Officers

Kelly Wallis is an experienced and versatile performer in the Salt Lake and Intermountain Region having received a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from the University of Utah under the tutelage of percussionist Douglas J. Wolf and composer Henry Wolking. Upon graduation from the U of U, Kelly went on to be regarded as a “first call” percussionist in Salt Lake’s musical community. He continued his private studies with such notables as Ed Soph, Walfredo De Los Reyes Sr., Michael Spiro, Tom Brechtlien, Steve Houghton, and Dom Famularo. He is equally at home in a variety of musical styles ranging from jazz, rock, fusion, funk, Latin, country and classical, and on a variety of instruments ranging from drum-set, world/ethnic percussion and orchestral percussion. 

Kelly has established a versatile history proven through his performance and recording credentials. As a Classical Percussionist, he has performed with the Utah Symphony, Utah Opera, Ballet West, Repertory Dance Theatre, Utah Chamber Artists and Contemporary Music Consortium and was the house percussionist for Pioneer Theatre Company for seventeen years (Utah’s only equity theatre). 

 As a drum-set artist and percussionist, Kelly was voted “Best Drummer” by Event Magazine readers in 1985, ‘86, ‘87, and Private Eye magazine’s “Best Drummer” in 1992. He has performed and shared the stage with such luminaries as Ray Charles, Chuck Berry,  Stanley Turrentine, Brian Bromberg, Grant Guissman, Brandon Fields, Richard Elliot,  The Mamas and the Papas, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Charlie Bisharat, David La Flame and It’s a Beautiful Day, Francine Reed, Los Lobos, Rich Little, The Jets, Donny Osmond, Joan Rivers, Jack Imeal, Buddy Miles, Clay Aitken, Peter Cetera, Sam Cardon and Kurt Bestor. He has also recorded with Marie Osmond, Terence Blanchard, David Arkenstone, Sam Cardon, Mike Dowdle, and Kurt Bestor, to name a few. 

Kelly’s television  recording credits include hundreds of jingles ranging from: ABC’s Monday Night Football theme, Wide World of Sports, National Geographic’s ‘96 Theme, ABC’s College Football campaign, ‘97 Pontiac, Chevy, F.H.P., The Wonder Years, Telemundo Television, Rikkie Lake Theme, Good Morning America, ESPN, Major League Baseball, ABC’s ‘92 fall promotional campaign and Agatha Christie Hour. He has also recorded many feature shows for television such as, Discovery Channel's “Raising the Mammoth”, National Geographic's “Lewis and Clark” feature, Xena the Princess Warrior, Hercules, He Man, PBS “Grand Canyon” to name a few. Kelly has also been very active recording film trailers such as; Quiz Show, Rubber, Terminal Velocity, Dunstin Checks In, Camp Nowhere, Spider-Man, as well as film scores like, Mi Familia, Pavilion of Women, Peace Makers, Stargate, Eve’s Bayou, Benji II, Boogeyman, Tales from the Hood and the Son of the Mask.  Kelly has also recorded music for numerous special attractions such as the Imax theatre scores at Yellowstone National Park, Zion’s National Park, Whales, and the Hearst Mansion, the “Indiana Jones Attraction” at Universal Studios, the “Jelly Fish” attraction at the Monterey Sea Aquarium, the “Apollo 13” Attraction at the Kennedy Space Center. He has appeared on DVD’s for Kurt Bestor, Sam Cardon, David Arkenstone, Peter Cetera, Touched by an Angel and the movie Ski Patrol staring Martin Mull. 

Along with his busy performing schedule, Kelly also keeps a very active private teaching schedule. In 1993, Kelly published his first drum text “The Rhythm Concept” to rave reviews from Modern Drummer and The Percussive Arts Society. He has since sold through three printings of “The Rhythm Concept”. Having over twenty-five years teaching experience, Kelly currently serves on the percussion faculty at the University of Utah and Westminster College in Salt Lake City. As an endorser for Yamaha Drums and Sabian Cymbals, Kelly is in high demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Intermountain West. 

Kelly is also President and co-owner of BackBeats - Drum & Backline, Salt Lake City’s only 5 Star Drum and Percussion shop and Backline Company. The backline rental service supplies instruments and equipment to hundreds of national touring acts through out the west. The Red Hot Chile Peppers, Lionel Richie, Maroon 5, Sum 41, Macy Gray, Colour Me Badd, B.B. King, Train, Stevie Wonder, Guess Who, Maroon 5, Grace Potter, Jimmy Cliff, Macy Gray, Bret Michaels, Dr. John, Dizzy Gillespie, Minnie Driver, Bacon Bros, Ludicris, Snoop Dog, Cake, The Roots, Los Lobos, Wayne Newton, Collective Soul, Cheap Trick, Al Di’meola, Robben Ford, Dave Sanborn and Joey DeFrancesco are just a few that use Kelly’s backline service. BackBeats - Drum & Backline has supplied many legendary percussionist such as; Steve Gadd, Tom Brechtlein, Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, Mick Fleetwood,  Rod Morgenstein, Deen Castronovo, Tris Imboden, Harvey Mason,  Gerry Brown, Joey Heredia, Chad Wackerman, William Calhoun, Adam Nussbaum, Ed Soph, Steve Houghton, Greg Field, Mark Walker, Sonny Emory, Paul Liem, ?Questlove, Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, Don Alias, John Santos, Jesus Diaz, Micheal Shapiro, Airto Morea,  Micheal Spiro, Kevin Ricard, Steffon Harris, Dave Samuels, Gary Burton, Poncho Sanchez, Steve Smith, Marco Minneman, Alex Acuna, Horacio “El Negro” Hernendez and Jerry Gonzales. BackBeats - Drum & Backline was responsible for the entire musical instrument production at the 2002 Olympiad in Salt Lake City including the Opening and Closing ceremonies, Metals Plaza, Freestyle Venue, Olympic Village and Snowboarding venue. BackBeats - Drum & Backline and Kelly currently over see all of the musical services for the Sundance Film Festival, Park City Jazz Festival, Snowbird Blues and Jazz Festival, Jazz at the Sheraton Series, Twilight Concert Series, Red Butte Concert Series and the Utah Arts Festival to name a few.

Danny Soulier received a bachelor's degree in percussion performance from the University of Utah in 2003 and a master's degree in percussion performance from Cleveland State University in 2006.

His professional experience includes performances with the Utah Symphony, Sun Valley (ID) Summer Symphony, New World Symphony (FL),  Wheeling (WV) Symphony, Ashland (OH) Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, Midland/Odessa (TX) Symphony, Ballet West, and the Utah Chamber Artists. He has studied privately with George Brown, Doug Wolf, Matthew Bassett, Tom Freer, Tim Adams, and Mike Crusoe respectively of the Utah, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Seattle Symphonies.  He has performed under the baton of Keith Lockhart, Pavel Kogan, Thierry Fischer, Alasdair Neale, Craig Jessop, Mack Wilberg, Richard Kaufman, Marvin Hamlisch, and Erich Kunzel.

Since 2000, he has performed regularly with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square as principal timpanist and also a member of the percussion section.  This service has provided opportunities to perform with world renowned artists such as Bryn Terfel, Sissel, Andrea Bocelli,  The King’s Singers, Fredricka von Stade, Evelyn Glennie, Audra MacDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Denyce Graves, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Richard Stolzman, and Glady's Knight.

Jed Blodgett began his music education in Kennewick, Washington. As a student at Brigham Young University he studied with professors Ron Brough and Jay Lawrence. There he also worked as the percussion specialist for the BYU Instrument Office handling budgets, purchases, repairs and maintenance of over 450 instruments. Before graduating with a degree in Music Education, Jed performed and toured with everything from the Philharmonic Orchestra and Concert Choir to the legendary Jazz Band "Synthesis" as well as the Dixieland Band. He has also formed and managed Salsa, Rock, and Jazz Bands throughout the state. From 2008-09 Jed was the Director of Bands at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, and is currently the Director of Percussion and Orchestra at Juan Diego Catholic High School and Saint John the Baptist Middle School in Draper where he directs the drumline, 3 percussion ensembles, 2 steel bands, as well as the high school and middle school string programs.

Kevin Fallon began his professional teaching career in Riverton, Utah as the Director of Bands at Riverton High School in 2005. Mr. Fallon’s teaching responsibilities at Riverton High School currently include Concert Band, Symphonic Band, two Jazz Big Bands, two Concert Percussion Ensembles, Marching Band, Pep Band, Steel Drum Band, Drum Line, Winter Colorguard, Tuba Choir, Electronic (MIDI) Music, as well as numerous chamber ensembles and jazz combos.  Since beginning at Riverton High School, Mr. Fallon has been recognized with the Riverton Choice Award for Excellence in Education, as well as a Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Educators award.  He was also recognized as the Outstanding First-Year Educator within the Jordan School District in 2006.

Mr. Fallon met his wife Melissa while they were both members of the Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.  Kevin & Melissa have been married since January 1999.  Together, they enjoy being parents to four amazing children: Connor, Meghan, Nolan, and Colin.  In their “spare time,” the Fallons enjoy hiking and camping in Utah’s scenic mountain and canyon regions.