1998, Romaine joined German pop star Nena notably recognized for her 80’s mega hit 99 Luftballons, becoming her musical director and musical liaison from 1999 - 2019. Romaine was hired in 2001 - present to join Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias touring band, and as his music director in 2010. Romaine has also collaborated extensively with Bernie Worrell, Blood Sweat and Tears, Kansas, The Spin Doctors and many others.
== Early life ==
Romaine was born in Glen Ridge, NJ. At 8 years old, he started taking drum lessons with renowned teacher Carl Wolf , who also taught prolific drummer, Chuck Burgi. Romaine studied at the University of Miami for three years while becoming involved in the Miami music scene performing with Jaco Pastorius, Steve Bailey, Ira Sullivan, and The Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose. He then transferred to William Paterson University (New Jersey) to complete his last year of undergraduate studies. It was during this first year in New York/New Jersey where Romaine joined Stretch, a mostly instrumental rock band with bassist Dave LaRue and guitarist Glenn Alexander. He joined NJ Blues legend Billy Hector and the Fairlanes, replacing Ernest “Boom” Carter who is most famous for recording the title song Born To Run on Bruce Springsteen’s album. Romaine credits Billy Hector as “teaching me more about music than any other person in my life”. Looking to improve his skills, Romaine studied for a year with studio legend Gary Chester whom had a profound influence in his musicality and business skills.
== Career ==
=== Blood Sweat and Tears (1988-89) ===
Romaine landed his first touring gig with Blood Sweat and Tears, touring in Australia, Japan Europe and the USA. The band featured legendary singer David Clayton Thomas and a host of great New York session musicians, including Chris Botti and Tim Ries. 
=== The Steve Morse Band (1989-present) ===
In 1989, Romaine left Blood Sweat and Tears to join The Steve Morse Band, replacing long time Dixie Dregs drummer, Rod Morgenstein Romaine was reunited with his Stretch bandmate Dave LaRue on bass to support Steve Morse’s solo album High Tension Wires. This trio would go on to record 8 Steve Morse Band albums together and 2 Steve Morse solo albums.
=== Loup Garou (1994–98) ===
Romaine joined this NYC based Zydeco outfit for club dates and festivals over a four year period with Guns N' Roses guitar player, Richard Fortus, replacing the legendary Bob Dylan drummer, Howie Wyeth. 
=== Enrique Iglesias (2001-present) ===
Romaine’s long standing career with Enrique Iglesias began in 2001 after auditioning in NYC. Within two days of rehearsal he was asked to perform on the Tribute to the Heroes (telethon for 9/11) put together by the four major networks (Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS). The telethon raised $200 million and featured Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Paul Simon and many others. That same year, Romaine was hired as Iglesias’s full-time drummer following the release of his second English album, Escape. In 2010, Romaine became Iglesias’s musical director/band leader during the same time that “I Like It” from Iglesias’s first bilingual studio album, Euphoria, reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Romaine also recorded drums on Cuando Me Enamoro, Iglesias’s highest charted Spanish single of his career, which spent 17 weeks at #1 and featured best selling Dominican singer, Juan Luis Guerra. Enrique Iglesias was honored with the Top Latin Artist of All Time at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards, a journey of which Romaine is proud to have supported.
== Other Projects ==
Naughty By Nature hired Romaine to record drums and loops for their debut self -titled album. Songs Wickedest Man Alive and O.P.P. later became the rap artists’ first mega pop hits. According to Spin magazine, O.P.P. was one of the 1990’s greatest singles and was featured in VH1’s top 100 hip hop songs.
In 1992, Romaine joined the NYC based funk band Mona Lisa Overdrive(which changed its name to Brave New World due to copyright issues) replacing drummer Kenwood Dennard. The band was fronted by Miles Davis's ex-keyboarder and composer Adam Holzman. The band also featured Steve Logan, Hiram Bullock, Mino Cinélo, Jimi Tunnell, Drew Zingg and Dave Phelps culminating with the release of Adam Holzman’s Overdrive in 1994. Romaine and Holzman would later partner in a non-commercial recording studio in NYC’s lower east side for 20 years that would host many artist including Chaka Khan, Nena, Enrique Iglesias, David Bowie, Wallace Roney, Steve Morse and Vinnie Moore. 
In 1993, Romaine was recruited by drummer manager Phil Ehart to assume drumming duties for Kansas, making him the second drummer to play with the legendary group. Romaine would remain with Kansas until Steve Morse Band recording and touring schedule resumed in 1994. 
In 1994, Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic and Talking Heads, hired Romaine as the drummer and musical director for his first solo touring band, The Woo Warriors, which performed in Japan, Europe and the USA. 
Romaine has also played live with Billy Joel, John Entwistle, T.M. Stevens, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Steve Lukather, Jack McDuff, Joan Osborne, Ludacris, Queen Latifah, The Spin Doctors, The London Symphony Orchestra, Deep Purple, Jack Douglas, Kim Wilde, Howard Jones and Pitbull.
Arranged, rehearsed and played on numerous TV show performances including: the American Music Awards; Billboard Awards; MTV Video Music Awards; The David Letterman Show; The Tonight Show; The Today Show; The Dallas Cowboys Half-Time Thanksgiving Show; and more.
Founder: Live-Wire Audio in 2005
Awarded “Up and Coming Drummer of the Year” in Modern Drummer Magazine 1991
Composed and recorded music for television commercials, including clients such as: Canon, Cadillac, Merrell, Lady Footlocker, ESPN, UEFA, and many more.
== Personal Life ==
Romaine and his then wife Lindy have two children.
== Discography ==
Year	Album 	Artist 	Gener
2019	Who Shot John? 	Eric Schenkmen 	Drums
2016	The Defiants 	The Defiants 	Drums
2014	Sex and Love 	Enrique Iglesias 	Drums (Snare)
2010	Euphoria 	Enrique Iglesias 	Drums
2010	Angelfire 	Angelfire 	Drums, Percussion
2009	To the Core 	Vinnie Moore 	Drums
2009	Prime Cuts, Vol. 2 	Steve Morse 	Featured Artist, Drums
2009	Out Standing in Their Field 	Steve Morse / Steve Morse Band 	Co -production to Drums
2009	Made in Germany 	Nena 	Drums
2008	Overwhelmed 	Keren Deberg 	Producer, Keyboards, Drums, Programming, Composer
2006	Never Say Never 	Kim Wilde 	Drums
2005	Willst Du Mit Mir Gehn 	Nena 	Drums, Composer
2005	Prime Cuts 	Steve Morse 	Drums
2005	Live in Baden: Baden Germany March 1990 	Steve Morse 	Drums, Percussion, Group Member
2005	All of My Friends 	Goat 	Producer, Drums, Programming
2004	Gone 	Keren Deberg 	Producer, Composer
2003	The Best of the Concord Years 	Jack McDuff 	Drums
2003	Greatest Hits: Naughty's Nicest 	Naughty by Nature 	Drums
2002	Split Decision 	Steve Morse 	Drums
2001	Chokmah 	Nena 	Drums, Composer
2000	Zero Points for Zeus 	Ferenzik 	Drums
2000	Make a Sound 	Eric Schenkman 	Drums
2000	Major Impacts 	Steve Morse 	Drums
2000	In Concert with the London Symphony Orchestra [DVD]	Deep Purple / London Symphony Orchestra	Guest Artist, Drums
1998	Great Life 	Goat 	Drums, Percussion
1997	Wheel of Nesh 	Ferenzik 	Drums
1997	View from Fifth 	George Small 	Drums
1997	Black Night: Deep Purple Tribute 	T.M. Stevens 	Drums, Primary Artist
1996	Supercop 	Goat 	Drums
1996	Stressfest 	Steve Morse 	Drums, Percussion
1996	Calling All Angels 	Loup Garou 	Drums
1996	Boom 	T.M. Stevens 	Drums
1995	Structural Damage 	Steve Morse / Steve Morse Band 	Drums, Percussion
1994	Overdrive 	Adam Holzman 	Drums, Electronics, Sound Effects
1993	Write On, Capt'n 	Jack McDuff 	Drums
1992	Hub City Kid 	Dave LaRue 	Featured Artist, Drums, Electronic Percussion
1992	Denaro 	Denaro 	Drums, Percussion
1992	Coast to Coast 	Steve Morse Band 	Drums
1992	Bring 'Em Back Alive 	The Dixie Dregs 	Arranger
1991	Southern Steel 	Steve Morse / Steve Morse Band 	Drums
1991	Naughty by Nature 	Naughty by Nature 	Drums
==In the media==
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Category:1962 births
Category:American drummers
Category:American music producers
Category:American musicians
Category:American composers