Rex Hardy Jr

Interview with Rex Hardy Jr

Rexsell Hardy Jr grew up in Chicago’s gospel scene and has gone on to play for Wyclef, Chaka Khan and Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), amongst others, and all before the age of 30. He is currently musical director and drummer for Mary J Blige and has held the drum chair for American Idol for the last year, which had an estimated 20 million viewers for its finale in May.

Rex played an inspiring set for his Sunday appearance on the Live Stage of 2011’s London Drum Show. This showcased his playing on several Mary J Blige tracks while at the same time, stunned the audience with his gospel licks. He gave some wise words on being a successful musician during the Q & A part of the clinic, including, ‘Never look down on people; only look down on someone to help them up’. 

Rex took time out of his weekend in London to speak to mikedolbear.com about his current duties as a drummer, MD and producer, his plans for the Sunday performance and who he likes to follow on Twitter.

Describe your background as a drummer and what you think was your big break.

I started off in church like most, but not all, musicians like myself. I was just playing around church and then eventually I met certain people and got the call to play with an artist called Avant, who’s an R&B artist. I toured with Avant for about a year and from there Mary J Blige’s management made a call to a few people and eventually lay it back to me. That was in 2004 so from there it’s been a whirlwind. That was my big, big break which started to get my name out there, and people started to know who I was.

Tell me about your role as MD

It’s me and a keyboard player, Omar Edwards, who are Mary J Blige’s MD’s, or music directors. You have to know the artist better than the artist knows themselves, musically speaking, as they may try to get some things across to you. You have to take that and explain to the other band members what it is they want. It’s a task, but I know her music so well - it’s easy in that type of environment. It’s pretty easy, but I have to know all the parts; keyboard, bass, everything and then the drums fall in there somewhere.

Have you played those instruments yourself?

I used to take guitar lessons when I was little but I’m not good at it. I play keyboard a little bit because I produce too, but my main instrument is drums, of course. I know different keys and I know if somebody’s playing it wrong…that’s what it boils down to for me!

How do you keep everyone happy in the band? Are there any methods that you use?

You lead by example, so if they see you slacking off you can’t really get on them. I’ve always been a good follower to whoever was in control, even before I was MD. I always followed their lead and tried to help out where I could. That’s karma; you put out respect, you get it back. That’s basically the only method I have.

Let’s talk about American Idol. How did that happen?

Well, the funny thing is that it sort of happened through Mary. She would do a lot of TV shows where she couldn’t take her whole band but she would take me to play drums with whoever the house band was. Ray Chew, who is a keyboard player and MD, was on one of the shows that I sat in on for her. He eventually got the call to be MD for American Idol and he then called me.

I did some shows with him before that playing different kinds of music and I think it was a test to see if I could play other stuff outside of hip hop or R&B, gospel, that type of thing. Ray called me and I thought it was a joke at first. He was like, ‘I’m going to need you for four or five months’ but he didn’t tell me what it was for, which was a good business move cos you don’t want to get somebody excited. He finally told me it was American Idol and that was a big seat to fill cos there’s so many different types of music. There was stuff I’m used to listening to but not used to playing, so it was a whole different arena.

What’s your typical working day on the show?

We had some long weeks but the typical week is four days. The band usually rehearses on Mondays, maybe for a couple of hours, just to get the music  together cos there’s so much. On Tuesdays we rehearse with the singers for a couple of hours, then it’s dress rehearsal with all the props. You really don’t get a lot of time to sit with the music and you read everything, which helps so you don’t have to remember it. Then Wednesdays and Thursdays we’re in there 7.30 or 8 am with a run through, then it’s the live show. So it’s really Monday through to Thursday, basically all day. Friday to Sunday you’re pretty open.

A lot of our UK TV shows are mimed by musicians and have a bad reputation in that respect; we have great musicians to play on TV but they don’t get heard! What is your view on shows choosing to use playback?

I think that’s the easy way out for production, because it’s easier for them. Even on Idol it would be easier for them to just play the tracks because then you don’t have to mix anything; how you send it is how it’s going to be and you don’t have a lot of on-stage issues. From that aspect it’s OK but from a musical aspect I don’t think it’s good. Whatever is on the tracks is what is on the track so if the singer starts feeling it a different way then the track is going to stay the same, but with live musicians they can follow how the singer is feeling. It’s a Catch 22 but I’d rather play live. People used to ask on Twitter or Facebook, ‘Are y’all really playing?’ and we were like, ‘Yeah! We’re not just sitting up there!’. It’s a great experience.

When did you start playing on the show?

This was my first year doing Idol, 2011. The first two shows we had were last December that were pre-taped and it was a Beatles segment at the Love Theatre in Vegas. They sent us the song list but when the rehearsal came they just gave us 45 charts and said ‘We’re starting rehearsal in an hour’. That’s never happened to me before, ever! I’m not a great reader but I’m good enough to take my notes and do whatever I have to do, but it was an experience, doing 45 songs in an hour.

How big is the band on Idol?

It was a six piece band with three backing singers so it was two keys, one guitar, bass, drums and percussion.

You have a very busy schedule and are flying about all over the place. How do you deal with jet lag and taking care of yourself?

I just try to rest whenever I can. I don’t make up things to do. You get some people who make up things to do to act like they’re busy, but if I’m not busy then I try to rest.

In a place as big as the USA how do you find the competition for work?

The funny thing is that a lot of guys that are at the top, and I don’t mean at the top talent wise, I just mean the calibre of gigs they’re doing or artists they’re working with; we’re all friends so it’s really not a competition. When it comes to us, it’s just a thing of who’s going to get the job. To me competition is negative but it’s a friendly going back and forth. A lot of the stuff I’ve done I haven’t had to audition for, it’s pretty much on the job training or something I did where they may have wanted to use me again.  I’ve done maybe two auditions back in the day and I didn’t even get those jobs. I don’t like auditioning but if I had to I would. Some people look at it like it is a competition but I don’t.

What do you do for nerves or confidence problems? Or if you don’t suffer from them yourself, what would you suggest people do?

I think we all have nerves and if you don’t get nervous then you’re not human. Michael Jackson said he got nervous and he was the best entertainer, period. For me, before I play I try to relax. With the band we crack jokes and don’t even think about the show. Once we get out there you can be playing in front of five thousand people or fifty thousand people. I think the most I’ve played to at a venue was eighty thousand or maybe a little more. The funny thing is it’s easier to play in front of eighty thousand than in front of eighty because when there are fewer people you can see every face. When it’s eighty thousand you don’t know who’s out there and it doesn’t really matter. I just try my best not to think about what I’m about to do and I take it easy.

How have you approached preparing for the clinic you’re doing tomorrow at the London Drum Show?

That’s a good question because it’s a drum show and I’m not necessarily a show drummer. I’m an artist’s drummer so I play really well with bands and people around me. When you do drum clinics they’re just you and all the focus is on you. I have backing tracks, some open solos and basically just show the things I do to get ready, like different rudiments. On a drum show you need to try not to make any mistakes because everybody is a drummer and whoever isn’t a drummer loves drumming; that’s why they’re here! So I’ve been trying to relax and take it all in. I’m just excited about being here anyway. It’ll be fun!

Are there any drummers in particular that you are looking forward to seeing?

I have a friend here who is playing earlier tomorrow, Jonathan Hamilton. My boy Dave (Elitch) is playing today and I was talking to Kenny Aronoff but I didn’t know he played earlier so I wish I could have got to see him. Everybody though! A lot of these guys I haven’t seen in person, just videos or heard records. So everybody, honestly.

My last question is about Twitter…you’re on there a lot and you seem to enjoy the site. Who are your favourite people to follow?

On Twitter? I don’t know! Everybody on Twitter is funny because a lot of people say things that they wouldn’t normally say in person. I follow my big brothers Teddy Campbell and Nisan Stewart and they talk in person like they talk on Twitter. I follow a lot of different artists like Kevin Hart…he’s hilarious! Marlon Wayans, Mary my boss; she’s on there but she talks the same way in person. I just like seeing what everybody tweets! Are you on there? Why aren’t I following you?

I’ll tweet you later! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I just appreciate London and the UK; to be known over here is a whole different ball game. You can be known in your city and the USA but for people to know who you are overseas is a blessing, it’s a whole different group of people. To be respected over here…I appreciate it and I’m so happy to be here.

Interview by Gemma Hill

Photos by Dave ''The Drummer'' Hughes