Hall of Fame

by Jim Atwood As the timpanist of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1942 until his retirement in 1981, Cloyd Duff earned a reputation as one of the finest timpanists of the twentieth century, known the world over for his beautiful, singing sound and his flawless musicianship. He was an absolute master of touch, finesse, and intonation,…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Alfred P. Friese, a graduate of Leipzig Royal Conservatory, was originally trained as a violinist, and his musical proficiency on this instrument won him the prized Artist Diploma and subsequently a position in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. It was during this time at Leipzig that he became interested in the timpani…

by Rick Mattingly Best known as a big band drummer with phenomenal technique, Louie Bellson is also credited with popularizing the use of double bass drums. During his career he worked with such leaders as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and his wife, singer Pearl Bailey. He also led his own big…

by Frederick D. Fairchild (b. Vienna, Austria September 26, 1904) Prof. Richard Hochrainer, renowned timpanist, percussionist, teacher, percussion authority, and instrument designer, studied with Prof. Hans Schneller. His early career included orchestral work throughout Austria, Switzerland, France, and Germany, always returning to play in Vienna. In 1939 he took the position for which he would…

By Jonathan Plazonja As difficult as it may be for today’s drummers to believe, cymbals were hardly heard at all in popular music in the early part of this century. Instead, even as the seeds of jazz were being sown, cymbals were primarily used at the end of a number for a single big crash….

by Frederick D. Fairchild Harry Breuer, one of the great mallet players and composer of highly original xylophone solos such as “Back Talk,” “On the Woodpile” and “Bit O’ Rhythm,” achieved fame in the 1920s when he was a soloist in the big United States movie houses. He broadcasted from New York’s Roxy Theater, played…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Edgard Varèse is recognized as an important innovator in percussion composition and orchestration. Dissatisfied with the conservative bent of his early musical training, he finally found encouragement in Berlin from people such as Richard Strauss, only to have his composing and conducting career interrupted by World War I. He moved to…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Charles Wilcoxon was best known as a teacher and for his numerous publications, which included snare drum method books and solos. He began playing in local movie house when he was eight years old, taught his first students when he was 12, and at 14 was touring with minstrel groups and…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Charles Owen had a distinguished career spanning 50 years. Raised in Youngstown, Ohio, he got his first drum when he was four. He attended Rayen High School and studied bassoon, trombone, and percussion. After high school he studied percussion with Malcolm Gerloch of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He joined the U.S….