Kentucky born and Nebraska-raised, Chad Sexton has advanced from the ranks of the drum and bugle corps to the top of the alternative rock music world.

Born Chad Ronald Sexton on Sept. 7, 1970, in Lexington, Ky., he grew up in Omaha, Neb. There, Sexton attended Westside High School, where he met future bandmates Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney.

Before entering the rock scene, Sexton marched as a snare-drummer with the Railmen drum corps of Omaha, and the Sky Ryders drum corps of Hutchinson, Kan. He took percussion lessons from Steve Thomas at Joe Voda’s Drum City, where he made friends and where his mother, Linda, even found a job.

High school pal Hexum had left Omaha for California, but Sexton suggested he move back to Nebraska so they could form a band. Joined by an Air Force chaplain’s son in bassist Aaron Wills (U.S. Strategic Air Command is just outside Omaha) and another friend, guitarist Jim Watson, the foursome began playing in the Omaha area. Watson was replaced on guitar by Mahoney, and the group – later dubbed 311 -- released three albums (“Dammit!,” “Unity” and “Hydroponic”) and an EP (“Downstairs EP”) on Hexum’s own upstart label What Have You Records before singing with Capicorn Records in 1992.

Sexton is known for a lengthy drum solo on the 311 song “Applied Science.” The bit can last five minutes or more during live shows, and now Sexton even finds himself joined on the “solo” by other bandmates, who play extra drums and cymbals brought on-stage for that song alone.

With the help of Joe Voda and his mother, Sexton has opened his own shop – Chad Sexton’s Drum City – a music store in North Hollywood, Calif., specializing in gear, tour supplies, drum lessons, repairs and sales.

Sexton has also found his niche as a mixer of recordings, working with rap-rock vets Shootyz Groove, not to mention budding bands such as The Rivalry, Agents of the Sun, The Urgency and Ballyhoo!