Broadway and big band drummer Dave Ratajczak passed away after an extended illness on October 3, 2014.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Ratajczak performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists including the Woody Herman Orchestra, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie Daniels, Grady Tate, Milt Hinton, Kenny Rankin, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Audra McDonald, Rosemary Clooney, Bebe Neuwirth and John Fedchock’s New York Big Band. He most recently performed in the new Broadway production of Mary Poppins, and he performed in the orchestras for Tony award-winning shows such as City of Angels, Crazy For You, Titanic, Music Man, Wonderful Town, and Sweet Charity. As a studio musician, he performed on movie soundtracks for Dead Man Walking, Cradle Will Rock, Wolf, Pelican Brief, Object of my Affection, It Could Happen To You, Miller’s Crossing, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Biloxi Blues as well as numerous TV and radio jingles. One of Ratajczak’s career highlights was recreating the role of jazz drumming great Gene Krupa with Bob Wilbur’s orchestra in a Carnegie Hall performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of Benny Goodman’s historic 1938 jazz concert.

“His passing has left us with sadness but with fond memories of a happy time,” said his former teacher John H. Beck. “Dave was a special person who, knowing of his illness, forged ahead as if tomorrow was just another day. I remember this statement I heard, I think from Woody Herman: ‘Dave Ratajczak is the best drummer I have ever used since Davey Tough’ (one of Woody’s early drummers). That is Dave’s legacy and one to be proud of. Dave will be missed but never forgotten.”