PAS (Percussive Arts Society)

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 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. We have interviewed Remo several times for the NAMM Oral History p

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.

Bill Bruford was the original drummer for the British progressive rock band YES.  He later played with King Crimson 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

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.  His passion was always music and music education and he provided a

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 th

Anthony J. Cirone, the percussionist, author, composer and educator, stresses the importance of creating a strong work ethic to his students in hopes that it will prove an invaluable trait no matter the career.  He notes that as an educator, it is vital to not only develop your students as musicians, but as outstanding professionals and workers.  Tony studied under the legendary Saul Goodman for 5 years at Juilliard before starting his own professional career within the industry.

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. The long list of performers backed 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 was 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. Jim’s passion for music education played a role in several programs and organizations over his long and colorful career!   

Paul Damiano has played a critical role in the growth and development of Kaman Music ever since first joining the company in the early 1980s. With a great understanding and passion for marketing and manufacturing, he was able to design processes that increased the company’s success especially in considering the ever-changing global market. Paul has also been very active in the music industry working closely with NAMM, PASIC and music educators to develop meaningful programs that encourage music makers around the world.  

John DeChristopher was playing in a band when he would visit the EU Wurlitzer Music Store in Boston.  Those early store visits for gear led to a job and John’s introduction to the music products industry.  John joined the Zildjian Company in 1989 and created a wonderful reputation as the VP of Artist Relations.  John has been involved in many areas of the industry and supported programs within PAS and NAMM over the years including this Oral History program, for which John was finally interviewed in January 2013.

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 beginning in 1954.  Sam helped bring cymbal playing to a new level of recognition and professionalism when he wrote “The Art of Playing 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. He retired from the symphony in 1985.  

Karl Dustman, the founder of Dustman and Associates, is one of the country’s foremost experts on drums. Having worked for Ludwig and Gretsch along with others, Karl put his love for drums to use in creating new markets. For years he has also been a strong supporter of the Percussive Arts Society and was key in the Ludwig display, which they hosted for two years at the PAS offices in Oklahoma. Karl has been a long supporter of encouraging music makers and has been an arts advocate for most of his career. In 2021, Rebeats Publishing released Karl’s autobiography entitled My Life IN

Val Eddy was a legendary vibraphonist and composer who played a large part in the early acceptance of the vibraphone in classical music and popular recordings. With his trusty 1922 Leedy vibraphone, Val composed and arranged a number of important books for the instrument including the renowned “Solos Suitable for Playing in Church” and the now famous “Bird Suite.” He arranged for the 80-piece US Navy band during World War II and was heard weekly over NBC. He also performed in many concerts for the Navy School of Music. After the war he was the drummer in the Navel Academy Band for

Sandy Feldstein played an important role in the publishing of music and method books on percussion. With a sharp understanding of the publishing business and music education, Sandy has been at the forefront of technology and marketing methods, which have had success around the world. As a composer, Sandy is well known in the percussion industry for clever and memorable works. Sandy is also the founder and president of Playin’ Time and has been very active in the growing field of recreational music making. Sandy has also played a vital role in the growth and development of the Perc

George Gaber was the noted percussionist with symphonic orchestras who parlayed his performing into an historic role as professor of music at the University of Indiana at Bloomington beginning in the 1960s. George was closely associated with the music products industry going back to his playing days of the 1940s and 50s when he endorsed several companies’ products. It was during that time that he befriended William F. Ludwig and his son, with whom he has had a life long friendship.

David Garibaldi is the innovative drummer for Tower of Power and a much respected clinician well known throughout the world.  He joined the group in 1970 just as they signed Bill Graham on as their manager.  Before long the group was recording and landed several hits on the charts.  David’s skills as a drummer soon generated the attention of young students and others to learn more about his style and his techniques.  The interest resulted in a multi-decade long journey to music stores around the world performing and teaching his craft.  In 2012, David was inducted into the Percuss

Neil Grover was playing percussion in the Boston Symphony Orchestra when he discovered a bright and unique triangle. When he bought a new triangle he realized it was nothing like that of the symphony and thus started a quest to find, produce and play the perfect triangle. Along the way, quite by accident, he was being asked by fellow musicians to make them one of his triangles. By 1979, Neil formed the Grover Pro Percussion Company and soon expanded his product line beyond the triangle, while keeping a focus on creating instruments with high quality sounds.

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.

Paul Hanoud always enjoyed providing the audio equipment for live concerts. While studying to become an electrician, Paul worked in a hi-fi store deepening his knowledge of the gear and the companies that developed and manufactured the equipment, especially loudspeakers. In 1976 he and his wife Nancy established their own rep firm, covering stores and venues mostly in New England. Ten years later they became the rep firm for JBL. Meanwhile, Paul became an expert on installation and enjoyed the challenges of perfectly placing the equipment in each space to maximize the sound and th

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.  

George Jacob greatly enjoys creating musical products for musicians –of all levels and ages. When a customer needed a softer sound with his drum sticks, George came to the rescue and developed a full line of drum sticks and mallets.  Among his innovations was the use of materials not yet used in the industry for mallets and gong sticks. George introduced a line of durable handles geared towards school band students and a large variety of mallet tips geared towards professional players. His career began in the 1950s and along the way he befriended many within the industry, which Ge

William Kraft has dedicated his life as a composer to the world of percussion. With noted works and workshops, William has become an important part of the educational element of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). In fact, several of his notable pieces were introduced during PASIC over the years. He grew up in San Diego and joined the United States Air Force for three years in the later part of World War II.

Morris “Arnie” Lang played percussion for the New York Philharmonic for over 40 years and wrote the book on percussive technique -- literally. Arnie became involved with the music products industry in the 1950s when he began making his own mallets and later snare drums and complete sets. Along the way, he wrote music and method books, and was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame.  

Airto Moreira has gained international recognition as one of the world’s leading Latin percussionists. He has introduced an innovative approach to playing percussion as well as teaching clinics. A fixture of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) annual meetings, Airto was interviewed for both the NAMM and the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) archives during the Austin PASIC show.

Marty Morell played drums as part of the Bill Evans Trio for seven years. His long list of jazz recordings covers the gamut of styles and songs. The list of performers with whom Marty has played reads like a Who’s Who book! His repertoire ranged from classical music to Broadway with such stage shows as the Tony Award-winning musical “Ragtime” and “Kiss Me Kate” (2001).

Jim Petercsak grew up in New York and recalls the days he visited the Henry Adler Music Shop, and how he became so passionate about drumming and music that he made it his career. Jim has inspired thousands of students through his music teaching career, as well as his role as a past president of the Percussive Arts Society. Over the years Jim has also written several books including one on the double bass drum with jazz legend, Louis Bellson. 

Gordon B. Peters spent decades performing, teaching, and composing for the percussive arts. He worked to provide meaningful tools to students and teachers alike while keeping his techniques fresh and new. As a performer, he pushed hard to design new formulas and new styles while keeping the traditions of percussion alive and well. Gordon was a founding member of the Percussive Arts Society and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2004. It was a fitting tribute to a tireless influence. 

Emil Richards played a significant role in the expanded use and knowledge of world percussion instruments. Through his recordings and work for TV and the movies, Emil was known for adding splashes of new sounds and flavors to many of the nearly 2,000 films including authentic Russian instruments for “Doctor Zhivago” (1965). Emil also played a large role in the development of the PAS museum, which now includes several rare percussive instruments he has donated for display. 

Mike Rosen is a professor of percussion at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Over the years Mike has been very active with the Percussive Arts Society and has contributed regularly to the organization’s newsletter. Mike was the principal percussionist with the Milwaukee Symphony from 1966-1972 and has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He was born in Philadelphia, where he studied with Charles Owen (Philadelphia Orchestra) and later with Fred Hinger (Philadelphia Orchestra, Metrop