GRAMMY award-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Matt Sorum, discovered the power of music at a young age after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, and being captivated by Ringo Starr on the drums.
Sorum comes from a family of music makers who shared their love of music with him early in life. His grandfather was a professor of music at Long Beach State University while his mother was an early influence as a music instructor and Superintendent of Music at twenty-six schools in Orange County, California. Matt’s eldest brother was a first-chair violinist, and his middle brother who was a rebel rock n’ roller, bought him his first drum kit. Soon, Sorum began taking as many as three music classes a day – the maximum his school would allow.
Soon after starting his first band in high school, Sorum moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of being a full-time musician.
With a lot of hard work, grit, and resilience, that dream became reality. Sorum’s professional music career spans decades with world-renowned bands including The Cult, Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, as well as solo albums and collaborations with artists spanning every genre of music.
Throughout his career, Sorum often reflects that music education had a significant impact on his early childhood and future success. After learning that many public elementary schools lack the resources, teachers, and curriculum to provide music education at the K-6 level, Matt was shocked and decided to take action.
Sorum founded Adopt the Arts in 2012 alongside Golden Globe® award and Emmy award-winning Actor Jane Lynch to provide underserved elementary schools with high-quality music education curriculum and resources. By focusing on K-6 students, Adopt the Arts empowers children during their most formative years, creating a foundation for creative learning and self-confidence, while helping build stronger, more connected communities.
Likening philanthropy to the thrill of playing for a packed area, Sorum is committed to lending his voice to drive awareness and positive change for music education in underserved public schools.
