Ralph Salmins (born June 4th 1964)(REF) is a British drummer, percussionist and session musician. With

an eclectic biography and best known for studio and live work with Van Morrison, Björk, Robbie Williams, and as a member of The Waterboys as well as recording on albums and film soundtracks. (REF) Salmins is currently a Drum Kit professor for both the Royal College of Music in London, and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. (ref)

Early Life & Education

Salmins grew up in London and studied orchestral percussion at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama 1982-1986. (REF)

Career

Primarily a studio musician, Salmins has played on albums, TV shows and on the soundtracks to over 180 movies(REF), including titles from the Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, Mission Impossible and James Bond film series. He has recorded scores for composers Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Anne Dudley, James Newton-Howard, Danny Elfman, Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry, AR Rahman and Michel Colombier. (REF)

Salmins has performed or recorded with Paul McCartney, Björk, George Martin, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Tori Amos, Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones, Elvis Costello, Diana Ross, Deniece Williams, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Graham Gouldman, Scott Walker, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Chaka Khan, The Beach Boys, Nik Kershaw, Alison Krauss, Josh Groban, Gary Moore, Lady Gaga and Keith Emerson. (REF) Salmins was a member of Van Morrison’s band from 1995-1999 and 2005-6, recording four albums.(REF) In 2011 he joined The Waterboys and was a member of the band for ten years, recording six albums during his tenure.(REF)

Orchestrally he has recorded with Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, John Williams, James Galway, Robert Kraft, Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Akiko Meyers, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra and The London Philharmonic Orchestra.(REF)

In the jazz world, Salmins has worked with The Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Art Farmer, Jon Hendricks, John Lewis, Joe Lovano, James Moody, Tom Scott, Annie Ross, Irene Reid, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, Lizz Wright, Jimmy Witherspoon, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Gene Harris, Gunter Schiller, Mose Allison and Joe Williams. (REF)

Teaching

Salmins has worked as visiting lecturer, teacher, examiner and/or external assessor and clinician at Royal Northern College of Music, Leeds College of Music, Leeds University, Leeds Beckett University, Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Birmingham Conservatoire, Bath Spa University, BIMM, London College of Contemporary Music, The University of Liverpool, Abbey Road Institute (Paris & London), Cork School of Music, The London Drum Show and The UK Drum Show (REF). In 2010, Salmins was on the judging panel for BBC Young Musician of The Year.(REF) Currently he is a Drum Kit Professor at the Royal College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.(REF)

London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

In 2012 Salmins acted as consultant for Danny Boyle’s London Olympic Opening Ceremony, coordinating, auditioning and training the 1,000 Pandemonium drummers with whom he performed in the ceremony.

Honours & Awards

In 2022, Salmins was made a Fellow of The Royal College of Music. (REF)

Winner 2003 Reader’s Poll 'Studio Category' at mikedolbear.com. (REF)

Winner of 'Best Drummer' category at the British Jazz awards in 2006 and 2007. (REF)

Winner, Philip Jones Percussion Prize, 1986. (REF)

Discography

Pyewackett – This Crazy Paradise (1986)

Florida Sun – The Florida Sun Album (1987)

Jimmy Cliff – Nu Colors - Unlimited (1987)

Dieter Thomas Heck – European Sound Project (1989)

Flight – The Rock (1989)

Everything But The Girl – Worldwide (1991)

The Escoffery's – Opinions (1991)

Various – All Through The Year - A Calender In Music & Song - The Second Hokey Pokey Charity Compilation (1991)

Dyango – Amante Gaviota (1992)

Original Broadway Cast - Crazy For You (1992)

Simon Hale – East Fifteen (1993)

Everything But The Girl – Home Movies (The Best Of Everything But The Girl) (1993)

Dick Walter – Pure Big Band - Part 1 (1993)

Lee Gibson – You Can See Forever (1993)

The Matt Wates Sextet – Relaxin' At The Cat (1993)

Tom Robinson – Hard (1994)

James Galway – Wind Of Change (1994)

Alec Dankworth – Nebuchadnezzar (1994)

Barbara Cook – Live from London (1994)

Lupita d'Alessio – Desde Mi Libertad (1994)

Björk – Post (1995)

Van Morrison With Georgie Fame & Friends – How Long Has This Been Going On (1995)

Funny Bones – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995)

Guy Barker – Into The Blue (1995)

Evelyn Glennie – Wind In The Bamboo Grove (1995)

Zbigniew Preisner – When a Man Loves a Woman [Original Soundtrack] (1995)

Ralph McTell – Sand in Your Shoes (1995)

Rui Veloso – Lado Lunar (1995)

Kate St. John – Indescribable Night (1995)

Next Generation Volume.1 – / ネクスト・ジェネレーション Vol.1 (1995)

Home Service – Wild Life (1995)

The Alec & John Dankworth Generation Big Band – Rhythm Changes (1995)

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaughan Meakins, Chamber Choir of the Arts Educational School, The Ambrosian Singers – The Christmas Album: A Collection Of Contemporary And Traditional Christmas Music (1995)

The Mike Flowers Pops – A Groovy Place (1996)

John Williams – John Williams Plays the Movies (1996)

Simone – Dos Enamoradas (1996)

A Night at Ronnie Scott's, Vol. 5: The Ballad Album (1996)

A Night at Ronnie Scott's, Vol. 4 (1996)

Andrew Lloyd Webber And Tim Rice – Evita (The Motion Picture Music Soundtrack) (1996)

David Freeman – Apart & Together (1996)

David Freeman – Under A Tall Tree Looking Up (1996)

David Freeman – Painting As Autobiography (A Love Story) (1996)

David Freeman – Melodrama (1996)

Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Mose Allison, Ben Sidran – Tell Me Something (The Songs Of Mose Allison) (1996)

Guy Barker – Timeswing (1996)

Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Jesus Christ Superstar (1996)

James McMillan – Up All Night up All Day (1996)

Van Morrison – Steppin' On A Dream (1996)

Victor Manuel – Sin Memoria (1996)

Dick Walter Band – Capricorn Rising (1996 )

Sigga – Sigga (1996)

Van Morrison – The Healing Game (1997)

Various – Great Expectations (The Album) (1997)

Elaine Delmar – Nobody Else But Me (1997)

Mike Figgis – One Night Stand (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1997)

Various – The Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers (A Tribute) (1997)

Charlene Smith – Feel The Rhythm (1997)

The Wondertoys – Sing Sing (1997)

Marlene VerPlanck – You Gotta Have Heart: The Songs of Richard Adler (1997)

The New London Chorale – The New Amadeus Mozart (A Tom Parker Project) (1997)

Donna Lewis – Blue Planet (1998)

Diana Ross – A Very Special Season (1998)

Various – Twentieth Century Blues - The Songs Of Noël Coward (1998)

Colin Towns' Mask Quintet With Maria Pia De Vito – Still Life (1998)

Various – Songs From Whistle Down The Wind (1998)

Garibaldi XXI – Casado Sabe Más Bueno (1998)

Great Expectations – Original Soundtrack (1998)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Christmas Album [Intersound] (1998)

Evelyn Glennie – Her Greatest Hits (1998)

After Eden – Superstrings (1998)

Dominique Dalcan – Ostinato (1998)

The New London Chorale – The Classic Christmas Collection - Ihre Schönsten Weihnachtsballaden (A Tom Parker Project) (1998)

Brian Dee Trio – Climb Every Mountain (1998)

Jeff Leyton – Music of the Night (1999)

Tom Jones – Reload (1999)

Dot Allison – Afterglow (1999)

Scott Walker – Pola X (1999)

Colin Towns' Mask Symphonic, Featuring Norma Winstone & Maria Pia De Vito – Dreaming Man With Blue Suede Shoes (1999)

Ola Onabule – Precious Libations For Silent Gods (1999)

Leo Green – Straight Up (1999)

After Eden – Dance Of The Knights (1999)

Various – Sex, Chips And Rock N' Roll (1999)

The New London Chorale – It's For You (A Tom Parker Project) (1999)

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Original London Cast / Jim Steinman – Whistle Down the Wind [Original Cast Recording] (1999)

After Eden – Superstrings E.P. (1999)

Miliki – A Mis Niños De 30 Años (1999)

Van Morrison – Emerald Dreams (1999)

Van Morrison – Live 1999 (1999)

Evelyn Glennie – Africa Sunrise / Manhattan Rave (2000)

Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber – Jesus Christ Superstar (The New Stage Production Soundtrack) (2000)

The Boyz from Brazil – The Boyz from Brazil (2000)

James Galway – Love Song (2000)

El Consorcio – Las Canciones de Mi Vida (2000)

Mike Figgis – Figgis on Figgis (2000)

Mark Winkler – Easy the Hard Way (2000)

Chris Brubeck – Bach to Brubeck: Bass Trombone Concerto/Blues Suite for Banjo & Orchestra (2000)

Various – Hôtel Costes Etage 3 (2000)

Beth Hirsch – Titles & Idols (2001)

Monarch of the Glen: Music from the BBC TV Series (2001)

Robbie Williams – Swing When You're Winning (2001)

Various – Bridget Jones's Diary (Music From The Motion Picture) (2001)

Robbie Williams – Live At The Albert (2001)

Cecilia – Inner Harmony (2001)

Hans Zimmer, Flemish Radio Orchestra, Dirk Brossé – The Wings Of A Film / The Music Of Hans Zimmer (2001)

Jane McDonald – Love At The Movies (2001)

Michael Ball – This Time It's Personal (2001)

John Metcalfe – The Inner Line (2001)

Georgie Fame – Relationships (2001)

Gregory Fine Quartet* – Fine Plays Fine 2001

Custom Blue – All Follow Everyone 2002

Gareth Gates – What My Heart Wants To Say 2002

Will Young & Gareth Gates – The Long And Winding Road / Suspicious Minds 2002 Patrick Doyle – Gosford Park (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2002

James Galway – The Very Best Of James Galway 2002 Gareth Gates – What My Heart Wants To Say 2002 Various – American Idol Greatest Moments 2002 Andy Clark – You Are Here 2 2002

David Visan-Chill Out in Paris, Vol. 2 2002

Georgie Fame – Charlestons 2002

A Night at Ronnie's, Vol. 4 2002

Van Morrison – From Dublin Up To Sandy Row 2002 Steve Sidwell – Jazz Blue 2002

Brian Dee Quartet – Centurion 2002

Charlie Mole-The Importance of Being Earnest [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] 2002 Emma* – Free Me 2003

Various – American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs 2003

The Idols-The Pop Idol: The Idols - Xmas Factor 2003

Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge – Orpheus (The Lowdown) 2003

Anne Dudley – Seriously Chilled (New Arrangements Of Classic Chill-out Anthems) 2003 Westlife – Turnaround 2003

Westlife – Hey Whatever 2003

坂本真綾* – 少年アリス 2003

Scott Walker – In 5 Easy Pieces - A Themed 5 CD Anthology 2003 Eric Woolfson – Poe - More Tales Of Mystery And Imagination 2003 S Club 8 – Sundown 2003

Gareth Gates-What My Heart Wants to Say 2003

The Idols (4) – The Xmas Factor 2003

Various – A Tribute To Frankie Miller 2003

Martine McCutcheon-Musicality 2003

Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel – Under The Stars 2003

Val Wiseman – Just For A Thrill 2003

Laurence Cottle – Extreme Big Band 2003

Engelbert Humperdinck-Definition of Love 2003

Cavatina (Instrumental) - Aus Die Durch Die Hölle Gehen

Various – The Classic Score (Die Sound-Highlights Der Größten Filmmusiken) 2003 Barbara Jay-Reminiscing With Barbara Jay 2003

Various – Feel The Groove 2003

Janet Mooney – Secret Love 2003

Michael Ball-A Love Story 2003

American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics 2003

American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs 2003

Westlife – ....Allow Us To Be Frank 2004

Alison Moyet – Voice 2004

Hans Zimmer – King Arthur (Original Score) 2004

Mark Isham – Racing Stripes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2004

Totally James Bond: The Essential 007 Themes 2004

Simply Acoustic [Box Set] 2004

Peter Blegvad / Andy Partridge-Orpheus the Lowdown 2004

Darius (7) – Live Twice 2004

Michelle* – All This Time 2004

Folk Festival: A Celebration of Music Recorded at the Sidmouth International Festival 2004 Emily Bezar-Angels' Abacus 2004

Chris Botti – When I Fall In Love 2004

Edward Shearmur – Laws Of Attraction (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2004

Meja – Mellow 2004

John Metcalfe-Scorching Bay 2004

Gordon Haskell – The Lady Wants To Know 2004

Scott Walker-In Five Easy Pieces 2004

Stephen Baker (2) – Human Nature 2 2004

The Key Sessions Quartet – The Piano Sessions 2004

Mo Foster – '50s And '60s Rock'N'Roll 2004

Various – Best And Worst Of America. The Seven Deadly Sins. Vol One 2004

Clint Mansell – Sahara (Original Motion Picture Score) 2005

Emma Bunton-Free Me 2005

Original Cast*, Elton John – Billy Elliot The Musical - Original Cast Recording 2005

Danny Elfman – Charlie Y La Fabrica De Chocolate (Banda Sonora Original De La Pelicula) 2005

Bond Themes: 36 Superb Vocal and Instrumental Perf 2005

Darius-Live Twice 2005

David Migden – Little Stranger 2005

ITV 50: The Album 2005

Various – We Get A Kick Out Of Jazz 2005

Various – Son Of The Mask (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2005

Hayley Westenra – What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You) 2005

Various – Hollywood Uncovered - The Real And Surreal Side Of Hollywood 2005

Various – An American Sitcom - Retro To Modern 2005

Eliana Tomkins – Rapture 2005

We Get a Kick Out of Jazz 2005

Björk – Surrounded 2006

Billy Elliot [Original London Cast] 2006

Shaken, Not Stirred: The Essential James Bond Themes 2006

Various – A Good Year (Music From The Motion Picture) 2006

Ray Russell – Goodbye Svengali 2006

Jippu – Salaisuuksia, Joita Yksinäiset Huutavat Unissaan 2006

Everything But the Girl-The Platinum Collection 2006

Andy Abraham – The Impossible Dream 2006

Ronan Keating – Bring You Home 2006

Van Morrison – Christmas Special 98 2006

Kyle Eastwood – Now 2006

Peter Grant-New Vintage 2006

The Boyz From Brazil – The Boyz From Brazil 2007

Lance Ellington – There Comes A Time 2007

Guy Barker – The Amadeus Project 2007

Michael Ball-Back to Bacharach 2007

Melanie C – This Time 2007

Peter Grant-Traditional 2007

Pappas Eget Band – En Ny Favorit 2007

Van Morrison – The Best of Van Morrison Vol.3 2007

Lesley Garrett – When I Fall In Love 2007

Ella Edmondson – Blame Amy 2007

Nitin Sawhney – London Undersound 2008

Chris Thompson – Timeline 2008

Sarah Brightman – A Winter Symphony 2008

Blake-And So It Goes 2008

Carter Burwell – Burn After Reading (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2008

Virginia Younger – Fall In Love Again 2008

Beverley Craven – Close To Home 2009

Julian Lloyd Webber-Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Classical Tribute 2008

Susan Boyle – I Dreamed A Dream 2009

Nitin Sawhney – London Undersound - Instrumentals And Remixes 2009

Jacqui Dankworth* – Back To You 2009

Various – Fantastic Mr. Fox (Original Soundtrack) 2009

Eric Woolfson – Edgar Allan Poe 2009

The Parody Album- Chris Moyles 2009

Barbara Cook- The Essential Barbara- 2009

Planet 51 [Original Soundtrack] 2009

Connie Talbot -Connie Talbot's Holiday Magic 2009

The Senti-mentals – Who Knows, Who Cares? 2009

McCormack & Yarde Duo – My Duo 2009

Divos & Divas- Various 2009

Cilla Black-A Life in Music 2009

All Angels-Fly Away 2010

Various – The Madcap Laughs Again! 2010

Alexandre Desplat- Tamara Drewe [Original Score] 2010

Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album 2010

-Clay Aiken- A Thousand Different Ways/Measure of a Man 2010

Robbie Williams – In And Out Of Consciousness (Greatest Hits 1990-2010) 2010

John Barrowman – John Barrowman 2010

Kommander Börte, Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, NDR Bigband* – Mission Nr. 1 2010

Will Martin – Inspirations 2010

Clay Aiken-Tried & True 2010

Sasha Sokol – Tiempo Amarillo 2010

Gill Manly-With a Song in My Heart 2010

Henry Jackman – Gulliver's Travels (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2010 Graham D. H. Presket* – Eastern Europe 2010

Darius Campbell, Barisons Swing Band, Brian Hill (20) – History Of The Big Bands (Volume 1) 2010

The Waterboys – An Appointment With Mr Yeats 2011

Schmidt (8) – Above Sin City 2011

Murray Gold-Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil [Original Score] 2011 Westlife – Greatest Hits 2011

Twiggy-Romantically Yours 2011

Ola Onabule – Seven Shades Darker 2011

Alexandre Desplat – The Ides Of March (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2011 Mo Foster – Bass Themes 2011

Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band – Sing 2012

Dexys* – One Day I'm Going To Soar 2012

World Party – Arkeology - Diary & Music Collection 2012

Badly Drawn Boy – Being Flynn (Original Motion Picture Sountdtrack) 2012

Various – Isles Of Wonder (Music For The Opening Ceremony Of The London 2012 Olympic Games) 2012

Chris Moyles – The Difficult Second Album 2012

Clay Aiken-Steadfast 2012

Rumer – Boys Don't Cry 2012

Liane Carroll – Ballads 2012

Renée Fleming – The Art Of Renée Fleming 2012

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Plays the Music of Rush 2012

Guy Farley – The Hot Potato (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2012

Carter Burwell-The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pt. 2 [Original Motion Picture Score] 2012

Various – History Of Rock And Pop 1975-1985 2012

"Peter Pan - The Never Ending Story" Musical Cast – Peter Pan - The Never Ending Story (Music From The Arena Spectacular) 2012

Everything But The Girl – The Language Of Life 2013

Cilla Black- The Very Best of Cilla Black 2013

Vive (5) – Album Deluxe 2013

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Plays Fleetwood Mac's Rumours 2013 Robbie Williams – Swings Both Ways 2013

Everything But the Girl-Worldwide/The Acoustic EPs 2013

Georgie Fame And The Last Blue Flames* – Swan Songs 2013

Jim Fowler (4) – Diggs Nightcrawler (Original Soundtrack) 2013

Ray Russell – Now, More Than Ever 2013

Paloma Faith – A Perfect Contradiction 2014

Amy Dickson-A Summer Place 2014

Gareth Gates-The Very Best of Gareth Gates 2014

John Powell – How To Train Your Dragon 2 (Music From The Motion Picture) 2014 Various – Walking On Sunshine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2014

The Waterboys – Modern Blues 2015

Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra* – If I Can Dream 2015

Vivian Roost – Départ 2015

Rumer-B Sides and Rarities 2015

Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal 2015

The Ten Tenors-Our Christmas Wish 2015

Plainsong-Reinventing Richard: The Songs of Richard Fariña 2015

Tony O'Malley – Back At The Bag 2015

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Plays Prog Rock Classics 2015

Aled Jones- A Christmas Gift 2015

Tanita Tikaram – Closer To The People 2016

Elvis* With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – The Wonder Of You 2016

Brinsley Schwarz (2) – Unexpected 2016

John Williams-The Guitar Master: The Ultimate Collection 2016

The Waterboys – Out Of All This Blue 2017

Elvis* With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Christmas With Elvis And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 2017

Roy Orbison With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Oh, Pretty Woman / Crying 2017 Roy Orbison With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Love So Beautiful 2017 Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me 2017

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe With The Rays Of Sunshine Children's Choir & Friends – Bring Me Sunshine

Graham Coxon / Luke Daniel – Falling 2017

Michael Ball / Alfie Boe-Together Again 2017

The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 2018

Aretha Franklin-The Queen of Soul 2018

Roy Orbison With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Unchained Melodies 2018 Butterfly's Wing – Le Départ 2018

Benjamin Wallfisch – King Of Thieves (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2018 The Waterboys – Where The Action Is 2019

Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present 2019

David Arnold – The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Original Film Soundtrack) 2019 Michael Ball / Alfie Boe-Together at Christmas 2020

Graham Gouldman – Modesty Forbids 2020

Nik Kershaw – Oxymoron 2020

The Waterboys – Good Luck, Seeker 2020

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Disney Goes Classical 2020 Ray Russell – Fluid Architecture 2020

Johnny Cash And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Johnny Cash And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 2020

Dickon Hinchliffe-Misbehaviour [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] 2020

Gary Barlow – Music Played By Humans 2020

The Forgotten Fairground, Bonnie Herman – The Forgotten Fairground + Bonnie Herman 2020

Brinsley Schwarz (2) – Tangled 2021

Gary Barlow / Sheridan Smith-The Dream of Christmas-2021

Hans Zimmer – No Time To Die (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2021 Gary Barlow – Sleigh Ride 2021

Dickon Hinchliffe – Leave No Trace 2021

Andy Partridge – My Failed Songwriting Career (Volume Two) 2022 Colosseum – Restoration 2022

The Waterboys – All Souls Hill 2022 Steve Baker – Tonic 2022

Alexandre Desplat – Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio (Music From The Netflix Film) 2022 Paul Matic – A Road Like This 2023

Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Highlights From Jesus Christ Superstar

Dick Walter – Pure Big Band - Part 2 / Vocals

Conrad Pope-Tim's Vermeer [Original Score]

Carl Davis-The Music of Upstairs Downstairs, Series 2

Composer

Composer of Drum Kit Grade Pieces for Trinity Guildhall (Two series)

Production Music Albums for Made Up Music, BBC Music Library, Chappell Music Library The Waterboys, and Kyle Eastwood

References

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ralph-salmins-mn0000676729#creditshttps://www.discogs.com/artist/358513-Ralph-Salmins?superFilter=Credits