Grammy Award Winner, Neal Smith was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Neal Smith has been playing drums since the age of five. Neal performs regularly in clubs and concert halls, at colleges and universities, and at U.S. and International Jazz Festivals. Neal leads his own group, which performs original compositions as well as classic arrangements of jazz standards. Neal performs regularly with internationally recognized artists. Beyond performing, Neal loves to teach developing drummers. He is currently a professor at Berklee College of Music and Longy School of Music. Recognizing the need for a record label that focuses exclusively on the production of jazz recordings, Neal founded the NAS label in 2004. Neal Smith endorses Sonor Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth Sticks/ Brushes.