We are blessed to have photographs, videos and recordings of all of these great artists - some recordings go back to the early part of the 1900's - please join the Great Drummers Group on Facebook where more than 5,000 drummers share the wonderful stories, photos and videos of the great players. There are also wonderful Facebook groups for Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and other great players - the internet gives us all a unique opportunity to research and learn more. This blog is only a beginning - I hope you enjoy it:
I have been thrilled at the response to the GREATEST DRUMMERS EVER SERIES - of course, not everyone is interested in drums and drumming but to see the audiences over the years thrilled at watching a great drummer perform and the standing ovations they receive has been inspirational
You don't have to be a historian of drumming to appreciate a great player - you may not have heard of Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton or Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich - maybe you have only listened to rock and pop players like John Bonham, Keith Moon or Ringo Starr - or today's stars like Neil Peart, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, Peter Erskine or Steve Gadd who may have thrilled you - whatever your type of music - yes classical music too - the development of the drum kit, cymbals and pedals and so forth has largely come via the popular music of the day and especially jazz from the 1920's through to the thrilling 1930's of the "Swing era" - the development of Be-Bop in the 40's and of course, rock n'roll in the late 50's leading up to the present...
The following blog is only a potted history of the drum kit and the great drummers that played them - but hopefully it may inspire some of you to delve into the history of drums and drumming - its all out there to be discovered.
Many players contributed to the development of the drum kit, but the extraordinary success of one man GENE KRUPA in the 1930/40/50's changed the shape of the drum kit and the public awareness of the drummer as a superstar.
GENE KRUPA
Gene Krupa with Charlie Ventura
Earlier drummers played on kits that varied significantly - Chinese non-tuneable tom toms were in vogue and wood-blocks and other ephemera were popular - look at the following drum kit of the renowned teacher ROY KNAPP
Here is CHICK WEBB - the KING OF THE SAVOY BALLROOM playing his unique kit:
Please get hold of a copy of Chet Falzerrano's marvellous book called "Spinning' the Webb CHICK WEBB The Little Giant - fascinating book and a must for all drummers
One of the band leaders in the late 1920's and 1930's was BEN POLLACK, who helped the careers of so many leading players from Glenn Miller to Benny Goodman - look at Ben's big bass drum:
The very early drum kits often had glorious painted designs on the bass drum head - look at this:
Also the Hi-Hat as we know it today hadn't been invented - the first indication that the left foot (if you were right handed) was to be used was when the LOW BOY was produced:
The Leedy Drum Company
Love this Slingerland Snare Drum
1920's Ludwig Gold Snare
One of the very first "star' players was WARREN 'BABY' DODDS who played with Louis Armstrong and was a massive influence on the young drummers of the time - his work is still a reference point of great playing even today: - modern drummers please note Baby Dodds is not using hi-hat!
Another photo of the great BABY DODDS: Love the large bass drum
At that time (1920's and 30's) another great player was massively influential ZUTTY SINGLETON who also played with Louis Armstrong:
See the development of the drum stool!! Zutty sitting on a wooden chair plus a drawer to make it higher...
TONY SPARGO in 1917 and onwards was blowing up a storm with the ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND:
Whilst Zutty Singleton, Baby Dodds and players like Tubby Hall and Minor Hall were rocking New Orleans and later Chicago - three youngsters in Chicago still at school were due to explode on the jazz scene GENE KRUPA, GEORGE WETTLING and DAVE TOUGH
The above photo is of Dave Tough playing with bass player Chubby Jackson with the famous Woody Herman Band - check out on YouTube the recording of "Apple Honey" with the Woody Herman Band and hear Davey and Chubby rock that big band...Note the two small toms - the kits were getting bigger!
GEORGE WETTLING became a top TV session player but was also recognised as a leading exponent of jazz - working with Eddie Condon, Paul Whiteman and a host of others - Here is a photo of George Wettling playing in London at the Royal Festival Hall:
The color bar was one of America's great shame and disgrace and sadly even today all over the world people are judged by their color, race and creed - it seems the human race never learns anything - however, jazz musicians time and again in the 1930's and 40's broke the color bar and worked together with respect and love - it wasn't always easy Benny Goodman worked with Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson - the great Trumpet star Roy Eldridge worked the Gene Krupa Band but found it so hard on the road when not allowed into hotels and restaurants and yet was a big star on stage - here is a photo of Gene and Roy in action:
Players such as the wonderful BIG SID CATLETT were truly sensational - Big Sid died much too young but this gentle giant was a massive influence on the next generation of players - BIG SID with LOUIS ARMSTRONG:
Two more photos of the great BIG SIDNEY CATLETT:
SONNY GREER (below) guided and propelled the great DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA to the musical heights - I love his kit and the wealth of percussion - Ideal for a trio gig!!
At the same time that Sonny Greer was with Ellington in the 1930's a player emerged that revolutionised the use of playing the hit-hat and the easy but driving swing of the great Count Basie Orchestra - his name was JO JONES - affectionally known as PAPA JO JONES - a true genius of the drums
Here are 4 photos of Papa Jo and his kits:
RAY BAUDUC was a drummer who worked with many of the big bands but was known as a star of Dixieland playing - love the bass drum head - also note - no Hi-Hat!:
Ray Bauduc has a hit recording with bass player Bob Haggart called "Big Noise from Winnetka"
IN 1939 a brash young kid drummer sat in with Joe Marsala's band in New York City and blew everyone away - his name BUDDY RICH - here he is playing his Ludwig Kit :
BUDDY RICH became known as probably the greatest drummer that ever played on a stage - phenomenal technique and an ability to blow just anyone off a stage - acerbic, opinionated, difficult but incredibly kind, hugely professional and simply brilliant - Buddy in action:
Buddy on Slingerland Drums
Ludwig Drums
Buddy and his great Slingerland Kit
Buddy playing Rogers Drums - In his long playing career Buddy played Ludwig Drums, Rogers Drums and Slingerland Drums and very briefly VOX which was made by Trixon Drums in Germany - to my knowledge Buddy never played on Gretsch or Leedy drums unless he was sitting in.
Buddy playing the VOX kit
In the 1940's another generation of players emerged - and a number of schools developed - players like RAY McKINLEY, BUZZY DROOTIN, MOREY FELD, JIMMY CRAWFORD, GUS JOHNSON, KANSAS FIELDS, KAISER MARSHALL, TINY KAHN, CLIFF LEEMAN, JACK SPERLING, SONNY PAYNE, DON LAMOND and the great LOUIE BELLSON (following in the footstep of GENE KRUPA and BUDDY RICH) were taking drums and drumming to new levels - but there was also the emergence of the BE-BOP revolution that took the centre of drumming away from the bass drum and hi-hat onto the ride cymbal - KENNY 'KLOOK' CLARKE was at the epicentre of this revolution - MAX ROACH, ART BLAKEY, PHILLY JOE JONES, ART TAYLOR, SHADOW WILSON, CHARLIE PERSIP, BEN RILEY, JIMMY COBB, LOUIS HAYES, BILLY HIGGINS, CHICO HAMILTON to name a few were breaking all the musical barriers - it is hard to put these players into any specific category because as BUDDY RICH famously said "there is no such thing as a rock drummer or a jazz drummer" a drummer should be able to play in all musical circumstances. However, players often became known for specific styles of playing - SHELLY MANNE lead the "West Coast" style but of course could play in any style from kicking the great Stan Kenton Band to becoming one of the Hollywood's top session players. FRANK BUTLER another great West Coast player died much too young - whilst DANNY RICHMOND was tearing up the jazz clubs with the angry, growling bass player and composer CHARLES MINGUS.
Ray McKinley on his Slingerland Kit - note the two small toms and the inverted Chinese Cymbal - this was the period before the ride cymbal emerged largely in the mid forties as part of the Be-Bop revolution
Frank Butler with Curtis Counce
Art Taylor and his Bop Gretsch Kit - the bass drums were getting much smaller - intact everything was getting smaller - 12" and 14" Toms instead of the standard 13" and 16" - Bass drums were getting down to 18" from the larger Swing Era Bass Drums of 24", 26" and 28"
The jazz historian will say I have missed out many great names - well there is only so much space for photos and names that I can fit into this blog - but I hope this article will create enough interest for the reader to explore more - here are some of the greats starting with LOUIE BELLSON (whose recording of SKIN DEEP with the Duke Ellington Orchestra is one of the finest drum solo's ever - get hold of this recording made in 1951/52 - it is on the Duke Ellington "Ellington Uptown" Album and every student of drumming must listen and study this solo. (Louie always preferred his name spelt with an E not written as Louis) - the drum kit was getting bigger - TWO BASS DRUMS - it is said that Ray McKinley first played with two bass drums but it was Louie who is credited with developing this.
JACK SPERLING ROCKED THE LES BROWN BAND:
TINY KAHN was a marvellous player but sadly died too young
SHELLY MANNE became the WEST COAST STAR PLAYER both as a great jazz musician and in the recording studios - Shelly won many DOWNBEAT AWARDS as best drummer - and founder of his jazz club the MANNE HOLE - a wonderful player:
KENNY 'KLOOK" CLARKE started the BOP revolution and won the admiration of a whole generation of players up until today - here he is with DIZZY GILLESPIE:
Kenny in his living room
MAX ROACH was anther superb player who led the way and is recognised as one of the fathers of modern jazz drumming:
ART BLAKEY BECAME THE GREAT JAZZ MESSENGER - the bass drums were getting smaller and the ride cymbal more important - the beat had gone from the snare drum press rolls, bass drum beats four to the bar and hi-hat riding - the kit and playing styles were changing
We can't feature every great player in this blog but here are two of the greats that worked with artists such as MILES DAVIS: The first JIMMY COBB ( the drummer on the seminal album by Miles KIND OF BLUE) - notice the big ride cymbal:
PHILLY JOE JONES:
In the 1950's and 60's the world of drumming was changing dramatically with the advent of rock n'roll - but during this period the drum kit did not change significantly: The jazz drummers were still getting hit recordings COZY COLE Had a nationwide hit with TOPSY - And a sensational drummer was emerging with the DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET with TAKE FIVE - JOE MORELLO one of the all time greats:
COZY COLE IN ACTION:
JOE MORELLO blew everyone away with his solo on TAKE FIVE on his iconic Ludwig Drum Kit and his playing with the DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET:
Joe Morello with the great Dave Brubeck Quartet
ELVIN JONES WAS REVOLUTIONISING DRUMMING WITH HIS INCREDIBLE STYLE AND TECHNIQUE WITH JOHN COLTRANE CULMINATING WITH "A LOVE SUPREME"
SONNY PAYNE WAS CREATING A STORM WITH THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA - PHENOMENAL PLAYER AND SOLOIST;
No blog about drums and drumming could ignore the influence of a young 17 year old player who joined the MILES DAVIS QUINTET and played like no-one else - the wonderful and inspirational TONY WILLIAMS:
HOWEVER THINGS WERE CHANGING - DJ FONTANA WAS ROCKING WITH ELVIS PRESLEY - SANDY NELSON WAS CRACKING THE CHARTS WITH "LET THERE BE DRUMS" - PANAMA FRANCIS WAS ROCKING THE STUDIOS - HAL BLAINE BECAME BOSS OF THE WRECKING CREW - BERNARD PURDIE WAS LAYING DOWN NEW FUNKIE BEATS - THE DRUM KITS WERE GETTING BIGGER - BUT NOTHING TOO REVOLUTIONARY WAS HAPPENING KIT WISE - THE DOUBLE BASS DRUM PEDDLE - MORE AND MORE TOM TOMS APPEARED - BUT THE SNARE DRUM, HI-HAT, THE STANDS AND HARDWARE REMAINED LARGELY THE SAME - HOWEVER THE KITS WERE GETTING STRONGER
DJ FONTANA WITH ELVIS:
SANDY NELSON - LET THERE BE DRUMS:
HAL BLAINE - BOSS OF THE WRECKING CREW - AND HIS MONSTER KIT:
RON TUTT WAS PLAYING WITH ELVIS AND NEIL DIAMOND AMONGST OTHERS:
A JAZZER TO THE END - BUT DON LAMOND STILL ROCKED BOBBY DARIN TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS WITH 'BEYOND THE SEA', 'MACK THE KNIFE' AND OTHERS
THE DRUM KIT WAS EXPANDING TWO OR THREE SMALL TOMS WERE APPEARING AND TWO BASS DRUMS BECAME MORE VISIBLE ON THE STAGES AROUND THE WORLD - BUT A CLASSIC 4 DRUM LUDWIG KIT HIT THE HEADLINES WHEN THE BEATLES STUNNED THE WORLD WITH A BLAST OF HITS - RINGO STAR MUST HAVE SOLD A MILLION LUDWIG KITS JUST AS GENE KRUPA THIRTY YEARS EARLIER HAD LAUNCHED A MILLION SLINGERLAND DRUM KITS
SANDY NELSON topped the charts with Let there be Drums and influenced a lot of young players
KEITH MOON was influenced by GENE KRUPA'S showmanship and thrilled audiences with THE WHO - MAYBE THE DRUMMING WASN'T THAT GREAT BUT THE CROWDS LOVED HIM AND HIS ANTICS
Previously before the BEATLES arrived JERRY ALLISON had knocked us all out with his fast paradiddles with BUDDY HOLLY and the CRICKETS on PEGGY SUE and PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED:
BERNARD PURDIE was laying down a much more modern and unique beat:
Back into the jazz scene - BILLY COBHAM was creating waves and the kit just got bigger:
IN 1963 JAKE HANNA was blowing everyone away with his playing with the WOODY HERMAN BAND - the rock scene was booming but so was jazz:
MASTER DRUMMER MEL LEWIS WITH THAD JONES WERE STORMING AWAY EVERY MONDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD IN NEW YORK
I'm running out of space - so many players to include but no time or space left - JEFF HAMILTON with DIANA KRALL is superb. Many British players emerged including JACK PARNELL, RONNIE VERRELL (THE DRUMS BEHIND ANIMAL famously seen on TV with THE DRUM BATTLE WITH BUDDY RICH ON THE MUPPETS SHOW), PHIL SEAMAN, ALAN GANLEY, TONY CROMBIE, MARTIN DREW WITH OSCAR PETERSON TO NAME A FEW - MENTIONING OSCAR PETERSON - HIS DRUMMERS ED THIGPEN AND BOBBY DURHAM WERE SUPERB
ED THIGPEN & BOBBY DURHAM:
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ED SHAUGHNESSY WAS CREATING EXCITEMENT EVERY NIGHT ON JOHNNY CARSON'S TONIGHT SHOW:
The great ROY HAYNES is still thrilling audiences today - born in 1925
Roy Haynes with Pat Metheny
Still Swinging
MODERN HEROES INCLUDE
VINNIE COLAIUTA SEEN HERE WITH STING:
Vinnie and his Ludwig Snare Drum
STEVE GADD - WHO LAID DOWN THE BEST GROOVES YOU'VE EVER HEARD:
Steve Gadd with Eric Clapton
STEVE SMITH:
DAVE WECKLE:
PETER ERSKINE:
MITCH MITCHELL WITH JIMMY HENDRICKS:
Mitch sadly passed away much too young
THE ROCKERS INCLUDED PLAYERS SUCH AS NEIL PEART:
DAVE GROHL:
IAN PAICE:
STEWART COPELAND:
SIMON PHILLIPS - a great player: - great technique
JOHN BONHAM:
JOHN HISEMAN:
THE GIRLS WERE THERE TOO - Great funky players like CINDY BLACKMAN and TERRY LYNE CARRINGTON:
Don't forget Sheila E:
OK that's about it - I've run out of space - yes there are players I have missed out because of lack of space - drummers like the great BUTCH MILES with Count Basie, FRANKIE CAPP IN LOS ANGELES, CHICO HAMILTON AND HIS UNIQUE PLAYING and SINGLE HEADED TOMS, DENNIS CHAMBERS with SANTANA, PHIL COLLINS with GENESIS....the list goes on - but the question is "did the drum kit change that much" and the answer is that from 1936 when Gene Krupa and Slingerland drums created the double headed and tuneable tom toms there hasn't really been any significant developments since then - you may say that is a wildly inaccurate statement - look at today's drum kits with double bass drum pedals, electronic drums, drums of all shapes and sizes and yet the great players can say it all on the four drum set up - Yes many great drum maker names have gone from us like SLINGERLAND, CAMCO & LEEDY - LUDWIG and GRETSCH still remain but names like PEARL, YAMAHA, TAMA and DW DRUMS dominated the last decades - many new independent and small manufacturers have emerged, which is great - the cymbals have evolved but AVEDIS and K ZILDJIAN still produce wonderful cymbals - as do ISTANBUL, PAISTE, BOSPHORUS, SABIAN and many others - some of you may challenge my assessment - but this piece reflects my own personal opinions!
I hope you have enjoyed this journey - it is by no means a complete story, in fact only a potted history with many gaps, but its been fun and if you're really into it I hope these names and photos have started you on your way to discovery of the wonderful world of drumming...
THANKS FOR READING
PETER
"Let There Be Drums"
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