In 1957, I was scheduled for an audition with Benny Goodman’s band at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The drummer with Benny was a man by the name of Mousey Alexander. Mousey was a well-known professional drummer whom I had admired for years. Benny asked me to listen to the band during the evening’s first show. Then, he asked me to sit in and sight-read the second show. I was then introduced to Mousey. (After all, I had to play his drums in order to audition.) Mousey couldn’t have been nicer. He told me, “Don’t worry about me, kid. I’m leaving the band anyway. Let me show you the drum parts, and I’ll point out all the important cues.” I played the show and got the job. That job was my big break, which led to recordings, publicity, and eventually, to the contacts that helped me to […]

October 1986 Issue