Roy Burns (November 30, 1935 – May 2, 2018) was an American drummer, teacher, and percussion manufacturer.

Career

Burns was born in

Emporia, Kansas Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 ...

Louie Bellson Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, ...

heard him play in Kansas City and advised him to study in New York City. In August 1955, at the age of 20, Burns left Kansas with $300 and a drum set to study drumming in New York City. Within a year, he was

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

's drummer. Shortly after, he left to join

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His conce ...

's band, which was having a resurgence due to the film '' The Benny Goodman Story'' (1956). In 1958, Burns was with Goodman's band as they toured Europe and recorded several albums at the Brussels World's Fair. In 1960, he was a teacher and studio musician with the NBC Orchestra, '' The Merv Griffin Show'', and ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 2010� ...

''. From 1968 to 1980, he worked for the Rogers Drum Company and traveled the world as a clinician. In 1980, he began writing a column in ''

Modern Drummer ''Modern Drummer'' is a monthly publication targeting the interests of drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public. ''M ...

'' magazine which ran until 1992. In 1980, he and Ron Marquez started Aquarian Accessories to manufacture percussion equipment.

Discography

As leader

* ''Skin Burns'' (Roulette, 1963) * ''Big, Bad & Beautiful'' (FPM, 1973)

As sideman

* Roland Hanna, '' Destry Rides Again'' (ATCO, 1959) * Roland Hanna, '' Easy to Love'' (ATCO, 1960) * Chubby Jackson, ''Chubby Jackson Discovers Maria Marshall'' (Crown, 1961) * Charlie Shavers, ''Girl of My Dreams'' (Everest, 1960)

References

External links

At Drummerworld

NAMM Oral History Interview
1935 births Living people People from Emporia, Kansas Musicians from Kansas 20th-century American drummers 20th-century American male musicians American male drummers {{US-drummer-stub