Author: Hillary

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    Dr. John Baldwin

    ByHillary

    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…

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    Scott Deal

    ByHillary

    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….

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    Gus Barbaro

    ByHillary

    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…

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    Raynor Carroll

    ByHillary

    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…

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    Sheila E

    ByHillary

    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….

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    Dom Famularo

    ByHillary

    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…

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    Tom Float

    ByHillary

    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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    Jamey Haddad

    ByHillary

    by Nancy Zeltsman Jamey Haddad is beloved by numerous, diverse musical artists for the breadth and brilliance of his creativity, the joy in his music-making, and the way he constantly lifts up others, on and off the bandstand. “Jamey is so full of passion for the exploration within the heartbeat of the world of music,”…

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    William Moersch

    ByHillary

    by Rick Mattingly Former PAS President Gary Cook considers William Moersch to be one of the most highly respected pedagogues and internationally recognized performers in the percussion world. “I have followed his career since I was his first marimba teacher when he was a high school student in the early 1970s,” Cook said. “From his…