Five-Star Drum Shops

John Buswell was a 16-year-old drummer in the school band when his father, Stan, decided to open a drum shop.  The year was 1976. The city was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The store was called Drum World.  John took a few years to pursue his musical career after school and returned to the store to partner with his father--a strong partnership to this day!  The store became the hub for drummers in and around the city and was one of the first e-commerce and brick and mortar businesses in the music industry.

Stan Buswell had owned and operated several businesses when his teenage son, John, took an interest in the drums. Stan decided to open a small shop, which his son helped establish in Pittsburgh, and they called it Drum World. John took a few years to pursue his musical career after school and later returned to the store to partner with his father, forming a strong and lasting partnership. Stan was always in the background of the business but agreed to participate in a NAMM Oral History interview to share his unique perspective on the industry, which he had come to love.

Wes Faulconer is the founder of Explorers Percussion in Kansas City, Missouri.  He formed the store in 1984 with the goal of bringing quality drumming products to students and educators within the area.  As technology developed over the years, Wes took full advantage of new ways to connect with his customers and soon designed a line of his own products to fill the needs he saw each day.  The Explorers store is also well noted within the industry for providing meaningful educational events as well as clinics and concerts to inspire young students and to help musicians to develop ne

Gary Forkum had the idea of setting up a small percussion display in the back closet of Corner Music where he was working. The drum department grew so much that Corner Music owner Larry Garris and Gary decided it might be best if he opened his own drum store. Gary opened Fork’s Drum Closet in Nashville, TN, and soon became an important part of percussive retailing in the area. Gary is a member of the Five-Star Drum Shop Marketing Group and became a NAMM Board member in 2008. 

Ed Hamrick enjoyed playing the drums ever since he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. From that moment on, he played drums and in the early 1970s established his own drum shop outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Over the years the Atlanta Pro Percussion Shop has become one of the strongest dealers in the industry, providing top name clinics and introducing decade’s worth of new and innovative percussive products. Ed was an active member of PAS and NAMM and as well as sponsoring several local music events over the years. Ed passed in March 2022 and is deeply missed.

Jim Rupp has had a passion for drumming as far back as he can remember. As a percussionist for several traveling groups in the 1970s such as those led by Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman, Jim recognized the need for a pro drum shop in which the musician customers are addressed on their level. He established Columbus Pro Percussion and carved out a unique market in the area focusing on what he knew best. Jim has also been active within the industry, serving on the NAMM Board and for the Percussive Arts Society.