-Drumming News-
The year 2024 has been a bittersweet one for the drumming community, with the passing of several legendary percussionists who helped define the sounds of rock, jazz, funk, and world music. From the powerhouse rhythms of rock icons to the intricate, improvisational beats of jazz masters, these drummers each carved out their own indelible legacies. Their unique contributions have left an imprint on both their genres and the global music scene. As we reflect on their lives and careers, we celebrate their artistry and the rhythms they created that continue to resonate.
Dick Allix (May 3, 1945 – March 13, 2024) was the drummer for Vanity Fare, co-founder of the Professional Darts Corp. He was 78.
John Barbata (April 1, 1945 – May 8, 2024) played with The Turtles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jefferson Airplane, and Jefferson Starship. He was 79.
Artie Baldacci (December 3, 1950 – September 30, 2024) he was a founding member and Drummer of the Legendary Chicago band Heartsfield. He was 73.
Bob Bryar (December 31, 1979 – November 24, 2024) was an American musician and sound engineer best known as the drummer of American rock band My Chemical Romance, as well as the longest serving and last drummer. He was 44.
Dennis Bryon (April 14, 1949 – November 14, 2024) was a Welsh rock drummer from Cardiff, best known for his work with the Bee Gees from 1974 to 1980. He played on hits like “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep is Your Love,” and “You Should Be Dancing”. He died within days of Colin Peterson, another Bee Gees drummer. He was 75.
Gerry Conway (September 11, 1947 – March 29, 2024) he performed with the backing band for Cat Stevens in the 1970s, with Jethro Tull during the 1980s, and was a member of Fairport Convention from 1998 to 2022. Conway also worked as a session musician. He was 76.
Sandra Crouch (July 1, 1942 – March 17, 2024) she played drums and percussion on several Motown classics aside from the great gospel records. She was 81.
Martin France (February 29, 1964 – September 5, 2024) was a British jazz drummer. He recorded on over 100 albums and was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and was endorsed by Paiste cymbals. He was 60.
Artt Frank (March 9, 1933 – November 27, 2024) was an American jazz drummer specializing in the bebop, hard bop, and cool jazz styles. He is best known for having toured with trumpet player Chet Baker during much of his career. He was 91.
Roy Haynes (March 13, 1925 – November 12, 2024) in the 1950s he was given the nickname “Snap Crackle” for his distinctive snare drum sound and musical vocabulary. Some of the standout artists he worked with include Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Sarah Vaughan, Bud Powell, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Al Haig, and many more. He was 99.
Zakir Hussain (March 9, 1951 – December 15, 2024) was an Indian tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, and film actor. He was 73.
James Kottak (December 26, 1962 – January 9, 2024) played for Kingdom Come, Warrant, and Scorpions. He was 61.
Keith LeBlanc (November 10, 1954 – April 4, 2024) was a drummer and record producer and member of Little Axe and Tackhead. He was 69.
Ed Mann (January 14, 1955 – May 31, 2024) known for his mallet percussion performances with Frank Zappa’s ensemble from 1977 to 1988, plus over 30 appearances on Zappa’s albums, Mann also released a number of CDs as a bandleader and composer. He was 69.
Joe Montineri (March 23, 1951 – April 24, 2024) of Joe Montineri Custom Drums was thought of as the father of the modern era of boutique drum making. He was 73.
Makaya Ntshoko (September 29, 1939 – August 27, 2024) was a South African drummer who performed in with The Jazz Epistles, Kippie Moeketsi, Dudu Pukwana, Gideon Nxumalo, Martin Mgijima, in Switzerland playing with Johnny Gertze and Dollar Brand at the Club Africana in Zurich, and in America with Stuff Smith (1967), Benny Bailey (1968), Dexter Gordon (1968–69), Ben Webster (1969), and many more. He was 84.
Roger Palm (March 31, 1949 – September 22, 2024) drummer for ABBA. He was 75.
Colin Petersen (March 24, 1946 – November 18, 2024) The original drummer for the Bee Gees was an Australian musician and actor. He played as a member of the bands Steve and the Board, the Bee Gees and Humpy Bong. He died within days of Dennis Bryon, another Bee Gees drummer. He was 78.
Dennis Thompson (September 7, 1948 – May 9, 2024) was the drummer and last surviving member for Detroit punk rock band MC5. He was 75.
Brit Turner (May 8, 1966 – March 3, 2024) Brit Turner was the drummer for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke. He was 57.
Jimmy Van Eaton (December 23, 1937 – February 9, 2024) he is best known as the drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis and Sun Records. He was 86.
