Drummer, author, and composer Dr. Willis F. Kirk, Jr. died on February 16, 2016.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1928, he began drum lessons in fourth grade. After high school, he worked with many groups in Indianapolis, including Wes Montgomery, with whom he played for many years. In 1950, he was drafted into the army. After the service he continued to play music and eventually went to Butler University on the G.I. Bill. In the summer of 1953, he had a short-lived tour with Lionel Hampton’s band. After getting married in 1955, he supported himself by teaching music and working part time for the Indianapolis Musicians Union.

He relocated to the Bay Area in 1968, where he taught music in the Oakland public schools and, eventually, worked as a counselor for City College of San Francisco. From 1988–91 he served as City College president. Musical highlights of this period include filling in on vibes for Tony Bennett, a tour with Earl “Fatha” Hines, and helping to found the David Hardiman All–Star Big Band, with whom he recorded several albums. In the early 1980s, he wrote a jazz drumming instructional book called Brush Fire, published by Hal Leonard. During the 1990s, Willis composed a jazz oratory, “Rejoice! Rejoice!” that was recorded and performed at the Indianapolis Jazz Festival in 2004. On May 9, 2009, he received an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from Butler University.