Mario Encina -- Drums, 12-string acoustic guitar

The year was 1981. Mario was a young lad, around 12 years old. Rush's Moving Pictures filled the airwaves. That's when it happened -- that's when he heard Tom Sawyer for the first time and was blown away by Neil Peart. Yes, drums it was going to be, for sure. After exhausting every Rush album and proclaiming himself "king of all air drummers," he decides to move on and test other musical waters. As a newly formed drumming fan, he would only listen to bands exhibiting great drummers: ELP, Yes, and Rush, to name just a few. But what about that singer guy in Genesis -- Phil Collins? He seems to be a decent drummer. Abacab was out during this time. Imagine Mario's surprise when he went deeper into the Genesis collection. "What? Phil wasn't the original singer?" After playing early Genesis to death around the house, his Dad bought him a very, very used 4 piece set. No more air drums!

Despite having no musical training and never taken a lesson, the transition from a virtual instrument to the real thing goes well. In no time, Mario is playing along with his favorite tunes. Young and disillusioned, he decides to play drums for a living. Ha, what a laugh! But anyway, in the many years to come, we find our hero playing in Rush tribute bands, blues bands, rock bands, progressive rock bands, and even playing bass in a modern rock band. After a decade and a half flew by, It was only natural that he would decide to take some time off to pursue his greatest love, writing music (you thought I was going to say his wife, eh? Well, that too). That took Mario on a 7 year hiatus from the music scene. So much for playing for a living! Drumming has taken him down many roads. In the process he has met many wonderful people. Some have come and gone, and others keep coming back. Of course, we're talking about current members of The Waiting Room, Rich, Mike, and Josh, who Mario has played with at one time or another over a span of 15 years. Man, he can't shake these guys!

Instruments:

• 7 piece Mapex drum kit
• Zildjian Cymbals
• Takamine 12 String Acoustic Guitar