Today we’d like to introduce you to Francis Valentino.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I was born and raised in the great state of New Jersey, which happens to have one of the most-vibrant and eclectic music scenes on the planet. At a relatively young age, I found my way into the immediate local scene that revolves around the town of Asbury Park, and each opportunity simply lead me to the next. After a solid ten years of playing locally, I found my way into some regional and national touring bands that introduced me to the much wider world of music and musical connections. As years went on, many of those connections would prove critical to my growth and development as a drummer. I jumped at nearly every opportunity that presented itself, especially those that drew me out of my comfort zone at any given time. Ultimately, through some version of persistence and willingness to adapt, I found myself in some exciting and special musical situations with some terrific musicians and people. I’ve managed to get to where I am today, simply by being open-minded, honing my craft along the way, seizing new opportunities and supporting other musicians as I would like to be supported.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Generally, I’ve been fortunate to avoid many of the cliche obstacles that tend to appear within music careers. That being said, there have undoubtedly been some bumps in the road. In any line of work, it’s important to be flexible, adaptable, enthusiastic and even willing to take some chances. These qualities are even more valuable to possess within music and I don’t believe it’s possible to fully-ascend without them. However, it’s important to know where and when to draw the line when a work situation is becoming toxic or counterproductive. Through my nearly-blind enthusiasm at a much younger age, I put myself through several years of aimless touring with a project/band that was essentially eating itself alive from the inside and not reciprocating my efforts or abilities in any way. It was a lesson learned the hard way, but I’m fortunate to have had that experience in the long run.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I’m a professional drummer by trade, with a general focus on playing Rock, Pop, Country and Americana music.

Other than drumming, I specialize in production, audio engineering, song arrangements, vocal harmony arranging and occasionally tour management.

I believe I’m best known for my work as the current drummer for David Lee Roth.

I’m most proud of my work with the wide scope of artists that I’m very fortunate to play with and call friends.

What are your plans for the future?

As we enter the new year, I’m looking very forward (as always) to hit the road and visit some of my favorite cities around the U.S. and parts of Europe. Aside from touring, there are some very special recording projects in the works, that I cannot wait to share with the world!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisvalentino/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fnval/