Jamie Newitt - Class of 2002

When The Heavy Pets’ drummer, Jamie Newitt ’02, started high school as a freshman at Archmere Academy, he was “at a pretty inexperienced stage on (his) musical path, just getting started on drums.” That is, until he enrolled in a few music classes taught by Archmere’s then band director, Mr. Joe Santomauro. “He had a way of really lighting a fire and bringing out the best in his students,” says Jamie. “He made me want to get better on my own without ever having to say so.” For Jamie, concert and stage bands were classes that inspired him and fed his growing passion for music.
 

 

At the University of Delaware, he played in a variety of music groups, touring around with some of them. “I had a desire to improve myself as a musician and learn as much as possible,” he says. He switched his major from Communications to Music Management and Jazz Studies, and began to study the music business and industry practices. “Once I was in the Music program, and immersed in all aspects of the field, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to pursue a career that involved the writing and performance of original music,” says Jamie, who lists among his professors Dr. Michael Marinelli ’76, Archmere’s headmaster, who taught his music management course.
  

 

In 2008, Jamie joined the Fort Lauderdale, FL. based jam band, “The Heavy Pets,” as their drummer. Performing rhythm and blues, jazz-funk and reggae fusion with rock and roll, the band appears regularly at music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Langerado, the New Orleans Backbeat Jazzfest, Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, and their namesake PetZoo.
 

 

In 2010 they released their second studio album, which was dubbed a “Top 10 Album of 2010” by The Huffington Post, and the band is currently working on a self-produced fourth album when they are not on the road for their spring tour. The tour will end with an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and The Heavy Pets are already gearing up for the summer festival season and hitting the road again.
 

 

In addition to performing, writing music, and traveling for tours, collaborating with other artists is one of Jamie Newitt’s favorite aspects of his music career. The Heavy Pets’ most recent album, Swim Out Past the Sun, featured living legend David Grisman, who is on the Grateful Dead Album American Beauty and was a long-time collaborator of Jerry Garcia’s. “He plays so beautifully on our songs and bestowed a lot of knowledge on us ‘young bucks’” says Jamie.
 

 

One of his favorite performances was when Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band sat in with The Heavy Pets on a show in New Orleans.

 

Another of their recent collaborations was with a fellow Archmere alumnus and celebrated American artist, Mark T. Smith ‘86, who created the cover art for the Swim Out Past the Sun album.
 

 

When he’s not performing, writing or touring with The Pets, Jamie teaches drum set and percussion privately in Florida. “I have students ranging from 10-55 years old, male and female, advanced and beginners,” says Jamie. “Some are pursuing music as a career, and some are just picking it up as a hobby, but it’s really great to see how positively drumming is affecting their lives.”
 

 

Jamie loves watching his students get better and inspiring them to keep going with their passion, much the way his teachers at Archmere did for him. Though he never had him for a class, Jamie lists among his Archmere influences his father, long-time visual art instructor and artist Terry Newitt. “He’s been a great example as an artist, and extremely supportive in everything I’ve done.”
 

 

To current Archmere students and others thinking about pursuing a career in music, Jamie’s advice is to be a life-long learner. “Work hard at your craft, learn as much as possible and embrace all genres/styles of music in order to become a well-rounded player and listener,” he says. “If there is a style of music you’re unfamiliar with, check it out and at least learn the basics. There are so many things to be learned from each style and the more you’re familiar with, the more valuable you are in any situation.”