Career
He has worked with many famous acts, including Earth, Wind & Fire, Steely Dan, Bruce Hornsby, and the B-52"son Sonny Emory is a native of Atlanta, Georgia (and a 1980 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School) who received his first drum set at the age of four. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor in Jazz Performance, Sonny began his transition to becoming a professional drummer playing with Joe Sample and the Crusaders.
With over 20 years of live performance and studio work behind him, Sonny maintains a busy schedule in the music industry and is highly regarded in the business.
Though probably best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire. Sonny has performed with a virtual "who"s who" in popular and jazz music including Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Bette Midler, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Jarreau, Paula Abdul, Lee Ritenour, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Boz Scaggs, and even Jennifer Lopez.
He is also known for innovative visual effects during live performances that include exciting stick-twirling and back-sticking techniques. Sonny is equally in demand for studio work as for what"s delivered during live performances.
Sonny has additional credits that include Bruce Hornsby, Jennifer Lopez, and Lee Ritenour.
Currently, he is gigging with Bette Midler and Bruce Hornsby & the Noise Makers while working on his own solo album. Recently, Sonny was invited to perform as the headliner for opening night of the 28th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival. Now, he leads his own ultra funky progressive aggregation, State of the Art formerly known as Hypnofunk.
With a wealth of teaching experience, Sonny is committed to balancing academics and entertainment.
He teaches private lessons to assist students in developing their craft and setting long-term goals in order to be successful in their chosen musical endeavors. Sonny has performed countless clinics and master classes in academic settings, drum stores, and during national music conferences, both independently and for his endorsers YAMAHA Drums, ZILDJIAN Cymbals.
He recently performed a clinic in Melbourne, Australia and is currently finalizing plans for the beginning phase of Emory Performing Arts Center through a partnership with Deerwood Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Sonny currently endorses YAMAHA Drums, ZILDJIAN Cymbals and Drumsticks, Shure Microphones, Meyers Sound Systems, Toca Percussion, and LP Percussions.