The future is bright for 2008 National Drum-Off Champion and Keyser native Donnie  Marple as he moved to Nashville, Tennessee this past weekend to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional musician.
A 2007 graduate of Keyser High School, Marple said he chose to pursue his dreams in Nashville because it’s the “music city capital of the world.”
“A lot of musicians are here, compared to where I was living,” said Marple, in a phone interview Wednesday. “ I moved here to find work. My main goal is to play drums for a living.”
Marple also chose Nashville because of its low crime rate. He said it is a “safe place to live” and “very laid  back”.
Currently, the top drummer in the nation is looking forward to attending the NAMM — the National Association of Music Merchants  show at the Nashville Convention Center on June 20-22.
“There’re always a lot of musicians who go to NAMM,” said Marple, who attended Winter NAMM in Anaheim Calif. during the Guitar Center’s National Drum-Off Championship. “There are also tons of new products . I hope to meet a lot of musicians when I go to summer NAMM, which will be held right up the street from where I live.”
Marple will be busy this fall as prepares to perform at the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert to be held Oct. 18 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, the first concert in 10 years honoring the renowned drummer.
“Buddy Rich was one of the best drummers of all time. I grew up listening to him,” said Marple. “I got invited to play in that. Some of the greats will be playing there on the same stage I will be on.”
Some of these percussion “greats” include Terry Bozzio (formerly of Frank Zappa’s band and currently of Missing Persons), John Blackwell (formerly in Prince’s band and currently with Justin Timberlake and the debut of Nick Rich), grandson to the Buddy Rich.
This summer, Marple said he will be working part-time at the local Guitar Center while teaching drum lessons.
“I want to play as much as possible,” said Marple. “I’m hoping to do sessions and recording work.”
Marple wants to thank many people back home in Keyser — his parents and fiance are at the top of the list.
“I  would like to thank my family for being there for me from the beginning,” he said. “They let me go and do my own thing and supported me and didn’t hold me back at all. I also would like to thank my fiance, Claire Williams, for helping me pick out an apartment for the right price and helping to decorate.
“I would also like to thank the city of Keyser and the whole state of West Virginia for supporting me during this drum-off and inspiring me to pursue my career as a professional drummer.”
His mother, Patti, said she is very proud of her son, and added that he is very lucky for being able to pursue a career that he loves.
“I’m hoping that he can make a good living doing something that he loves for the rest of his life,” said Marple.
Marple is also the son of Donnie Marple, Jr.