PAS

Remo Belli revolutionized the music products industry by introducing the Weather King, the single most popular drumhead in the world! As a jazz drummer, Remo was looking for ways to improve the percussive products he was using. Once his team of chemists found the perfect formula, Remo took it around to his many drummer friends to test the product out. Remo has also pioneered the use of music and wellness with his dear friend Karl Bruhn and a wave of instruments aimed at getting all ages involved with music and music making.

Rob Birenbaum has always had a love for percussion. As a drummer he enjoyed playing the instrument and found equal satisfaction in selling percussion instruments and related accessories when he formed Drum Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The store became a hub for percussionists and created a strong customer base from around the world long before email and the Internet. Rob played a vital role within the industry and for decades has been a strong supporter and contributor to the Percussive Arts Society’s annual conference known as PASIC.  

Pat Brown has a most familiar face. His smile can be seen in the ProMark booth at every NAMM show and PASIC convention. More than a friendly smile, Pat has proven to be a strong supporter of the industry and music education. As the director of sales and marketing for ProMark, Pat has introduced the industry to the company’s new products and has worked hard at providing clinics and endorsee-attended events at music stores, schools and special events that work to promote the product as well as to encourage music makers at every level. Pat has also been a passionate supporter of those who seek to archive the history of our industry, including the NAMM Oral History program. 

Bill Bruford was the original drummer for the British progressive rock band YES! He later played with King Crimus and formed his own noted jazz fusion band Bruford, which included the young Allan Holdsworth. Bill's style was unique and rooted in the jazz he heard from his parents’ records as a kid and was indeed a powerful influence on student drummers, many requesting their drum teachers to include jazz material along with their regular lessons. Bill has been a long time endorser for Tama Drums and has worked with the company for decades adding his thoughts and feelings toward their product line.

Gary Burton, the renowned vibraphonist, provided wonderful and detailed insight into the Musser Company that he has been linked with for most of his life. He traced the company’s history through the Ludwig purchase and included his thoughts about the company’s percussive product line. He also spoke about PASIC and his memories of the NAMM Show. Luckily the interview also covered some of his many jazz career highlights.  

Don Canedy was a beloved band director and professor at Southern Illinois University before being hired by the Roger’s Drum Company in 1961. Don played drums beginning at the age of 10 and was a perfect fit for the company’s Educational Director. Just prior to his job at Roger’s, which at the time was owned by CBS Musical, Don played a vital role in establishing the Percussive Arts Society. Encouraged by Remo Belli, Don organized the first mailing list, poster for PAS and became the organization’s first president.  

Jim Catalano loved playing drums as a small boy but never imagined a life in music. Jim jumped at the chance to work for the Ludwig Drum Company in the early 1980s. There he became known throughout the industry at trade shows and conferences promoting music education materials as well as the company’s innovative products. During his long association with the company, Jim became very close to William F. Ludwig II, the son of the company’s founder. Mr. Ludwig and Jim had a well-noted respect for each other, which gave Jim a deep sense of pride, not only with the company, but with the Ludwig family.

Mike Clark helped established the funk-based drumming sound that emerged out of Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s and 70s. In fact, his “The Funk Stops Here” was used for a radio ad before he recorded it with Herbie Hancock, as an original member of the Head Hunters. Mike’s creative and driving style has become an important part of funk drumming and his most famous beats can be heard on R&B and Hip Hop recordings by countless performers as samples.

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."

Jim Coffin is instantly recognized at any given trade show or industry meeting as the energetic advocate for music and music making.  Jim’s career as a music director and educator includes authoring several important method tools including the popular “Performing Percussionist.”  The book has been praised for its unique focus on the snare drum as well as material for bass drum, cymbals, triangle and mallet instruments.