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Hot Free LayoutsI'm a man that loves the joys of life and am bound and determined to learn to graciously live the parts of life that are not so joyous. The purpose of joining this on line community is the participation and a dialogue with pictures of you I know and care for. Also I have an idea for a percussion ensemble, so the invite is open to composers and musicians to share musical ideas and theory. So give da drummer some. "Minneapolis is like New York City which is a melting pot,there are master drummers on every street corner from all over the world. Please feel welcome and enjoy the sights and sounds of My Space LAMF All peace and love John John DeLaire Ensemble "Upon Your Return"
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Cecil Taylor's dictum that a piano consists of eighty-eight tuned drums. ******************************** ***Charlie Haden said that trying to become a better, happy, and more focused person can help your playing greatly. Soak up as much music as you can.********************** Remo, Premier Drum Head Maker, Celebrates 50 YearsOf course, Jerry and I remember the beginning.First, a little history of what came before the Remo revolution. Drumheads were calfskin. When we were kids they were sold to us as flat circle of hide which had to be cut to size and mounted on the inner wooden rim of the one that had to be replaced. This was done by first soaking it in the kitchen sink, bathtub or toilet tank. When it was very pliable, the skin was placed on a glass or Formica table with the smooth side down. Then the hoop was centered on top and the edges of the head were tucked under the inside of the hoop with a flat tool about ¾" wide, with a rounded hooked end. To keep the edges from slipping out as we tucked, we'd clamp spring type clothespins on it. When fully tucked the head was put on the drum and left to dry. The batter (top) side of the drum was white (probably bleached) calfskin. The snare side skin was almost transparent and was from the skin of an unborn calf, called a slunk.When my father needed to have a head tucked he'd phone or send a post card to his drummer Marty who would make the half bus, half walk journey. Later Jerry and I learned how to do it. We even did congas, bongos, Timpany, banjos, even Syrian drums. Different techniques were needed for each.Then there was the American Revolution. American Rawhide Company, that is. Amrawco marketed pre-tucked heads on rims.No more tucking of snare, tom tom or bass drum heads. When you replaced a head you retained the broken head on its rim. They usually got stacked up in the shop. This went on for some years. A rival, White Eagle Rawhide Co., made a cheaper version. The problem with Werco heads were they would shrink, warp and twist on the shelf. Wetting them usually straightened them enough to be forced on the drum.Remo Belli was a young drummer and teacher who shared a space with a drum shop owner. To build a screen separating the studio from the store, he got the idea to take old hoops, cover them with paper and fasten them together. Then the big idea hit. What if he used plastic sheets? What if he made it into playable heads?Remo formed a company with two partners - an accountant and a chemist. DuPont helped them find the right film which tuned out to be mylar. They took a U shaped aluminum circle, inserted the flanged edges into the channel and filled it with epoxy. Remo had a flare for publicity even then. We placed an early order and convinced some drummers to try them. Here at last was a head that didn't go soft on a rainy day. But success slipped away as customers overtightened the heads and the film pulled out of the rim. Others complained about the dents that formed. Back to the lab. Soon all the drum manufacturers switched to Remo's Weather King heads.Through the years Remo introduced innovative head variations, plus lightweight drums and ethnic and children's drums.In his personal life Remo and his wife grew almonds, made wine, raised a son. In the early years he visited us from time to time. Once it was lunchtime and he joined me in our apartment above our first Utica Avenue store in Brooklyn. When we meet he still talks about my mother's hospitality. (She made steaks.) He remains youthful and trim. I wonder if his nutritionist doctor wife lets him eat steak now.Recently Remo sold part of the company to Dupont.A footnote on the subject of drum heads - the Ludwig and Slingerland battle.The two Chicago based rivals, Bill Ludwig Jr. and Bud Slingerland, sons of the founders, hated each other. Bill had decided he didn't want to buy Remo heads forever and came out with his own line. His patent was to take a thin ring, wrap the plastic around it inside an outer rim that was squeezed tight. They were heavy but worked. He made a strong push and had some success. Bud Slingerland got tired of Remo's slow production and offered to pay Bill for the use of his patent. Bill refused. Bud said forget it, I'll copy the process anyway. Bill sued. When you have a patent it can be challenged. Bud's lawyer showed that the idea of wrapping the film over the hoop was similar to the way a cane chair seat is assembled. That was in the public domain. The patent was unenforceable. Bill had to pay court costs. After a while both decided it was too costly to make their own heads. Remo was the winner.
