Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame

Billy Cobham is the acclaimed drummer who was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Billy was born in Panama but moved with his family to New York where he performed with his father as early as the age of 8. His long list of performed back by Billy’s beat include Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson and the Saturday Night Live house band in the 1980s and Peter Gabriel for a tour in the 1990s. His smooth style can be heard on the Roberta Flack recording of “You’ve Got a Friend."

Sam Denov retired as the percussionist and timpanist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra after playing with the group in concerts, on the road and in recordings since 1954! Sam helped bring cymbal playing to a new level of recognition and professionalism when he wrote “Playing Hand Cymbals” in the early 1960s. He worked with the Zildjian Company and later with Paiste Cymbals in creating concert level products and in conducting clinics that brought greater access to hand cymbal playing to students and professionals alike.
 

Roy Haynes knows jazz! His ideas and techniques have made him a legendary drummer who in many ways helped develop Bebop and Free Jazz, a form of post Bop jazz that was popular beginning in the 1960s. With graceful motion Roy brought a new feel to drumming and encouraged an entire generation of percussionists. Among his many awards and honors was his 2008 induction into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame.