Udo Heubeck

Udo Heubeck grew up surrounded by music in his parents’ bar, where a live band performed nearly every weekend. Each performance introduced him to new styles and sounds, sparking a lifelong love of music. As a young fan, he was especially drawn to the drummers of bands such as The Police and Toto, paying close attention to their rhythms and techniques. Inspired by Stewart Copeland of The Police, Udo dreamed of playing the same drums and cymbals as his hero, and one of his personal highlights later in life was meeting Copeland in person. Although he initially pursued a career in banking, his passion for music never faded. In 1986 his wife helped him secure a position as a sales representative with Roland Meinl, where he quickly realized he had found his true professional home. As his career grew, he helped lead the company’s expansion into the United States beginning in 1999, an effort that became a major success thanks to a strong team and the guidance of his mentor and close friend, Tom Tanaka.