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Drummer Doesn't Miss A Beat

Photo from Ravi Jakhotia

Tampa native Ravi Jakhotia landed a gig on "Howie Do It" with Howie Mandel.

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By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

TAMPA - The Tampa area drummer that could continues to make noise.

Tampa native Ravi Jakhotia (aka DJ Ravi Drums), who performed during the "Super Bowl XLII Pregame Show" alongside "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, will bang the drums at Jackson's Wednesday night for a Thanksgiving Eve extravaganza. (Proceeds from the event go to Metropolitan Ministries.)

Jakhotia is also going to prime time. He is scheduled to appear with Howie Mandel, host of "Deal Or No Deal," on the new NBC reality show, "Howie Do It," set to air Jan. 9. Jakhotia will have on-air interaction with Mandel similar to that of talk show hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien and their house bands.

"I feel great, and I am really excited. The show is not like anything I've ever done," said Jakhotia, 39. "He [Mandel] gave me the opportunity of a lifetime."

Jakhotia relocated to Los Angeles to break into the music business in 1997. He has since scored big-time gigs, including reporting from the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards, guest DJing at the Playboy mansion and collaborating with the likes of the Black Eyed Peas.

"People think it's so much more glamorous than it is ... the longest block of sleep was Monday night for about 4 hours," Jakhotia said of his packed schedule. "But I love it. I just couldn't work a normal job like anyone else."

The DJ/drummer, who's married and has a 3-year-old son, is known for his over-the-top performances and his percussion assortment, including a set of garbage bins that double as kick drums. While attending Chamberlain High School, he played with the band Crimson Glory, signed to Atlantic Records and worked with the popular St. Petersburg conga player Gumbi Ortiz.

"Things have just been wonderful," Jakhotia said. "It just goes to show that it's about being at the right place at the right time. But it took me 10 years to get to the right place."

Jackson's Thanksgiving Eve with DJ Ravi Drums; $10; doors open at 9 p.m. Wednesday; Jackson's Bistro, 601 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa; (813) 277-0112

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.

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