Background
His father began to teach him how to play the drums at the age of three. He is the son of Tony Senior and Gayle Royster, and has one brother, Calvin Royster.
His father began to teach him how to play the drums at the age of three. He is the son of Tony Senior and Gayle Royster, and has one brother, Calvin Royster.
He was raised in Hinesville, Georgia and is a 2002 graduate of Liberty County High School. All still reside in Hinesville, Georgia. Some of his influences are Dennis Chambers, Jim Chapin and Billy Cobham. Royster Junior. has played with Imajin, Lazyeye, New Flava, and En Vogue.
He performed on the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards show at the age of 15, and an international tour in 2001 backing #1 selling Japanese artist Hikaru Utada as well as performing with Paul Shaffer (of Late Show with David Letterman) in the Nickelodeon House Band.
In addition, he is also currently playing with Francisco Fattoruso, Jay-Z, Joe Jonas, Joss Stone and his own band. Royster Junior. released the videos "Pure Energy" (2007), and The Evolution of Tony Royster (2009), which are both more inspirational than instructional.
Some other high points of his career include playing the Glastonbury Festival and President Barack Obama’s inaugural ball with Jay-Z in 2009. In 2006, Tony Royster Junior. teamed up with Hidden Beach Recordings to produce Unwrapped Volume
6: Give the Drummer Some!, debuting at #1 on the jazz charts.
Most recently, Royster Junior. has joined Joe Jonas" band on tour in the United Kingdom in Fall 2011. On August 22, 2011, he was the featured artist on Late Show with David Letterman, performing a drum solo for Drum Solo Week World War II Royster Junior. was also featured The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on November 3, 2011, and on Conan on November 7, 2011, alongside Joe Jonas. His solo kit configuration with groups like Imajin include:
DW Drums Collectors Maple
18"x22" Bass drums with 8"x22" Bass drum woofers
5"x13" Collectors Maple snare
7"x8" Rack Tom
8"x10" Rack Tom
9"x12" Rack Tom
11"x14" Floor Tom
13"x15" Floor Tom
14"x18" Floor Tom
His Kit while on tour with Jay-Z consists of:
DW Drums Collectors Maple
18"x22" Bass drum
5"x13" Collectors Maple snare
8"x10" Rack Tom
9"x12" Rack Tom
13"x15" Floor Tom
14"x18" Floor Tom
Tony uses DW 9000 pedals, DW 9000 hardware, Remo Drumheads, & Vic Firth Sticks
HHX Evolution 13" hi-hats
HH Splash 12"
HHX Xtreme crash 19"
V Crash 18"
HH Rock ride 20"
HHX X-plosion crash 20"
HHX Groove hats 15"
HHX Evolution O-Zone crash 18"
Associate of Arts Fast Chinese 18"
AAXtreme Chinese 17"
HH Duo splash 10"
Associate of Arts Organising Medical Networked Information ride 22".