Ed Pierce grew up in Eureka, California, and started playing percussion at the age of eleven. In high school and college he played drums in a variety of jazz and rock groups, as well as playing steel drums in the Humboldt State University Calypso Band. After graduating from college in 1996, he moved to the Portland area, where he has played drum set with many jazz, blues, and R&B groups for the last 20 years.
In addition to Re-Birthing the Cool, he has played at various times with the bands of DK Stewart, Johnny Martin, Pete Petersen, Roger Woods, Paul DeLay, Lloyd Jones, Terry Robb, Geno Michaels, Rae Gordon, Ben Fowler, Ezra Weiss, and many others.