Drums
Ken Babal started playing drums professionally at age 17 with East Coast 60s recording groups the Shangri-Las, Vogues and Lou Christie. After making a move to Los Angeles, he toured with October Country (Epic Records) and began playing clubs, concerts and recording sessions with many notable artists, including Don McLean, Bonnie Bramlett, Michael McDonald, Tata Vega and Helen Forrest as well as members of Steely Dan and the Eagles. Ken is author of the classic Manual of Rock Drumming and a contributor to DRUM! Magazine. He continues to play clubs and concerts. Credits include the movie soundtrack Paradise Motel and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, the Drifters.
Musical Styles
Rock, Pop, R & B, Blues, Latin, Country, Rockabilly, Smooth Jazz, Standards (All Pop Styles)
Reviews
“Babal understands the importance of loud, fast pops on the drums. Occasionally, he would double his tempo, and then slide effortlessly back to a slower driving beat...Babal’s drumming probably moved the crowd more than anything else did.”Charlie Mullin, Music Connection
“Vogel and Babal are a fuel-injected rhythm section that supercharges every song.”Bernard Baur, Music Connection
"It's always amazing to me when a musician sub whom you've never played with before walks on stage and just nails it all night long. Well, that just happened last night with Ken Babal. Superb drummer." Robert Heft Blues Band
"It's always amazing to me when a musician sub whom you've never played with before walks on stage and just nails it all night long. Well, that just happened last night with Ken Babal. Superb drummer." Robert Heft Blues Band
Upcoming Gigs 2023
January 7, 7-11pm - Dave Wilson Band, Condor Lounge, 2524 Beechwood Way, Pine Mountain Club, CA
January 14, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
January 28, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
February 17, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
February 25, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
May 20, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
June 2, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
June 24, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
July 15, 7-11pm - Dave Wilson Band, Condor Lounge, 2524 Beechwood Way, Pine Mountain Club, CA
August 5, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
January 14, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
January 28, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
February 17, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
February 25, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
May 20, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
June 2, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
June 24, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
July 15, 7-11pm - Dave Wilson Band, Condor Lounge, 2524 Beechwood Way, Pine Mountain Club, CA
August 5, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
August 26, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
September 2, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
September 9, 7:30-10:30pm - RocknRetro - VFW, 15722 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA
September 16, 9pm-12am - RocknRetro, The Smokehouse on Main, 24255 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA
September 23, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
September 26, 6-9pm - Higher Ground, Benefit for Maui Fire, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
September 30, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
October 7, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
October 14, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
October 20, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
September 2, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
September 9, 7:30-10:30pm - RocknRetro - VFW, 15722 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA
September 16, 9pm-12am - RocknRetro, The Smokehouse on Main, 24255 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA
September 23, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
September 26, 6-9pm - Higher Ground, Benefit for Maui Fire, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
September 30, 9pm-12:30am - Higher Ground, The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA
October 7, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
October 14, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
October 20, 8pm-12am - Higher Ground, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
October 21, 9pm-12am - RocknRetro, The Smokehouse on Main, 24255 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA
October 28, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
November 4, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
November 10, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
November 18, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
November 25, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bulll Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
December 2, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
December 9, 9pm-12am - RocknRetro, The Smokehouse on Main, 24255 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA
December 16, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
December 31 (New Year's Eve), 9pm-1am -RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
October 28, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
November 4, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
November 10, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
November 18, 8-11pm - Higher Ground, The Ramp Restaurant & Bar, 7730 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
November 25, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bulll Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
December 2, 8-11pm - RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA
December 9, 9pm-12am - RocknRetro, The Smokehouse on Main, 24255 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA
December 16, 9pm-1:30am - RocknRetro, The Bull Pen Steak House, 314 Avenue I, Redondo Beach, CA
December 31 (New Year's Eve), 9pm-1am -RocknRetro, The Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA