Category Archives: Drum/Music News

News items of note, present and past, about drummers and other musicians.

Father of the Modern Steel Drum, Dies at 90

Posted on September 6, 2018 by

nytimes.com Ellie Mannette, Father of the Modern Steel Drum, Dies at 90 By Karen Zraick — Aug. 31, 2018 As a child in Port of Spain, Trinidad’s capital, Mr. Mannette became fascinated with…bands…using trash cans and buckets as drums…to create … Continue reading →

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Papa Jo Jones with Louis Armstrong

Posted on September 2, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: Papa Jo Jones here in the drum chair once held by his friend Big Sid Catlett. Papa Jo is always fun to watch because there’s always something drummers can learn from him.

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Chico Hamilton on Thelonious Monk

Posted on August 30, 2018 by

“My favorite explanation of why [Thelonious] Monk’s playing was ground-breaking came from Chico Hamilton: ‘Man, I have played with piano players who play with all the white keys. I have played with piano players who have played with all the … Continue reading →

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Grieving Family Offers $2,000 for Return of Deceased Son’s Stolen Drumset

Posted on August 24, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: A sad state of affairs. No joy, no music will ever come from this drumset until it is returned to the Serna family and, ultimately, to the 13-year old boy who must be missing his father very much. … Continue reading →

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Rick Latham Asks for Help with Surgery Expenses

Posted on July 26, 2018 by

SKFNOTE: I wanted to pass along this urgent request from a guy I first got to know a little bit back in my Modern Drummer days. If you can help Rick Latham raise $100,000 for medical expenses — I thank … Continue reading →

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Ringo Starr – How Ringo’s Band Members Got the Gig

Posted on July 23, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: A brief exchange between Mitch Albom and Ringo Starr from WVOM-FM 103.9 on June 27, 1998. Ringo was promoting his new album, Vertical Man. Mitch asked how the musicians in Ringo’s band got the gig. That’s followed by … Continue reading →

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Manna from Heaven: A New Coltrane Quartet ‘Lost’ Album

Posted on June 9, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: Well, what do you know! The classic John Coltrane Quartet recorded an album in 1963, “two years before A Love Supreme, and then stashed it away,” writes the New York Times. The family of Coltrane’s first wife, Juanita … Continue reading →

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