Bio

In 1985, Link began studying the percussive arts. He taught himself how to read and write music and how to break down complex rhythms and in 1988, he earned 1st place, class A in a drum ensemble and 1st place, class B in a snare drum solo through his high school in Carroll County, Ohio.

He then entered the United States Navy in 1989 and was shipped to Italy where he lived for 6 years. He learned to speak Italian fluently, which is important because musical dynamics are in Italian. He took advantage of the opportunity, performed in 2 different bands and toured in Italy, Scotland, Spain and France. He also created the 1st Regiment Drum Corps. and took vocal lessons while in Italy.

He returned to the United States in 1995 and taught himself how to play guitar and music theory. He attended 2 different vocal schools and he had registered 6 albums worth of his material with the Library of Congress.

In 2004, Link created the Federation of Drums as well as earning the title of Northeast Ohio's Best Drummer. He felt too many drummers and percussionists were being misinformed on the proper education in the percussive arts.

He has made numerous guest appearances to perform drum solos as well as instruct drum clinics, organize drum competitions and still managed to make time for his band, instruct lessons and operate the Federation of Drums.

In 2005, Link set the world record at the Double Bass Marathon, which was 160BPM for 14 hours and 38 minutes. He then set another world record the following year at the Double Bass Marathon, which was 432BPM for 10 hours and 30 minutes. In 2008, he broke the current world record at the Drumkit Marathon, which stood at 84 hours, by performing for 86 hours and 16 minutes. Later that year, he broke his own world record at the Drumkit Marathon by performing for 92 hours straight. He has performed with various artists ranging from Drowning Pool and 7 Years to Mushroomhead as well as sharing the stage with drumming icon, Simon Kirke, of Bad Company and performing for Gene Simmons of Kiss.

His dedication in the proper education in the percussive arts is unprecedented. He has high standards and values, which he incorporates with the art of drumming. He states that it is better to be a drum mentor rather than a drum instructor. He strongly believes in the benefits of drumming and proudly endorses the research of Dr. Barry Bittman and Dr. Glenn Shellenberg. Link feels that drummers should be like a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as possible. There are entirely too many categories of drumming to be the master of it all. He believes it is better to be the jack-of-all-trades in the percussive arts.

He has numerous sponsors and endorsers and has been featured and mentioned in various magazines, newspapers, internet, TV and radio.

1985 - 1987 drum lessons from Chris Evans
1987 - 1989 high school marching band
1987 - 1989 high school symphonic band
1987 - 1989 high school jazz band
1987 - 1989 drummer for Verbal Irony, a local punk band
1988 - drum lessons from Zampino's
1988 - 1st place class A in drum ensemble
1988 - 1st Place class B in drum solo
1988 - received scholarship from the American Conservatory of Music, for percussion
1989 -1992 - drummer for Sei Per Tre, a local rock band in Italy
1992 - 1995 - drummer for Broken Shoes, a top 40 band in Italy
1992 - vocal lessons from maestro Luigi Benedetto in Italy
1992 - founder of the 1st Regiment Drum Corp. in Italy
1997 - self taught guitar lessons
1998 - guitar lessons from Lentine's
1998 - rhythm guitar player for Eastwind, a local country band
1998 - registered 14 songs with the "Library of Congress
1999 - vocal lessons from Carol's School of Music
1999 - guitar player for the Cornerstone Community Church
2000 - guitar instructor for children
2000 - vocal lessons from the Evangel Academy of Fine Arts
2000 - registered 41 songs with the Library of Congress
2001- 2006 - drummer for several local bands
2001 - head drum instructor for Gulia Music
2003 - drummer for 43 Phreeks, a local heavy metal band
2004 - Placed 1st in The Northeast Ohio's Best Drummer contest
2004 - Founder of Ohio's Best Drummer contests
2005 - Founder of The Federation of Drums
2005 - drum technician and instructor for A-Max Music in Akron, Ohio
2005 - opened up for Mushroomhead
2005 - opened up for Drowning Pool
2005 - set world record at Double Bass Marathon - 160BPM for 14H 38M straight
2005 - band reviewer/interviewer for HXC Team
2006 - set world record at Double Bass Marathon - 432BPM for 10H 30M
2007 - became a member of MENC
2007 - became a member of OMEA
2007 - became a member of Music Friends
2007 - Head Drum Instructor for the BlackHawk Dynasty Baton and Drum Corps.
2007 - drummer for WMD, a local heavy metal band
2008 - took over management of the BlackHawks Baton and Drum Corps.
2008 - drummer for Mysgyded, formerly known as 43 Phreeks
2008 - world record holder of the Drumkit Marathon, 86 hours and 16 minutes
2008 - world record holder of the Drumkit Marathon, 92 hours
2009 - Grand Canyon University, Bachelors of Science in Justice Studies