Барабанщик группы Hamilton Джонатан Форсон выиграл конкурс Guitar Center Drum-Off спустя 10 лет перерыва

Hamilton drummer Jonathan Fortson wins Guitar Center's Drum-Off after 10-year hiatus in Hollywood Jonathan Fortson, a 35-year-old from Hamilton, took home the grand prize at Guitar Center's Drum-Off 2026, marking the return of the legendary drumming competition after a 10-year hiatus. Fortson beat out five other finalists at the National Finale held Thursday night at Hollywood's Fonda Theatre. He impressed the judges with his showmanship, fluid playing and ability to make difficult techniques look easy. "Winning Guitar Center's Drum-Off is an answered prayer," Fortson said. He noted that he had entered as a teenager but never advanced past the district round. "When a friend told me more than a decade later that Drum-Off was coming back and 'this is your year,' I knew I had to give it another shot. To come back all these years later and be standing here as the Drum-Off champion is crazy." >> A MOMENT OF JOY: News We Love As the winner, Fortson receives $25,000, a brand endorsement opportunity, a complete pro-level drum setup, a Roland electronic kit and a trip to Drumeo HQ to create original content. A professional drummer, musician and teacher, Fortson has been playing for 33 years, starting at age 2. Originally from Elberton, Georgia, he has toured all 50 states and 13 countries and is currently a staff musician and teacher at The Ramp Church in Hamilton. The competition saw over 2,600 submissions nationwide. Competitors submitted three-minute auditions at local Guitar Center stores in May, advancing through district and regional finals before reaching the National Finale. The finale was hosted by comedian Bill Burr and Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins. The judging panel featured major names in rock, including John Stamos, Tré Cool of Green Day, Adrian Young of No Doubt and Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine. The event also included live performances by a power trio featuring Kenny Aronoff, Michael Anthony and Phil X, as well as the rock band Rival Sons. Fifteen percent of ticket sales benefited the Guitar Center Music Foundation, which supports music education and instrument access. >> COMING TOGETHER: Project CommUNITY The other five finalists were Chris Darden of Lillington, North Carolina; Jacob Golden Ward of Provo, Utah; Mitchell Gorman of Antioch, Illinois; Caleb Robinson of Lansing, Michigan; and Michael-Andrew Tao Cornish of Stockton, California. Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto emphasized the importance of the event for discovering talent. "It's our mission at Guitar Center to shine a spotlight on those musicians, and Drum-Off gives great drummers a national spotlight," Dalporto said. "Today Jonathan stepped into that spotlight and knocked our socks off." First launched in 1988, Drum-Off ran for 28 years and drew more than 100,000 participants, helping launch the careers of drummers who went on to play with artists like Beyoncé, Foo Fighters and Katy Perry. >> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram