Mitch Mitchel
July 9th, 1947 - November 12th, 2008
61 years old

John "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 1947 – 12 November 2008) was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience. A child actor, Mitch was largely self taught, though he received some lessons when he worked in Jim Marshall’s (the Amp man) music store. Mitch did some free lance work before settling in with Georgie Fame and the Blue Fames. One of the great UK jazz inflected R&B bands. After 18 months George f ... more»

Buddy Miles
September 5th, 1945 - February 26th, 2008
63 years old

    George Miles, 5 September 1945, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. A teenage prodigy, this powerful, if inflexible, drummer was a veteran of several touring revues prior to his spell with soul singer Wilson Pickett. In 1967, Miles joined the Electric Flag at the behest of guitarist Mike Bloomfield, whose subsequent departure left the drummer in control. Although the band collapsed in the wake of a disappointing second album, Miles retained its hor ... more»

Mark Schommer
December 19th, 1970 - December 6th, 2007
36 years old

Mark Schommer was the original drummer/percussionist for the Minneapolis base Irish Pub Rock band The Serfs. He was never on any major label or recording, but he was loved by all his family and friends. He began playing drums in Junior High School and continued to play in marching band through High School. Mark played many gigs, both good and bad, with The Serfs. He was the bands rock. Always keeping each member on there toes, and bring them down a notch or two when they needed it. He hated The ... more»

Max Roach
January 10th, 1924 - August 16th, 2007
84 years old

Maxwell Lemuel Roach (January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007)    Maxwell Lemuel Roach is generally considered one of the most important drummers in history.[citation needed] He worked with many of the greatest jazz musicians, including Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins and Clifford Brown. Roach also led his own groups, and made numerous musical statements relating to the civil rights movement ... more»

Elvin Jones
September 9th, 1927 - May 18th, 2004
77 years old

  Elvin Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan. By age two he said he knew he held a fascination for drums. He would watch the circus marching band parades go by his home as a boy, particularly fascinated by the drummers (sometimes wandering off for miles after the parade). Following his early passion, Elvin joined his high school's black marching band, where he developed his foundation in rudiments. Jones began service in the United States Army in 1946. He was discharged ... more»

Tony Thompson
November 15th, 1954 - November 12th, 2003
49 years old

    Thompson, whose mother was Trinidadian and father was Antiguan descent, first drummed for the 1970s group LaBelle, and then for a short while was a member, with Raymond Jones, of the soul/disco band Ecstasy Passion & Pain. This was followed by a long tenure with the legendary R&B/dance/disco band Chic, where he helped create hits such as "Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," "Le Freak," and &q ... more»