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Wednesday, December 02, 1998 11:11:55 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Mickey Hart started his musical career with the Grateful Dead some three decades ago. Although the band broke up in 1995 after the death of its leader, Jerry Garcia, Hart remains active in the music industry as one of the world's top percussionists.

"Life is about rhythm," Hart says. "We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that's what we are."

In 1991, he won a Grammy for his album "Planet Drum." His latest release, "Supralingua," again brings together musicians from around the world. Among them: Puerto Rico's Zakir Giovanni Higdalgo, considered by many to be among the finest living Latin percussionists; and Brazilian rhythm master Airto Moreira, who worked with Mickey Hart in the original music to 1979's "Apocalypse Now."

The harmonies that come out of their collaboration on "Supralingua" are world-music melanges of perfect percussion.

But he emphasizes that you can't just throw a bunch of drummers together and instantly come up with a listenable product. It takes work.

"A good groove releases adrenaline in your body. You feel uplifted, you feel centered, you feel calm, you feel powerful. You feel that energy. That's what good drumming is all about," he says.

CNN's Serena Yang traveled to San Francisco to meet the famous musician.