Drums! Drums!! Drums!!!

I always loved when Buddy Rich would be a guest on the Johnny Carson show back in the 70’s. Then at age 12 my best friends started playing guitar and bass, so a drummer was needed. I dove in head first. With a pair of drumsticks and arranging my pillows on my bed and playing along with Ringo and The Beatles. I saved up money from working at the local theater selling popcorn and candy and bought a used drum kit, just a bass, snare, one rack tom and a couple cymbals. I was on my way! And I haven’t stopped yet, still playing in various bands. I never thought too much about my equipment but caught the vintage drum bug years back when my buddy Wayno let me know he saw an old drum kit out on the sidewalk for garbage. I quickly drove over and there it was. In really bad shape but it was all there. Dates on the inside of the shells placed it at 1958. Slingerland Radio Kings! I took 6 months to refurbish it which became a labor of love. Since then I have bought and sold lots of kits. Am down now to four special kits and a handful of nice snares. I have no plans to stop playing, because I know it will keep me young at heart. Here are a few of my favorites over the years. Including my prized snare, a 1960’s Premier ‘root beer swirl’ Duroplast, the same color and model that Ringo used on the first Beatle’s recordings. Also my 1965 Sonor teardrops and late 1960’s Premiers in the rare oyster finish, just a thing of beauty by sight or sound. I am very lucky to have a wonderful supportive wife and a large home that can withstand having a music room.

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