Red Hot Chili Pepper, Lahser Grad Chad Smith on Capitol Hill

Chad Smith has toured the world as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, been part of record-setting albums and remains regarded as one of the best rock-and-roll drummers in history. And none of it would have happened without the music programs in the Bloomfield Hills Schools, he told members of the U.S. Congress Tuesday.

Smith, who attended Andover High School and graduated from Lahser High School in 1980, was on Capitol Hill to lobby legislators on the importance of funding music programs in public schools. He was part of a contingent of stars that joined the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) to try and persuade federal lawmakers that the programs are crucial, and should not be subject to broad cuts, such as what happened with recent sequestration.

“I would have never graduated high school if it wasn’t for music. I know it for a fact,” said Smith, who joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers more than 30 years ago, according to the Washington Post.

He implored that despite his talent, it was the musical training he received at multiple schools from elementary through high school — not private lessons — that drove and prepared him for success at the highest level.

“Those were the things that kept me coming to school,” he told the Post.

The NAMM is particularly focused on pushing lawmakers to be smarter about budget cuts, especially after the federal sequestration take effect this month. The controversial legislation is expected to chop $725 million in Title I funds, which could directly impact music programs at schools everywhere.