Leonard “Lennie” DiMuzio, longtime artist relations manager for Zildjian cymbals and most recently a consultant for Sabian, died on March 7, 2015 after a long battle with cancer. 

He was born May 4, 1933 in Cambridge, Mass. After graduating high school he studied at the New England Conservatory and then the Schillinger House. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and sent to Germany to join the occupational troops. 

He spent over 40 years working for the Avedis Zildjian company, where he started in 1960 as a cymbal tester before becoming artist relations manager, working with and picking out cymbals for such drummers as Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Tony Williams, “Papa” Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Joe Morello, Alan Dawson, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Peter Erskine, Neil Peart, Steve Smith, J.R. Robinson, Kenny Aronoff, Alex Acuna and many, many more. For the past ten years he was a consultant with the Sabian company. 

“It’s been said by countless people, including me, that Lennie wrote the book on artist relations, said John DeChristopher, who worked in artist relations at Zildjian from 1989 until 2014. “He not only wrote the book, but he’s the all time best selling author. Lennie is as synonymous to the drum industry as Avedis Zildjian, Armand Zildjian, Bob Zildjian, Remo Belli, Joe Calato, Vic Firth, Toomas Paiste, or any of the people we think of as the “Founding Fathers.” If ever there were a Mount Rushmore for the Drum Industry, Lennie’s smiling face would surely be included. In 1989 I was hired at Zildjian, working alongside Lennie until 2003, and as I reflect back on those years, what stands out most about Lennie was his humanity. He was a wonderful and kind human. He was a shining example of what defines ‘artist relations.’ When it came to ‘relationships’ Lennie knew and understood that better than anyone. And boy did he know cymbals! In all the years we worked together, I never once saw Lennie get unraveled. He had the perfect temperament for the job. The laughs and the good times are immeasurable. He had a wicked sense of humor, and when he and Armand were together, it made for some of the greatest and most memorable experiences of my life. To say his passing marks the end of an era is an understatement. I will miss him terribly.”

In 2010 DiMuzio released the book Tales From the Cymbal Bag, written with Jim Coffin, in which he recalled his many years in the music business and related stories about many of the famous drummers he knew and worked with.

“Lennie was one-of-a-kind,” said Peter Erskine. “He epitomized all that the music industry could be—generous, supportive, with a knack for finding talent but courteously helpful to all players, knowledgeable about the product and its history (plus the history of the music; the man knew his music!)—but coupled all of that with an outrageous zest for fun that was bigger than life. Lennie was the stuff of legends. And since he was among the very first music industry people that I ever met, his passing leaves a huge hole and seems to mark the end of an era. Will we ever see the likes of such politically incorrect and golden-hearted humorous behavior again? I doubt it. Lennie was a straight-shooter. I can still hear his rich and thick Boston accent in every hand-written note he sent to me. Lennie had time for everyone. He made the world a better place.”

Memorial gifts in Lennie’s memory may be made to the Leonard A. DiMuzio Sr. Scholarship Fund, c/o RFCU, 850 Moraine St., Marshfield, MA 02050.