Hall of Fame 1997

by James Strain For fifty years, Alexander Lepak, co-author of the famous Friese-Lepak Timpani Method, has been playing timpani in his hometown with the Hartford Symphony. His founding of the percussion department in the late 1940s and the percussion ensemble in 1950 at the Hartt School makes it one of the oldest university percussion programs…

by Rick Mattingly The small announcement that appeared in the December 1935 issue of Leedy Drum Topics gave no hint that drum history was about to be changed.  “Geo. Lawrence Stone, famous Boston drummer who conducts the country’s largest drum school at 61 Hanover St., Boston, Mass., is now offering a new book of drum…

by Rick Mattingly Relaxing in his Knoxville hotel room after his PASIC ’83 clinic, Tony Williams reflected on what he hoped he was giving to other drummers. “I would like to be able to give off the same things that inspired me to really love the instrument and love music,” he said. “That was one…

by James A. Strain Widely regarded as a most versatile and musical drummer, Shelly Manne (1920-1984) was a founding father of the West Coast jazz scene in the 1950s. Manne possessed a phenomenal technique, which he channeled into some of the most creative, lyrical drumming ever heard. His solos were unique, sometimes humorous, and above…