Byron Metcalf

Byron Metcalf is a drummer, percussionist, recording artist, and record producer. With over 40 years as a professional musician, he has performed on gold and platinum albums in the pop and country fields and in recent years has been experimenting with the use of drums, percussion, and other sounds to induce nonordinary (altered) states of consciousness in both ceremonial and therapeutic contexts. Byron's 1998 CD release HELPERS, GUIDES & ALLIES continues to receive enthusiastic reviews in the shamanic, trance dance, and therapeutic communities, and was rated #4 in Backroads Music's 1998 Best of Year Selections in the World Music category. Byron collaborated with award winning recording artist and sonic innovator Steve Roach on the critically acclaimed 2-disc epic THE SERPENT'S LAIR (Projekt Records, Sept. 2000). NOT WITHOUT RISK was Byron's second solo project. WACHUMA'S WAVE (Spotted Peccary, 2003), a collaboration with German artist Mark Seelig (with Steve Roach), was chosen by Backroads Music as the #1 Release of 2003 in all categories. THE SHAMAN'S HEART with Hemi-Sync (Monroe Products) was the winner of the COVR 2006 Visionary Award for &Best Inner Space/Mediation/Healing CD.& This prestigious honor is considered on par with the Grammy Award within the Visionary/Healing Arts industry.
 
Background
 
Byron is a also transpersonal guide and educator, shamanic practitioner, researcher, and teacher. He holds a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology, a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and is a certified graduate of Grof Transpersonal Training and Eupsychia Institute’s Psycho-Spiritual Integration programs. Byron has trained, studied, and worked with shamans, healers, and psycho-spiritual teachers from many parts of the world including Stan Grof, Jack Kornfield, Hameed Ali, John Davis, Ph.D., Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., Jose and Lena Stevens, Sandra Ingerman, Don Americo Yabar, and Jose Campos. For over two decades, Byron has been intensely involved in consciousness research and spiritual development, specializing in the transformative potential of alternative states of consciousness. As a drummer, percussionist and recording engineer, Byron produces music for deep inner exploration, breathwork, shamanic journeywork, body-oriented therapies, various meditation practices and the healing arts. Byron is also a graduate advisor for Prescott College’s counseling psychology master’s degree program.
 
Byron recently retired from his professional counseling practice of over 20 years in order to devote his full energies to HoloShamanic Strategies, LLC, and its training program development, and also to allow more time in his recording studio.
 
Byron’s highly successful music business career spans over four decades and covers a wide variety of musical styles and genres. A professional drummer at age 15, Byron has played on several gold and platinum albums (most notably Kenny Rogers’ album “The Gambler”). He has performed at top concert venues including Carnegie Hall, The Greek Theater, The LA Forum, Universal Amphitheater, The Grand Ole Opry, and Wembley Arena (London), as well as headliner showrooms in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. Byron also performed on The Tonight Show, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, CMA Awards, ACM Awards, Fantasy Island, Hee Haw, Good Ole Nashville Music, and many others. Since 1988, Byron has focused his musical talents toward the healing arts, creating musical sequences for Holotropic Breathwork workshops, and facilitating men’s workshops and shamanic drumming circles and ceremonies. During the past decade, Byron has been producing solo CD projects and collaborating with other artists including Steve Roach, Mark Seelig, with Ron Oates, Jack Coddington, and several other musical guests. In 2005, Byron teamed up with The Monroe Institute to produce a “meta-music” version of Byron’s critically acclaimed “The Shaman’s Heart” (with Steve Roach) which includes Monroe’s Hemi-Sync technology embedded in the music tracks. Monroe will also release a meta-music version of Byron’s 2nd solo project “Not Without Risk” (re-sequenced and re-titled as “Spirit Gathering”) in late 2006.