SKF NOTE: I sent this story, these pages, to Modern Drummer. It was published in MD‘s January/February 1979 issue as a “From The Past” column profile. (Looking at these pages now I am appalled at the number of typos. I’m having a hard time believing I submitted this story as is. Maybe so.)

Dave Tough was an early drum hero of mine. In my younger years as a pro drummer, I fancied being on a career path similar to Tough’s. Tough played drums and aspired to be a writer. Me too.

Most of the Dave Tough material I found in jazz books and magazines portrayed him as a supportive, limited technique player, great timekeeper, loved by his fellow musicians. And I owned an old RCA Victor Benny Goodman small groups album. Gene Krupa drums on most of the tracks.

But Tough’s drumming with The Benny Goodman Quartet (Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and Teddy Wilson) on “Opus 1/2” was, and still is, brilliant. Here’s what I wrote about Tough’s playing here in an earlier blog post:

“Listen carefully to Dave Tough backing the Goodman Quartet as a group and behind the individual soloists. Swinging? Yikes! And on what parts of the drumset — if Tough is even using a full drumset — is he playing??? A hi-hat, for sure. Then what? His hi-hat stand? Snare drum rim? I’ve never figured it out. Which, I think, is part of the fun listening to it.

“Whatever Dave Tough is playing — I love it. It’s beyond straight timekeeping, but he’s super supportive and musical.

“This remains on my short list of must hear drum records. Bon appetit!”

Since writing my 1979 profile of Tough I’ve learned much more about him from speaking with people who knew him. (Drummer Fred Gruber, for example. And from reliable people sharing their conversations with people who knew Tough. Drummer Ed Soph’s accounts of his conversations with bandleader Woody Herman.)

Also, I’ve learned more from the wealth of music and information available through digital and social media. The members of The Dave Tough Appreciation Group on Facebook is a case in point. Check it out.