Scotty Doucette passes

Norman "Scotty" Doucette passed away in May of 2008. Scotty was known to many in the vintage drum world as an enthusiastic collector and supporter based in Boston. He helped me out several times over the years, including the calf-tucking demonstration I videotaped for one of the early Rebeats videos. Scotty's home base was the legendary Jack's Drum Shop of Boston.

Wm. F Ludwig II passes

Our good friend Wm. F. Ludwig II passed away on Saturday March 22, 2008. Many of the sites and forums have uploaded photos and biographical sketches; try the Ludwig site, Drummer's Cafe, and NotSoModernDrummer among others. (Links to those at the Rebeats links page- just click on Links at the top of this page.) I'd like to remind everyone that when Bill and I did his autobiography The Making Of A Drum Company, we were careful to avoid duplication of stories and photos between it and The Ludwig Book.

Walter Slingerland passes

Walter Robert Slingerland Jr., 80, passed away on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 in North Carolina. His passing culminated a long and difficult struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Walter Robert Slingerland Sr. (brother of founder Henry Heanon “HH” Slingerland,) was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Slingerland company in the early 1900s. Together with a third brother, Arthur James Slingerland, Walter and HH grew the Slingerland company into the world’s largest producer of stringed instruments in the mid-1920s. The company claimed in that era to have over 1700 dealers. In the late 1920s Slingerland began drum production and by the early 1930s shifted their entire production from stringed instruments to percussion instruments.
Walter Robert Slingerland Jr. did not play an active role in the history of the Slingerland Drum Company, but grew up with a keen interest in drumming and the family legacy. He played with two drum & bugle corps; Roosevelt Military Academy and Rogers Park, Illinois. He frequently accompanied his father to work at the Slingerland drum factory where he met many of Slingerland’s famous endorsers. He played well enough to sit in with the Gene Krupa orchestra at the Panther Room in Chicago. The Slingerland family terminated it’s interest in the company in 1970 when H.H. Slingerland Jr. (“Bud,”) sold the firm. Walter Robert Jr. continued to closely monitor the firm’s fortunes. When Gibson USA began producing Slingerland drums in Nashville in 1995, Walter Robert Jr. visited the facility for a firsthand look at the new operation. He served as a consultant to the publisher of the company history (The Slingerland Book) in 1996.
Walter Robert Slingerland Jr. is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen, daughters Mary Helen and Lisa, their husbands and children. A memorial service and burial will be held at St Peter Lutheran Church of Schaumburg, Illinois, on May 4th, 2008, at 2:00 P.M..

Steve Maxwell in the news!

Steve Maxwell has announced plans to open a shop on 48th St in Manhattan, the fabled "Music Row" area. Contact Steve for details!

LEEDY USA CUSTOM SHOP

Please visit www.maxwelldrums.com for complete news on this recent development! Fred Gretsch, who has owned Leedy since acquiring it along with Slingerland which he subsequently sold to Gibson, recently visited Steve Maxwell's shop in Chicago and their discussions led to an agreement that promises to reinvigorate the marque.

TANNERY recovering from fire

Stern Tanning, the sole US source of calf heads, suffered a devastating fire a couple years ago, but is beginning to ship again! Check the calf page of the Rebeats site for pricing.

George Way Drum Company
Ronn Dunnett of Dunnett Classic Drums (www.dunnett.com) recently acquired the intellectual property rights to the George Way Drum Company. He has already introduced a number of remarkable products that any reasonable person would have to assume George Way would be very proud of. For more information, go to Ronn’s site or simply come to see him at the Chicago show. In Ronn’s words: “It's always a difficult decision to change anything from the original, but I have to think that the changes I have made are ones that George would approve of. I beefed up the beer tap throw off so the parts won't bend anymore, but kept the original look and feel. I'll be die casting the T bracket so it will be easier to attach and remove the snare wires and cords, much like the Trumsa throw off.” Note from Rob Cook: I recently acquired one of these new George Way drums. It immediately joined my trunk of assorted snare drums I use for backline rentals. The first gig out, it was selected by "Rocky" of "Rocky And The Rollers," the band that backs former Sha Na Na figure Bowzer. Rocky loved the drum; wanted to buy it but this one is not for sale!

SLINGERLAND NEWS

The saga continues... Slingerland is on the third head guy since opening in Conway, Arkansas. (The whole progression from where the first edition of "The Slingerland Book" leaves off can be viewed in a NSMD article at the Rebeats site; go to the home page, scroll down, and click on NSMD articles.) The Slingerland presence at the recent NAMM show was moved from a small booth in the drum area back to a corner of the Gibson booth which could be accessed only by Gibson dealers. While the company seems to languish in neglect, the interests of the owner appear to be focused elsewhere. A news flash in The Music Trades May 2007 issue announced that Gibson recently sponsored the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, an "extension of the successful Cartier International Polo Tournament held annually at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, England." Owner Henry Juszkiewicz was quoted as saying, "A great tradition, exciting entertainment, an enthusiastic crowd- music and polo have much in common." The Music Trades article reported that the "Gibson Guitar Best Playing Pony award " was presented by Her Royal Highness Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Rogers Update; Yamaha ownership!

In the wake of a $20 million judgement, Rogers owner Brook Mays music went out of business and the Rogers name "and intellectual properties" were purchased at bankruptcy auction by the Yamaha corporation in early August of 2006. Bill Crowden was hired by Yamaha to work on the Rogers line on a temporary consultancy basis.

UPCOMING DRUM SHOWS

September 20 and 21, 2008: Modern Drummer Festival www.moderndrummer.com/festival

September 27 & 28, 2008 UK Drum Fair, Birmingham, England. www.ukdrumfair.com

October 4th & 5th, 2008 Hollywood Drum Show - Kerry Crutchfield 323-461-0640

SLINGERLAND STAGNANT

Reports are that Gibson has sold the building in Conway, Arkansas, where Slingerland drums have been most recently produced and production will soon (if not already) cease.

In a totally unrelated (?) story, Gibson owner Henry Juszkiewicz has received the "Visionary Award" for his personal and corporate philanthropic achievements. According to a recent article in the trade magazine "The Music Trades," (July 2008) the award was presented at the sixth annual celebration gala supporting We Are Family Foundation April 28 at the Hamerstein Ballroom in New York City. The foundation is a not-for-profit group dedicated to the ideals embodied in Gandhi's saying: "If you want change, you be the change." (Apparently there is no change in the Slingerland marketplace status.)

SLINGERLAND SERIAL NUMBER STUDY, 3-Point Strainer Study

Dr. Carl Wenk has put together some great information on Slingerland dating by serial numbers; something that has been very difficult to do. Even now it takes the context of other production clues, but this is a great start! Excellent shell article at the same site! Visit http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/drcjw/ P.S.: The good doctor has now also added a great 3-point strainer analysis!

PENDING REBEATS PROJECTS

The Leedy Way: I began work on this project back in the early 90s as a biography of George Way. Because of Way's close association with Leedy and because the Leedy book is in need of revision, I decided to combine the projects into one new book. The working title is "The Leedy Way." It's tough to project a publication date for this one; stay tuned!