THE BIG ZEPHYR: Interview With William Babin
By Lea Byrnes Art
William Babin is the drummer, producer, and agent of the Arizona-based music company, THE BIG ZEPHYR, which specializes in live musical performances that are tailored to the needs of the individual client. They offer many diverse genres of music, including pop, rock, country, disco, R&B, Motown, funk, soul, and more. In addition to being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Babin has been a professional drummer for over thirty years. Born and raised in New Orleans, he started playing the drums in the 1960s and quickly joined a band called THE RUBBER MEMORY, which played over 200 shows between 1968 and 1972. After moving to Phoenix in 1980, Babin focused on raising his family and later returned to his passion for drumming and making music. A passionate performer and organizer, Babin has brought countless clients a unique entertainment experience for their corporate and private events, including weddings, festivals, and more. THE BIG ZEPHYR has a simple philosophy: “Live music of the highest quality by performers with contagious, positive energy. With decades of experience, we play the right music, at the right time, and at the right volume for each occasion.”
Image by Dana Gibbons Photography
Babin’s artistic journey began in 1964, he says, “...when The Beatles played Ed Sullivan, listening to my first transistor radio in NOLA.” Babin has found inspiration from many different artists over the years. He was first inspired by Buddy Rich, “...then local NOLA drummer Johnny Vidacovich, then Ringo, then Don Brewer, and then a whole list of people like Stewart Copeland and every drummer who played for STEELY DAN.” The Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion have had a large influence on his musical style. THE BIG ZEPHYR is known for playing an exciting blend of old and new music, including the most popular hits from top artists such as Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Maroon 5, Norah Jones, Pink, Adele, Pat Benatar, and others. Their passionate, upbeat stage presence gets the whole crowd dancing and singing along! For Babin, his favorite part about what he does is giving each performance everything he’s got. He says, “Nothing is better than being on stage behind my drum kit, driving the band forward, holding down the groove, and screaming with joy whenever I can!”
When he’s not rocking the drums on stage, Babin can also be found utilizing his 40+ years of experience in Taekwondo, as well as his 8th degree black belt. He is a dedicated athlete, a musician, and he also holds a Master of Arts degree in English. He also enjoys water skiing and spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. Babin describes himself as a wild, strong, and passionate person, as well as a performer extraordinaire. His biggest challenge as an artist, he says, has been his lack of formal training. “Failure to be trained formally has limited my sticking skills as a drummer,” he says. “I missed out on the opportunities to be in marching band. Very big mistake.” His advice to young aspiring artists, therefore, is one thing: “Study formally! Do not skip this just because you are talented at age 5 or 10 or 15. Study your art with experts in your art FIRST, and then begin to create your own style.”
“Nothing is better than being on stage behind my drum kit, driving the band forward, holding down the groove, and screaming with joy whenever I can!”
-William Babin
Despite missing out on marching band, Babin has still become an incredibly talented performer who has brought joy to numerous people on all sorts of special occasions. THE BIG ZEPHYR has found amazing success in large part due to his dedication, talent, and positivity. When it comes to the most powerful lesson he has learned from being an artist, he shares, “If you can bring people joy for just a few moments, you have succeeded. If you can teach them to discover their own joy, you have surpassed all expectations.” William Babin is an inspiration to young artists everywhere, and he serves as an example of how far hard work and passion can take someone in their artistic career.
