Vinnie Colaiuta | Berklee Commencement Address 2026

Vinnie Colaiuta delivers Berklee's 2026 commencement address. Learn more: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/n... Originally from Pennsylvania, Vinnie Colaiuta moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 1978 after attending Berklee College of Music. Just four months later, at age 22, he landed a breakthrough role with Frank Zappa, performing both live and in the studio. His work on Zappa’s Joe’s Garage (1979) was recognized by Modern Drummer as one of the top 25 drumming performances of all time. Following his time with Zappa, Colaiuta worked with Gino Vannelli, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand, Sting, and Chaka Khan, as well as jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and John McLaughlin. Throughout his career, he has recorded and performed with a wide range of artists across genres, including James Taylor, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos, and many others. Since releasing a self-titled solo recording in 1994, he has become one of the most in-demand studio musicians, appearing on countless albums, film soundtracks, and TV and radio jingles. Colaiuta has won 18 Drummer of the Year awards in Modern Drummer’s Readers Poll, including 10 in the Best Overall category, and was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1996. The publication also cited him as “the most important drummer of our time." Rhythm lauded Colaiuta as one of the 50 most influential drummers of all time, while Rolling Stone listed him among the 100 greatest drummers. In 2010, he received his first Grammy Award for his performance on Five Peace Band Live by Chick Corea and John McLaughlin.