Woody Herman

Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.

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Broadway Drummer Dave Ratajczak Remembered

In October of 2014, the drumming community lost an esteemed member, veteran Broadway drummer Dave Ratajczak, whose credits included the shows City of Angels, Sweet Charity, Titanic, The Music Man, and Mary Poppins. Ratajczak, who was a graduate of the…

Modern Drummer
Nov 25, 2014

Roy Burns: Swing Star, Clinic Pioneer, Entrepreneur, And Beyond

Roy Burns has done it all—and done it well. He’s held the throne of numerous big bands. He’s established himself as an in-demand studio player, teacher, and clinician. He’s written numerous drum instructionals. And he’s one of the founding members…

Modern Drummer
May 19, 2011

Dave Tough: Different—And In Demand

The inimitable Dave Tough controlled every band in which he worked with near-perfect timekeeping and his own distinct, buoyant style. Very much influenced by Baby Dodds, his primary concerns were musicality, maintaining an unwavering pulsation, and integrating the ensemble performance.…

Modern Drummer
Jul 16, 2010

J.C. Heard: One Of The Busiest, Swingin’-est Drummers Of Classic Jazz

J.C. Heard was born in Detroit in 1917, and started out as a tap dancer. He taught himself drums at age eleven, and two years later he was working with local bands. Heard’s break into the big time came in…

Modern Drummer
Feb 24, 2010

George Wettling: The Ultimate "Chicago style" Accompanist

George Wettling was one of the leading proponents of the early “Chicago style” of jazz drumming. A tasteful, imaginative, unobtrusive player, Wettling quickly built a reputation as the ultimate band drummer. Wettling took the conceptual and stylistic elements of Baby…

Modern Drummer
Jan 4, 2010
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