In Memoriam

The percussion world lost a pioneer of the marimba, as well as a leading ethnomusicologist, when Vida Chenoweth died in her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma on Dec. 14, 2018 at the age of 89. She was one of the first successful solo percussionists, having premiered Robert Kurka’s “Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra” (opus 34) at…

Alan Irwin Abel, who was best known as a professional hoaxer, but who also had a career as a drummer and composer of percussion pieces, died in September 2018 at age 94. He was often confused with former Philadelphia Orchestra percussionist Alan Abel. Alan Irwin Abel was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on Aug. 2, 1924….

Pan pioneer Elliot “Ellie” Mannette died on August 29, 2018, at age 91. As an artisan, his steel drums have been displayed in such places as the Smithsonian Institute, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Contemporary Art Gallery. As an educator, his leadership has helped to establish successful steel bands in universities, schools, and…

By Rick Mattingly PAS Hall of Fame member Roy Burns died on May 5, 2018 after a distinguished career as a drummer, educator, author, and founder of Aquarian Accessories. He also seemed to know more musician jokes than anyone! Born in 1935 in Emporia, Kansas, Roy began taking drum lessons at age seven from the…

Drummer John “Jabo” Starks, who played on many of James Brown’s hits, died on May 1, 2018 at age 79. For much of the time he was with Brown, Starks played alongside drummer Clyde Stubblefield. Both drummers played on such Brown songs as “I Got the Feelin’,” “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m…

African gyil master and teacher Bernard Woma died April 27, 2018. Woma was born in Northwestern Ghana, near the border with Burkina Faso. He began playing the gyil when he was two years old. At age five, Bernard was introduced to Ziem Tibo, a xylophone maker and player who became Bernard’s mentor and guide. Bernard…

Dean Witten, Professor of Percussion and Director of Percussion Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, since 1979 died on March 16, 2018, after a battle with cancer. Witten gave the world premier performances of more than 40 works for percussion. He had served as principal percussionist of Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra…

By Rick Mattingly Drummer, percussionist, producer, composer, clinician, and educator Leon Ndugu Chancler died on February 3, 2018 after a battle with cancer.  His website states that the name “Ndugu” is Swahili for “brother, family, kinsman—for us it means togetherness.” Judging by the huge outpouring of tributes on social media following his death, it was…

LA Philharmonic percussionist, composer, educator dies at 82. ENCINITAS (Oct. 28, 2017) – Mitchell Peters, a prodigious composer, recording artist, music professor, and former principal timpanist and percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, died today in Encinitas at the age of 82. Mr. Peters joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as its co-principal percussionist in…

Clyde Stubblefield, known for his work with James Brown, died on February 17 of kidney failure. He was 73 years old. Stubblefield was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1943 and had lived in Madison, Wis. since the early 1970s. He toured with Otis Redding before joining Brown in 1965, where he played alongside drummer John…