Joseph Adato, born May 8, 1937, passed away on October 7, 2026, at the age of 89. A distinguished musician who lived a rich and active life, Joseph spent 44 years as a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, joining in 1962 during the tenure of George Szell. Earlier in his career, he performed with notable ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the New York City…
Richard “Rich” Lee O’Donnell, a visionary percussionist, composer, educator, and tireless champion of contemporary music, peacefully passed away at home on October 1, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 89 years old. Born on February 13, 1937, Rich leaves behind a monumental 65-year legacy that completely reshaped the sonic landscape of St. Louis. He…
James H. Deschler died on August 9, 2026. Born in Brooklyn in 1949, James lived a life shaped by creativity and originality. After studying at the Manhattan School of Music, he proudly served as a percussionist in the West Point Band. His love of music continued long after his service, inspiring him to create Deschler…
Former Boise State percussion professor Dr. John Baldwin died on March 28, 2026. John Bardo Baldwin was born on April 12, 1940, in Arkansas City, Kansas. He grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, and began piano lessons in the fourth grade and soon also began studying percussion. He played in junior high band and orchestra. In junior…
Percussionist, technologist, composer, and educator Dr. Scott Deal died on Jan. 23, 2026. William Scott Deal was born on April 11, 1957, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1975, the day after his high school graduation, Scott spent a year as the drummer for the rock band Blue Dawn, playing in clubs throughout the central U.S….
by Lauren Vogel Weiss Dr. Cosmo A. “Gus” Barbaro, longtime percussion teacher and marching arts adjudicator, died on January 2, 2026 at the age of 84. Born on November 14, 1941 in Auburn, New York, Barbaro graduated from Auburn High School in 1959. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in music education from New…
by Lauren Vogel Weiss Raynor Carroll was the first Black percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he served as Principal Percussionist for over three decades, from 1983 until 2016. He also promoted diversity in classical music through his performances with the Sphinx Symphony and Chineke! Orchestra. But his most important legacy may be his…
by Robyn Flans Sheila E will make history as the first Latina percussionist/drumset player inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame. When made aware of that fact, she was blown away, exclaiming, “What? Are you kidding? Wow! What an honor! That’s awesome!” In addition to pointing that out in her letter nominating Sheila, Colleen B….
by Joe Bergamini Dom Famularo traveled the world playing drums and inspiring people over a 50-year career that had no pre-cedent. He was one of the most sought-after drum teachers in the world, leaving a legacy of thousands of students, including many top professionals, who sought his advice for their technique, careers — and their…
by Lauren Vogel Weiss The legend of Tom Float was born in the 1980s, when California’s Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps received the top drum score four years in a row (1983–86) at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships. He also taught Spirit of Atlanta (Georgia), Oakland Crusaders (Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada), and the…
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