2020

by Lauren Vogel Weiss Ronald Snider, Assistant Principal Percussionist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and founding member and leader of D’Drum, a world-music percussion group, died on November 23, 2020 at age 73. Born on August 4, 1947 in Roby, Texas, Snider discovered a passion for music at a young age. He graduated with a…

Michael Boo, known as the “written voice” of the drum and bugle corps activity for over three decades, died of cancer on November 18, 2020 at age 65. He was a member of The Cavaliers, marching French horn (1975), xylophone (1976), and marimba (1977), and he taught the Cavalier Cadets mallet line from 1976–77. He…

Xylophone virtuoso Ian Finkel died on November 16, 2020 at age 72 as a result of COVID-19. Ian (pronounced “eye-an”) Lawrence Finkel was born in 1948 into a show business family. His father, Fyvush Finkel, was a prominent actor in Yiddish theater and portrayed the cantankerous lawyer on the 1990s TV series Picket Fences. “Everyone…

Candido Camero, a Cuban musician widely regarded as “the father of modern conga drumming,” died on November 7, 2020, at age 99. Known professionally simply as “Candido,” he began his career in Cuba at age 14 and stayed active well into his 90s. Before Candido, congueros only played one drum, with bands typically having two…

Viola Smith, once billed as “the fastest girl drummer in the world,” died on October 21, 2020, at age 107. From 1938–41, she was featured with the Coquettes, an “all-girl” big band that developed a national following. Her showcase piece was “The Snake Charmer,” in which she performed drumming pyrotechnics on a 12-piece drum set….

B. Michael Williams, who was Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina from 1979 to 2016, died on Sept. 4, 2020. He held a B.M. degree from Furman University, M.M. from Northwestern University, and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Active as a performer and clinician in…

Drummer and teacher Joe Porcaro died on July 7, 2020. Porcaro was born in New Britain, Connecticut. His father had originally been a trumpet player, but due to trouble with his teeth he switched to drums. When Joe was five years old, he found his dad’s drums and figured out how to play the cadences…

Award-winning musician David “DJ” Johnson died of natural causes on June 7, 2020. Johnson enjoyed an accomplished musical career, including winning a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium in 2015 as a member of the Partch Ensemble. Johnson also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, toured with pianist Roger Williams, and taught at the California…

by Rick Mattingly Jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb, who played on Miles Davis’ Kind of Bluealbum and many other classic albums, died on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at age 91, after a battle with lung cancer. Cobb was the last surviving member of the Kind of Blue band—which included Davis, saxophonists John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, pianists Wynton Kelly and Bill…

In Memoriam by Michael Rosen. Photos by Lauren Vogel Weiss. Alan Abel was a giant in a trim package enriched by determination and youthful vigor. He was as indefatigable as he was generous—a sensitive musician and gentle soul. His exuberant nature coupled with a mischievous sense of humor were appreciated by all who met him….