User:Cubbyobrien

(From Cubby O'Brien's official website)

Cubby began his entertainment career at the ripe old age of nine, when he became one of the original Mouseketeers on the groundbreaking ABC-TV show, The Mickey Mouse Club.

Although drumming was (and remains) Cubby’s principal talent, he also tap-danced, sang and appeared in a wide variety of comedic skits during his four years as an active Mouseketeer. Cubby says “active” because even after 50 years since the show left the air, he believes in the adage “Once a Mouseketeer, always a Mouseketeer. ”

After The Mickey Mouse Club, Cubby joined the “champagne music-makers” on The Lawrence Welk Show. From that first “grown-up” gig came stints with Spike Jones, Ann-Margaret and Debbie Reynolds, among others. Cubby learned his show-biz chops early, and from the best.

He returned to TV in 1967 as the drummer for the Carol Burnett Show where, during his six-season run, he first met Bernadette Peters. Cubby and Bernadette have performed together for 42 years, in concert and on the Broadway stage. Cubby was in the orchestra for revivals of Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy, both starring Bernadette.

Cubby also performed on Broadway as the original drummer for the record-breaking Mel Brooks comedy The Producers. He has toured the United States and around the world with Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, and West Side Story. Cubby broke into musical theater in the late 1960s as musical director and drummer for the Los Angeles productions of counter-culture icons Hair and Oh, Calcutta! He also drummed on the soundtrack of the 1978 movie blockbuster Grease, and later performed in concert with Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John.

During his five decades as a professional drummer, Cubby has played for some of the world’s most popular singers. He spent 10 memorable years with The Carpenters, drumming for the duo in order to give beloved singer and drummer Karen Carpenter more public exposure. Cubby also enjoyed lengthy associations with Shirley MacLaine, Andy Williams and Joel Grey. In Addition, he has been a guest drummer for the local symphonies, throughout the U.S. and abroad.

A native of Southern California, Cubby now lives with his wife Holly in the Northwest woods near Portland.