Rick Shutter

Shutter began playing the drums at the age of 8, and in 1964, at the age of 13, he joined The Young Executives (also known as The Executives), a trio of young teenagers from Malverne, New York. Entertainment manager Steve Paul described the musicians as "twelve-year-old kids dressed in business suits".{{cite book

|last1=McCabe

|first1=David

|last2=Dalton

|first2=David

|title=A Year in the Life of Andy Warhol

|date=2003

|publisher=Phaidon Press Inc.

|isbn=0714843229

|page=158}} The band was signed by Mercury Records and its 1966 single, Everybody Do the Duck, broke into the national Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite web

|last1=Vislocky

|first1=Lauren

|title=A Life in Music

|date=August 12, 2008

|url=http://www.ascap.com/playback/2008/FALL/STEPPING_OUT/cutler.aspx

|website=ASCAP.com

|accessdate=April 29, 2015}} The B-side was "Come On In Baby".{{cite web

|title=The Young Executives

|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/72524us

|website=45cat.com

|accessdate=April 22, 2015}} The young band played shows and entertained in celebrity social circles in the New York City metropolitan area and the Hamptons. The teens played with or for such personalities as Leonard Bernstein,{{cite book

|last1=Cutler

|first1=Jesse

|title=Starlust: The Price of Fame

|date=2008

|publisher=Morgan James, LLC

|isbn=978-1-60037-418-0

|page=51

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SV0kUXb9lysC&q=starlust

|accessdate=April 17, 2015}} Sammy Davis Jr.,{{cite news

|title=Sammy Davis Sits In With The 'Executives' of Malverne

|work=Newsday

|issue=296

|date=August 20, 1965}} Andy Warhol,{{cite news

|last1=Dever

|first1=Joseph X.

|title=Gotham-Go-Round

|work=New York World-Telegram and Sun

|date=August 18, 1965}} and The Rolling Stones,{{cite web

|last1=Mason

|first1=Brooke

|title=What Is The Price of Fame? - A Book Review / Interview With Jesse Cutler

|url=http://www.bitchinentertainment.com/html_articles/jesse_cutler.html

|website=Bitchinentertainment.com

|accessdate=April 30, 2015}} and in concerts and at clubs such as Steve Paul's The Scene, Arthur, and Westhampton's The Barge{{cite video

|title=Daytime Hollywood Insider

|time=2:42

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wISOPmNYfz8

|website=Youtube.com

|accessdate=April 28, 2015}} (where The Rascals were discovered in 1965.){{cite web|last1=Brady|first1=Tom|title=The Rascals|url=http://www.bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/rs-main.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010528232950/http://bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/rs-main.shtml|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 28, 2001|website=Bradcoweb.com/rockgroups|accessdate=August 14, 2015}} The band also appeared on the Clay Cole's Diskotek television show.{{cite web

|title=The Clay Cole Show (syndicated) (1959-67)

|url=http://ctva.biz/Music/US/ClayColeShow.htm

|website=Ctva.biz

|accessdate=April 16, 2015}} The trio disbanded in 1966.{{rp|40–65}}

Shutter continued his career through his teen years. He worked club dates with Steven Scott Music, played the Catskills circuit, and backed up oldies acts such as Bo Diddley, The Shirelles, and Gary U.S. Bonds.

In 1971 at the age of 19, Shutter began playing drums and percussion in the original four-piece band of the New York production of Godspell, whose score was created by Stephen Schwartz. Shutter then played in Godspell's Los Angeles company and on its national tour.{{refn|group=nb|Shutter's replacement in the New York company was Max Weinberg, who left the position when he won the audition to play in the E Street Band for Bruce Springsteen.{{cite news|last1=Hoffman|first1=Jan|title=PUBLIC LIVES; A Drummer on a Roll Revisits His Past Life|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/29/nyregion/public-lives-a-drummer-on-a-roll-revisits-his-past-life.html|accessdate=October 4, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=June 29, 2000}}}} He also played on the Godspell cast album and the soundtrack for the ensuing film adaptation.{{cite book

|last1=Stewart

|first1=John

|title=Broadway Musicals, 1943 - 2004

|date=2006

|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers

|isbn=0-7864-2244-0

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=spQ751Sv7TUC&pg=PA1

|accessdate=April 18, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=Ricky Shutter: Credits

|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ricky-shutter-mn0001694144

|website=Allmusic.com

|accessdate=April 26, 2015}} While doing eight performances a week for the show, Shutter also did extensive session work that included demos, spec deals for record labels, and projects by singer-songwriters.{{cite web

|title=What Do you Know About...? Rick Shutter

|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/rick-shutter/

|website=Moderndrummer.com

|access-date=September 13, 2020}}

The stage production of Godspell features soft-rock music in a variety of styles.{{cite book

|last=Dietz

|first=Dan

|title=Off Broadway Musicals, 1910-2007: Casts, Credits, Songs, Critical Reception and Performance Data of more than 1,800 Shows

|isbn=978-0-7864-3399-5

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgOqZWHCLbUC&dq=godspell&pg=PA169

|page = 169

|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers

|date=2010

|accessdate=April 28, 2015}} Paul Shaffer, music director of David Letterman's late-night talk shows, described Shutter's "big drums" as being "the defining sound" of the cast album. (Shaffer was the music director of Godspell's Toronto production and participated in the film soundtrack recording sessions).{{cite book

|last1=Shaffer

|first1=Paul

|last2=Ritz

|first2=David

|title=We'll Be Here for the Rest of our Lives: A Swingin' Showbiz Saga

|date=2009

|publisher=Anchor Books

|location=USA

|isbn=978-0-7679-2886-1

|page=113

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ClMGeJzi5OAC&q=ricky+shutter

|accessdate=April 26, 2015}} Modern Drummer magazine described Shutter as bringing "serious rock power" to the music.{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Willie |last2=Milkowski |first2=Bill |last3=Bidwell |first3=Stephen |url=https://muckrack.com/whoshared/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.moderndrummer.com%2Farticle%2Frick-shutter%2F |title=Rick Shutter |date=September 1, 2020 |accessdate=December 18, 2021}}

The cast album was a commercial success, spending months as the only theatrical cast album in the top 100 in sales.{{cite book

|last=Laird

|first=Paul R.

|title=The Musical Theater of Stephen Schwartz: From 'Godspell' to 'Wicked' and Beyond

|isbn=978-0-8108-9191-3

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1uBhAwAAQBAJ

|page=39

|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield

|date=2014

|accessdate = April 12, 2015}} Boosted by the strength of its "gargantuan hit single" Day by Day{{refn|group=nb|As of 2010, according to Godspell recordings collector Tom Peters, "It [Day by Day] was the last showtune to chart as performed by the original cast."{{cite web

|title='Godspell' Songs: Stephen Schwartz Answers Questions About the 'Godspell' Score

|url=http://www.stephenschwartz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/godspell-songs1.pdf

|website=Stephenschwartz.com

|accessdate=May 13, 2015}}{{cite web

|last1=de Giere

|first1=Carol

|title='Godspell' Recordings: Interviews with Collectors

|url=http://www.musicalschwartz.com/godspell-recordings.htm

|website=Stephenschwartz.com

|accessdate=May 13, 2015}}}} (which reached the top 10), the album's sales earned a Gold Record certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and ultimately reached the Platinum sales threshold.{{cite web

|title=Searchable Database

|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH

|website=Riaa.com

|accessdate=April 17, 2015}} The cast album also garnered 1971 Grammy Awards for "Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album".{{cite web

|title=Winners [1971]

|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=1971&genre=All

|website=Grammy.com

|accessdate=April 17, 2015}}{{refn|group=nb|In 2011, the Grammy Awards category "Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album" was renamed "Best Musical Theater Album."}} The film soundtrack, released in 1973, was somewhat different from the cast album and was also a commercial success. The soundtrack reached the Top 40 and remained on the charts for almost a year, earning Gold Record status.{{cite web

|last1=Ruhlmann

|first1=William

|title=Overview: Godspell (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/godspell-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000314966

|website=Allmusic.com|accessdate=April 18, 2015}}

To support the growing franchise,{{cite book

|last1=de Giere

|first1=Carol

|last2=Schwartz

|first2=Stephen

|title=The Godspell Experience: Inside a Transformative Musical

|date=2014

|publisher=Scene 1 Arts, LLC

|isbn=978-0989566001}} Shutter and the stage ensemble performed in numerous media outlets, including the telecast of the 14th Annual Grammy Awards,{{cite web

|last1=Martin

|first1=Andrew

|title=The Original Women of 'Godspell' Are Still All Mighty!

|url=https://themartinreport.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/the-original-women-of-godspell-are-still-all-mighty/

|website=Themartinreport.wordpress.com

|date=August 2, 2011

|accessdate=May 3, 2015}} ABC's Directions, Midday Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and video news productions for German television and the Japanese Television Network. Live performances occurred in New York City's Central Park and at Madison Square Garden.{{rp|176}}{{cite web

|title=Bio

|website=Facebook.com

|url=https://www.facebook.com/rick.shutter.5/about?section=bio

|accessdate=April 18, 2015}} The soundtrack was also heard in the documentary The Filming of Godspell, broadcast on CBS.{{cite web

|title=The Filming of Godspell (1973) (Part 2/3)

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpzrMlBdjs8

|website=Youtube.com

|accessdate=May 15, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=The Filming of Godspell (1973) (Part 3/3)

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVlk1rf1MCc

|website=Youtube.com

|accessdate=May 15, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=The Filming of Godspell > Film Cast

|url=http://castalbums.org/recordings/The-Filming-of-Godspell-1972-Film-Cast/17770/

|website=Castalbums.org

|accessdate=May 15, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=Camera Three

|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/camera-three/

|website=Tv.com

|accessdate=May 15, 2015}}

After leaving Godspell, Shutter was a staff session player for various record companies and recording studios; he has been independent since 1984. Shutter has worked on a variety of projects, including commercials and film soundtracks, and has continued to record and perform with regional and national acts.{{cite web

|title=Since You've Been Asking, This is What I've Been Doing Lately

|url=http://www.tommymandel.com/NewTom.html

|website=Tommymandel.com

|accessdate=April 26, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=Pepper - 1977 Pepper

|url=https://glorydazemusic.com/articles.php?article_id=3016

|website=Glorydazemusic.com|accessdate=April 26, 2015}}{{cite web

|title=Andy Aledort / Joe Vicino at the Viking

|website=Andyaledort.com

|url=http://andyaledort.com/events/this-sat-oct-4-andy-aledortjoe-vicino-at-the-viking/

|accessdate=April 28, 2015}} In 2018, Shutter joined Shaffer, Alice Ripley, Ben Vereen, and Don Scardino in a Godspell tribute at The Cutting Room music venue in New York City. The occasion was a benefit concert for the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, one of the charitable causes favored by Schwartz.{{cite web |title=Orphaned Song Concert with Stephen Schwartz Remembered |last1=DeGiere |first1=Carol |url=https://www.theschwartzscene.com/articles/ |website=Theschwartzscene.com |access-date=December 18, 2021}} In 2021, Shutter started playing with The Drifters.

Shutter continues to work with regional projects and bands in New York. In March 2024, he performed at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame preceding the induction ceremony honoring Schwartz. The band, led by Shaffer with Doug Quinn on guitar and Steve Manes on bass, accompanied Broadway vocalists including DeMarius R. Copes, Paul Kreppel, Dale Soules, Carrie St. Louis, Alysia Velez, and Teal Wicks.{{cite web

|title=Broadway Legend Stephen Schwartz Inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame

|website=Limusichalloffame.org

|url=https://www.limusichalloffame.org/news/broadway-legend-stephen-schwartz-inducted-into-the-long-island-music-and-entertainment-hall-of-fame/

|accessdate=May 16, 2024}}

Shutter endorses DW Drums, Evans Drumheads,{{cite web

|title=Artists: Drum Set

|website=Evansdrumheads.com

|url=http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EVArtists.Page?ActiveID=3495&tid=3446#als

|accessdate=April 16, 2015}} GMS Drums, Humes & Berg drum cases, LP (Latin Percussion), and ProMark drumsticks.{{cite web

|title=Artists: Drum Set

|website=Promark.com

|url=http://www.promark.com/pmArtists.Page?ActiveID=3893&tid=3446#alr

|accessdate=April 16, 2015}}

Albums

• Godspell (Bell, 1971) - original cast recording
• Godspell: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - (Bell, 1973)
• Pepper (RCA, 1977) - Pepper
• Varela (Sunlost, 1977) - Varela
• Rock On: 1972 Chartbusters (MCA, 1996) - compilation includes Day by Day{{cite web

|title=Rock On: Top 40, 1972 Chartbusters (CD)

|url=http://www.tower.com/rock-on-top-40-1972-chartbusters-various-artists-cd/wapi/106682538

|website=Tower.com

|accessdate=May 17, 2015}}

• Test of Time (Gourmet, 2008) - Jesse Cutler{{cite web

|last1=Hetrick

|first1=Adam

|title='Godspell' Grammy Winner Cutler Releases 'Test of Time' Album

|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/godspell-grammy-winner-cutler-releases-test-of-time-album-151553

|website=Playbill.com

|date=July 11, 2008

|accessdate=May 17, 2015}}

• Godspell: 40th Anniversary Cast Recording (SME, 2011)

Singles

• Everybody Do the Duck (Mercury, 1966) - The Young Executives
• Day by Day (Bell, 1972) - Godspell cast recording
• Beautiful City (Bell, 1973) - Godspell film soundtrack
• So Wild (RCA, 1977) - Pepper
• You're the One{{cite book

|last1=Library of Congress

|first1=Copyright Office

|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries, Fourth Series: Sound Recordings, Part 7

|date=1978

|volume=1

|issue=1

|page=618

|publisher=Copyright Office, Library of Congress

|isbn=9780894540011

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NyjahjrJ43UC&q=Ricky+shutter

|accessdate=May 3, 2015}} (1982) - The Chaperones

Film and television soundtracks

• Godspell
• The Filming of Godspell
• ''John Wayne: The Duke Lives On"{{cite web|title=John Wayne the Duke Lives On: A Tribute, Full Cast & Crew|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275438/fullcredits#cast|website=Imdb.com|accessdate=December 15, 2015}}

Television appearances

• Grammy Awards
• The Tonight Show
• The Today Show
• Good Morning America
• Midday Live
• Directions
• Clay Cole's Diskotek
• Wonderama
• German television
• Japanese Television Network

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist|3}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shutter, Rick}}

Category:Living people

Category:American rock drummers

Category:American rock percussionists

Category:American session musicians

Category:Mercury Records artists

Category:People from Long Island

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:20th-century American drummers

Category:American male drummers

Category:20th-century American male musicians

Category:Drummers from New York (state)