I was having 2021 Christmas Eve dinner with my good friends and Beaux mentioned a friend of his Matthew Sterling. He knew him from school. Matthew and his little brother Aaron lived in Garland, Texas. What caught my attention was how 5 or 6 year-old Aaron had gotten a metal trash can that he would climb into and play his childhood hero Oscar the Grouch.
It turns out that Aaron Sterling is a well-known drummer, producer, engineer, podcaster, and session musician who now lives in Los Angeles. He was born July 9, 1980, grew up in Texas and Nashville before moving to Los Angeles in 2000. Since 2011, Aaron Sterling has played drums and percussion for John Mayer. He was the drummer on the “Born and Raised”, “Sob Rock”, and “Paradise Valley” albums.
He played in the band for the 2013–2014 World Tour, as well as the John Mayer 2019 World Tour. He also appeared in the music videos for “Queen of California”, “Carry Me Away”, and “Last Train Home”.
Other artists that Aaron has played drums for are Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Jonas Brothers, Ritchie Sambora, Goo Goo Dolls, Lady A, Liz Phair, Emma Roberts, Dean Martin, Donavon Frankenreiter, Selena, Kris Kristofferson, Edie Brickell, Steve Martin, The Civil Wars,
Shakira, Jake Owen, Rascall Flatts, Idina Menzel, Lana Del Ray, Lea Michele, Andy Grammer, Josh Groban, Keith Urban, Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Shawn Colvin, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Maren Morris, Gwen Stephani to name a few.
He has played on albums such as “Strip Me” and “Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield, “Unfold” by Marie Digby, “All I Ever Wanted” by Kelly Clarkson, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, “Feels Like the First Time” by Foreigner (re-recording their hits), “Ghosts in the Canvas” by Glen Campbell
(his sixty-first album, which was intended to be his farewell studio recording following his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease), “Sweeter” by Gavin DeGraw, “Red” by Taylor Swift, “Pioneer” by The Band Perry, “The Blessed Unrest” by Sara Bareilles, and “Wildfire” by Rachel Platten.
