BIOGRAPHY
Born in Emporia, KS on November 30, 1935, Roy Burns is one of the few drummers whose career has covered nearly every area of the music business. He's been a big band drummer, a studio drummer, a featured soloist, a teacher, a clinician, an author, a publisher, and manufacturer.
In August of 1955, Roy left his home state of Kansas, and with $300 and a drumset, headed for New York City. Louie Bellson had heard Roy in Kansas City and had advised him to go to New York to study. At the tender age of twenty-one, Roy had the drum chair with Woody Herman's big band, and shortly thereafter he joined the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Benny's band was undergoing resurgence due to the popularity of The Benny Goodman Story, so Benny reformed an "all-star" band. In 1958, Roy toured Europe with Goodman and recorded several memorable albums at the Brussels World's Fair.
In 1960, Roy settled in New York to concentrate on studio work and teaching. During this time he became a member of the NBC Staff Orchestra, performing on the Merv Griffin Show, the Tonight Show, and a number of quiz shows, radio and TV commercials, and recordings.
As a result of the success of his drum books, Roy later became very much in demand as a clinician. Following a brief stint with Lionel Hampton's band, he joined the Rogers Drum Company as a staff artist. From 1968-1980 Roy traveled the world as a clinician for Rogers, becoming one of the first American drummers to perform clinics in Europe, the Far East, Australia, Canada, Scandinavia, and New Zealand. He was also a member of the house rhythm section at the Monterey Jazz Festival through most of the 70's, working with artists such as Ray Brown, John Lewis, Harry Edison, Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Taylor.
Between 1980 and 1992, famed drummer/author/educator Roy Burns wrote a regular column for Modern Drummer Magazine called Concepts. In his column, Roy offered a wealth of practical, informative, and entertaining ideas on dozens of subjects that concern serious drummers of all ages and at all levels.
During the years that Concepts appeared in MD, the column was continually rated among the top three in popularity among many loyal readers of the magazine.
In 1980, Roy, along with co-owner Ron Marquez, formed Aquarian Accessories. It wasn't until 1987 that Aquarian began to make drumheads ... and the rest, as they say, is history.
Aquarian experienced tremendous growth in a relatively short time because of the innovative ideas and unique products of superior quality. As Roy says, "In everything we do, we keep the drummer in mind. We focus on helping the drummer attain a musical sound and achieve a better performance".
Roy Burns died on May 2, 2018; he was 82.
from Aquarian Drumheads:
It is with our deepest sorrow and sadness that we inform you of the passing of our founder and friend, Roy Burns. Roy has meant so much to so many. He will be remembered as a world-renowned drummer, an educator, an author, a clinician, a percussion industry marketer and manufacturer, and most of all, a mentor.
Roy was known not only as a world-class drummer of enormous skill but one who would “play” for the music and had the respect of all those that he performed with.
DISCOGRAPHY
ARTIST | ALBUM | |
Benny Goodman | Benny In Brussels, Volumes 1 & 2 | |
Benny Goodman | Benny Goodman Plays World Favorites | |
Roland Hanna | Easy To Love | |
Teddy Wilson | The Touch of Teddy Wilson | |
Roy Burns | Skin Burns | |
Dick Grove | Big, Bad And Beautiful | |
Sy Zenter | The Stripper And Other Big Band Hits |
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
The song is called "Sing, Sing, Sing - Part 1" featuring Benny Goodman on clarinet, Billy Hodges, Taft Jordan, John Frosk, E.V. Perry on trumpets, Vernon Brown, Willie Dennis, Rex Peer on trombones, Al Block, Ernie Mauro, Zoot Sims, Seldon Powel, Gene Allen on saxophones, Roland Hanna on piano, Billy Bauer on guitar, Arvell Shaw on bass, and Roy Burnes on drums. Recorded in Brussels, May 1958; Roy was only 22-½ years old at the time.
The above video of Roy Burns was recorded on Saturday, May 17, 1997 during the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend. Additional footage of Roy performing with The Percussion Originators Ensemble is available on the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend 1997 DVD.
INTERVIEW
Roy Burns ~ Memories
by Bart Elliott
I first met Roy Burns back in 1979-1980 at Dave Bedell's DRUM KEY in Springfield, MO where Roy was a guest clinician. I can still remember Roy's clinic; the communication, the playing, and the humor. In 1981, I purchased my first Roy Burns book, Studio Funk Drumming. If you can't tell by the photo (see slideshow above), I wore that book out! Being self-taught on the drumset, that book alone played an enormous role in my growth as a musician, not to mention his other books such as Developing Finger Control, Elementary Drum Method, Intermediate Drum Method, Advanced Rock Drumming, New Orleans Drumming and One Surface Learning, now considered classics in drum instruction circles.
Who would have thought that some ten years later, upon opening my own drum shop in 1989, that I would be one of Roy's first dealers and endorsers of Aquarian Drumheads. I fondly remember all the wonderful phone calls and letters that I would receive from Roy, encouraging me and providing sound advice for not only my drum shop and teaching studio, but my music career and life.
Although I don't have a drum shop anymore, I continue to use and endorse Aquarian drumheads and remain in contact with Roy. When I see him at conventions such as PASIC, he's always greeted me with a smile and a warm 'hello'. I was extremely pleased to catch Roy at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, TN where he took time to sit down with me for over 30-minutes, allowing me to interview him for the Drummer Cafe.
Roy Burns was an inspiration to me that day at the DRUM KEY, and continues to inspire me to this very day. Thanks Roy ... you still got it!
THOUGHTS
"Roy Burns is not only a great drummer that I used to listen to when I was growing up playing and practicing in Brooklyn, but he is a great visionary from the product standpoint. From the Spring Cymbal Holder he invented in the early 80's to Aquarian drumheads, Roy has been at the cutting edge of drumming and drum product. Congratulations on your PAS Hall of Fame award ... well deserved!"
"Roy Burns and I first met at a drum off in LA in 1985. I look over and see this guy with a snare drum on a stand with a knife thru the drum head. I said to myself whatever this is, this is for me. I walked over and met Roy and asked about the snare head and knife display. He explained that even with a hole in the head it was still playable and sounded fine. I loved Roy's positive attitude and belief in his product.
"I was fascinated meeting Roy for the first time, I have known of his accomplishments in drumming and music and was thrilled to talk with him. He was so down to earth!
"Roy and I have been good friends ever since. And it was great to see Roy's original drum head grow up and become Aquarian Drumheads.
"I don't think I could play without looking down and seeing the Aquarian logo staring up at me knowing I don't have to worry about heads breaking or drums sounding good.
"Roy is a legend and innovator and he makes me and my drums sound great on stage!"
"Roy Burns was the first - and still the best - drum clinician I ever saw, and although he wowed me with his phenomenal musical virtuosity, I think I was even more struck by his candor. Roy is truly a stand-up guy, a man whose frank, straightforward words ring with truth and sincerity. He's not a guy who's trying to sell you something; he's a guy who wants to share something.
"Roy has taken that honorable, intelligent, caring attitude and used it as a platform to build an amazing business, one that is based both on quality products and unflagging customer service. Roy doesn't take shortcuts - he does things right, whether he's playing, teaching, developing products, or taking care of his customers. It has been a great honor for me to endorse Roy's products for nearly 20 years now, and I feel truly lucky to know the man.
"Roy, thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. You're a remarkable musician, a brilliant creator, and a truly noble man"
"Roy Burns was one of N.Y.C.'s finest drummers thru the 50's & 60's. He and I would alternate on jobs at N.B.C., record studios, and other venues. He always did a great and really professional job. We have had a friendship based on mutual respect for 50 years ... and there's no one I'm happier to see at trade shows, concerts or wherever. He's the bomb!"
"When Roy Burns speaks, you'd better listen. That is of course if you want to learn truly valuable life lessons that only a master musician, such as Roy, can offer.
"A good portion of his wisdom still echoes in my ears and has shaped not only my personal beliefs about life in general, but has undoubtedly molded me into the musician that I am today.
"To be a master at anything requires much self discipline and self examination, and Roy Burns without demanding it, inspired and instilled it into his students.
"Roy's wonderful sense of humor, his great jokes and his real life stories about playing with Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and hanging out with his friend Buddy Rich, made the lessons that much more interesting and insightful.
"His recording of "Sing Sing Sing" with Benny Goodman Live at the Worlds Fair in Brussels, still has me shaking my head in disbelief. His lightning fast hands and beautifully woven rhythmic phrases during this piece is a study in itself on how to drive a big band with unrelenting and super swinging time, but also how to do so with maddening technique and unparalleled musicality.
"Roy has it all, and more importantly, he has the gift of knowing how to give it away.
"The name just says it all.... Roy Burns!"
"I've known Roy in various stages of my life. As a young student in the 1960's, my drum teachers used several of Roy's instructional books of which I still have today in my collection. A few notables: Elementary Drum Method, Advanced Rock and Roll Drumming and Drum Set Artistry.
"In my teens, I remember my second kit was a beautiful set of Rogers "New England White" five piece drums. At that time, Roy Burns was an endorser with Rogers Drums. His image playing Rogers was an easy choice for me. If it was good enough for Roy, than it was certainly more than enough for me.
"Several years ago, I had the honor and privilege of becoming an Aquarian drum artist.What a thrill is was to be associated with not only the best company producing drum heads and accessories, but to actually meet and speak with Roy. If you call Aquarian and ask for Roy and he's in the office, he'll pick up the phone and spend time speaking with you. How many other CEO's do that.
"Every May, Roy and his lovely wife Pat visit my home town here in Las Vegas, NV. Roy and Pat take time out of their vacation and graciously invite me to the Monte Carlo Hotel for breakfast and conversation. I look forward to that every year.
"I consider myself to be very fortunate to have known Roy in so many different facets of my life. Not only is he one our greatest musicians and a successful businessman, but he's a very gracious human being. I wish him and Pat continued success, prosperity and health. Congratulations!"
"I forget exactly what year it was but it was sometime in the early 90's. I got Roy's phone number from another drumming compatriot who told me that Roy was a great teacher and that I should go him for some lessons. I was self taught for most of my life but at that point I had gone to a number of different teachers. Some good and some not so good. But from the first moment I walked into that little room Roy had to give lessons in I knew that he would be great to hangout with along with learning drums from.
"Roy started just about every lesson with a joke. He made it so easy to sit down and start learning. It was a joy to go there and just talk. Roy was by far my favorite drum teacher I ever had. I wish he still gave lessons because I would still be going.
"Roy was gracious enough to give me my very first endorsement and has been so supportive of me and my drumming career ever since. Aquarian drumheads are the best in my opinion and that has a lot to with Roy.
"Roy is completely deserving of being in the PAS Hall of Fame and I truly feel I am a better musician from knowing him."
"I first met Roy in 1990 when I began taking drum lessons from him. His exceptional teaching methods helped me improve my skills as drummer, and forever changed the way I thought about drumming. His teachings went beyond the drums as he always had great stories, life experiences, and ideas about thinking that he would share. Roy became a mentor to me.
"After my years of studying with Roy, and as my professional drumming career grew, I became an endorser for Aquarian products, and have used them onstage, on tour, and in the recording studio. Roy's experience as a professional drummer has helped create some of the best percussion products on the market today. His smart business practices continue to help Aquarian grow bigger and better every year.
"I've been fortunate to know Roy Burns as a teacher, a mentor, and a friend and I'm forever grateful for our continuing relationship."
HALL OF FAME
In the fall of 2008, the Percussive Arts Society inducted Roy Burns into the PAS Hall of Fame; a wonderful and well deserved honor for this drum clinician pioneer.