#458 Dr. Donnie Johns- Percussionist, Educator and More!
National hug a drummer day is October 10th. Mark it in your calendar for the future!
This week’s guest is Dr. Donnie Johns. Don Johns is an in-demand percussion performer and educator in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan area. He is a regular substitute musician with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Johns is also Principal Timpanist of the Apollo Orchestra in Washington, D.C.. In addition, he is the lead percussionist for Soulful Symphony (Columbia, MD). Moreover, Dr. Johns is a proud member of both the Gateways Festival Orchestra (Rochester, NY) and the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra (Charleston, SC) - two groundbreaking groups that spotlight professional black classical musicians.
Along with orchestral work, Dr. Johns has played drum set and percussion for music productions at the Kennedy Center (DC), Hollywood Bowl (LA), Brooklyn Academy of Music (NY), Moore Theatre (Seattle, WA), Lincoln Theatre (DC), Atlas Theatre (DC), Signature Theatre (VA), Studio Theatre (DC), Onley Theatre (MD), and Toby’s Dinner Theatre (MD). He also plays drum set and timpani for several churches in the Washington, D.C. area. Dr. Johns is the Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Bowie State University in Bowie, MD. Dr. Johns is also the Percussion Director at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD. His percussion ensemble was the featured high school percussion ensemble for the Percussive Arts Society’s 2017 Maryland/Delaware Day of Percussion.
In addition, Dr. Johns was the percussion coach for the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program for thirteen years (2006-2019). From 2005-2015, Dr. Johns taught band and orchestra in both Prince George’s County Public Schools (2005-2011) and at KIPP D.C. (2011-2015). In May 2022, Dr. Johns completed a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Percussion Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. He has a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance (2011) and Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education (2005), both from the University of Maryland. In addition, Dr. Johns has served on the music grant reviewing panels for the Washington D.C., State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Councils.
He is endorsed by Yamaha Corporation of America, Innovative Percussion, and Black Swamp Percussion. Dr. Johns also serves as President of the Maryland/Delaware Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. In 2017, Dr. Johns created a non-profit organization called the DMV Music Academy. Its mission is to expose, engage, and enrich young people through all forms of instrumental music education. He was born and raised in Howard County, MD, and currently resides in Hyattsville, MD.
R.I.P.
Rest in peace to D’Angelo. Friend of the show, Giovanni Hidalgo was featured on the track Spanish Joint and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Chris “Daddy” Dave regularly played drums with him live or in the studio.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Mona Tavakoli! Mona is a Los Angeles-based drummer, singer and performer who
believes in making music that unites, elevates and connects.
While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. She began playing the Peruvian percussion instrument as a college student taking a flamenco dance class. She’s since designed a signature instrument called The MT Box.
Mona started playing drums at age 11 and blossomed into a tenor drum star in her High School marching band. She began her professional musical career in 1999 at UCLA as a founding member of Raining Jane, an all-female rock band.
More recently, Raining Jane co-wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with
Jason Mraz. In support of the album they toured internationally for two years.
Mona and Mraz have been collaborating for nearly a decade. She toured worldwide on Mraz’s 2012 album, Love is a Four Letter Word, and they performed together as a duo on programs such as The Today Show, The David Letterman Show, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. As the Duo Decibel System, Mona (percussion) and Mraz (guitar/vocals) have performed in Antarctica in support of climate change awareness and they were proud to help honor Ellen Degeneres as she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center.
As a solo percussionist, Mona has appeared on A&E’s Private Sessions, where she performed as a trio with Pat Benatar and her husband, Spyder Giraldo. She has been the featured percussionist with the Pasadena muse/ique orchestra (led by maestra Rachel Worby), and played with musicians such as Andy Grammer, Colbie Caillat, Keaton Simons, Lindsay Mac, Lucy Schwartz, Natalia Zukerman, Sara Bareilles, Tristan Prettyman and Willy Porter.
Mona believes that music can inspire and connect people to a larger purpose. She is a co-founder and co-director of the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona also promotes music education by hosting rhythm workshops at elementary schools and colleges around the country.
Most recently Mona travelled to Africa on behalf of the U.S. State Department as a cultural diplomat alongside Chaska Potter and Natalia Zukerman. As the Northern Lights trio they visited Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi for concerts and workshop facilitation focusing on women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Mona has been featured in DRUM!, Tom Tom Magazine, judged and hosted the Hit Like A Girl drum contest and awards show and is the recipient of the 2016 She Rocks awards “Inspire Award” for her work with the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls.
Mona is endorsed by: DW Drums and Hardware, Gibralter Hardware, Latin Percussion, Remo Percussion, Roland Electronic Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Sennheiser Microphones and Vater Percussion.
When she’s not banging on drums or corralling day campers, she's listening to Pema Chodron audio books or making creative collages
Happy 101st Birthday to Terry Gibbs! Terry is now 101 years old. Terry Gibbs began his career at the age of 12 after winning the Major Bowes Amateur Hour Contest and subsequently began touring professionally. He spent many years as a drummer and percussionist playing gigs until his affinity for bebop motivated him to turn down a scholarship to Julliard as a timpanist and return to the vibes. Six decades of inspirational vibe playing and technique, Gibbs is recognized as one of the best ever to grace the genre of bop.
After World War II, Gibbs toured with Chubby Jackson, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman. He co-led a sextet with Louie Bellson and Charlie Shavers; and in 1950, he formed his own band for Mel Torme's TV show. In 1951, he joined the Benny Goodman Sextet. Subsequently, he toured with his own quartet where he won acclaim as "# 1 Vibraphonist in the world," in both the down beat and Metronome polls from 1950 to 1955. Gibbs also played a role in breaking down the sex barrier in music, using pianists Terry Pollard, who he often featured in vibe duos, Pat Moran, and Alice McLeod, who later married John Coltrane.
Settling in Los Angeles in 1957, he formed his big band known as "The Dream Band" in 1959. Comprising top notch LA talent such as Mel Lewis, Joe Maini, Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli and Richie Kamuca, the band was named "Best Band in the World" in the Downbeat '62 Critic's Poll.
Gibbs returned to New York in the early sixties only to move back to LA to take a position as Music Director for the Regis Philbin Show. This gave him the opportunity to compose the music and conduct a sextet. He later served as Music Director/Composer for the ABC TV show, Operation Entertainment and for Steve Allen, building a substantial ASCAP rating. Gibbs also taught Steve Allen to play the vibes.
Gibbs, throughout his illustrious career has enjoyed world acclaim playing with greats such as clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Max Roach, Art Blakely, Elvin Jones and Tito Puente. Co-leading a quintet, he had an unprecedented nomination in four categories of the Playboy Jazz Poll: Best Vibraphonist, Best Quartet, Best Big Band and Best Band Leader. His association with DeFranco has spanned 18 years and is still an invigorating collaboration today.
With 65 albums to his credit, winner of 3 major jazz polls and creator of 300+ compositions (recorded by Gibbs, Nat Cole, Les Brown, Cannonball Adderly, Count Basie, George Shearing, etc.), Gibbs has left an indelible mark in the world of vibes.
Happy Birthday to Dr. Julie Hill! Dr. Julie Hill is the Co-President, CEO, and Founder of Global Citizen Adventure Corps, a non-profit whose mission is to facilitate global service-learning with a focus on access for rural students from the Mid-South. Julie has 30 years of experience as a K-12 public school and university music educator and administrator, scholar, performer, lecturer, administrator, and non-profit arts leader/advocate. Previously, she served as Chair of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Department of Music where she was also a Professor of Percussion since 2005.
As a scholar and performer, Julie has presented hundreds of workshops, concerts, and lectures, advocating for social mobility through music, particularly for Black women and underserved children in Northeastern Brazil. As a member of the award-winning Caixa Trio, she has performed in Peru, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, France, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, and across the United States. Julie is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and has functional proficiency in Spanish.
Julie has received several prestigious awards, including the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award, the Hardy Graham Distinguished Professorship Award, the UT Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award, and was the inaugural recipient of the University of Tennessee President’s (system-wide) Educate Award. She has been honored with Member Laureate distinction from the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and served as Past President of the International Percussive Arts Society. Additionally,
Julie is the principal percussionist with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. Julie is the co-editorial director for Percussive Notes, the scholarly journal of the Percussive Arts Society, where she also previously served as president. She co-authored an audition method book titled *All Inclusive Etudes* (Row-Loff Productions) and a collection of solos and duets called *Music for Multi Percussion: A World View* (Alfred Publications). Julie has published numerous works for percussion ensembles with Innovative Percussion and Row-Loff Productions. Her scholarly research has been featured in *Percussive Notes* and the *Garland World Music Encyclopedias*. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Julie worked with the Tennessee Music Educators Association to create, produce, and host a nightly interactive webinar called “Keeping the Beat by TNMEA.” The result was 62 Shows hosting music greats such as Los Lobos, Chuck Leavell, Raul Malo and many more with viewers in 45 countries including 2 million engagements on social media which continues to grow.
Julie holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She is an artist and educator for Zildjian Cymbals and a performing artist for Yamaha Corporation of America.
Julie holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Julie has traveled to 30 countries and visited all 50 United States along with 51 of America’s 63 National Parks.
Julie Hill is an Artist and Educator for Zildjian Cymbals, and a Performing Artist for Yamaha Corporation of America. She is an artist and endorsee for Innovative Percussion, REMO, and Grover Pro Percussion. For more information, visit Julie Hill’s website at www.juliehilleducator.com
Happy Birthday to Yoel Del Sol! Yoel graduated from The National School of Music in Havana, Cuba. There had the opportunity to study under some of the world's most renowned Percussion educators, such as Jose Luis Quintana (Changuito), Reynaldo Fernandez, Roberto Vizcaino, Roberto Concepcion, among others.
From 1993 until 1995 he had the oppurtunity to teach percussion at The National School of Music where he studied. In 1995, Yoel won 1st Place at the PERCUBA Percussion Competition. This is one of the most prestigus awards in Cuba.
In 1999, Yoel relocated to Miami, Florida for more opportuntities to preform and record. He has performed with top artists including: Celia Cruz, Cachao, Raul DiBlasio, LENA, Malena Burke, Afro-Cuban Jazz Group ORIENTE, Luis Bofill, Roselyn Sanchez, Alicia Machado, Luis Enrique, Palo, Spam All Stars, Rebeca Mauleon, Arturo Sandoval & many more. In addition, Yoel has performed at Jazz Festivals in Cuba & around the globe with the group Havana-Sax (saxophone quartet & percussion) also with Chucho Valdez, Carlos del Puerto, Miguel Anga Diaz, Enrique Pla , Frank Emilio.... among others. He has also recorded with very important names in the Latin Pop Industry : Alexander Pires, Raul DiBlasio, Garage H , Eddy Thomas, Dj LAZ , Jose Luis Rodriguez ”El Puma” & his work can be found on the soundtrack album of the independent film LA MALA" ( Spain/Puerto Rico production).
Happy Birthday to Dr. John Wooton! John is a lover of music as he performs, teaches, and listens to a variety of genres, but prefers a blend of jazz and several Caribbean styles. Known as a rudimental specialist, John actually gets more work as a singer and steel pan player. So, when he isn’t flipping sticks and playing ratamacues around the globe, you can find him dressed in linen playing at a casino, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, or dressed in style playing at a jazz club in New Orleans. Otherwise you can find him on a basketball or tennis court trying to stay young. An 81% free throw shooter and 4.0 tennis player, recently bumped down from a 4.5…, proof that age is winning.
The past few years Dr. Throwdown has played paradiddles with stick tosses and hertas with “Hi Moms” as well as flam 5s and diminished scales on his steel pans, in places like Tenerife, The Forbidden City, Novi Sad, Ludz, Madrid, Bucaramanga, Biella, San Juan, Missoula, Rome, Pescara, General Roca, Xinxiang, Buenos Aires, Lima, Houston, Gdansk, Vienna, Cali, Ferrara, Tegucigalpa, Port of Spain, Dallas, London, Mayagüez, Dusseldorf, McAllen, and many others. No, the countries are not listed… do your homework. He is an international artist and clinician for several percussion companies, whole heartedly endorsing each one of them, not only for their wonderful products but for the support they all give to percussion education around the world. Those companies are Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo, and Vic Firth. John also endorses Row Loff Productions, publisher for his books, solos and ensembles. Check out all their web sites, not only for wonderful products but also for their educational material.
John is in his 30th year of teaching at Southern Miss, close to where he grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, so he gets to enjoy dat great Cajun cuisine and Miss’ippi bar-b-que. Doc, as his students call him, loves his job… making music with his students on various percussion instruments. Search Youtube for “Southern Miss Percussion” to enjoy some of the ensembles he teaches. He was educated in Lafayette, Lou., Denton, Texas and Iowa City, Iowa, receiving documents from all three places, but he was also educated by teachers such as Marty Hurley through the experience of drum and bugle corps, specifically one from Rockford, Illinois. He has won some prestigious trophies, including several national titles as a soloist, ensemble member, composer and teacher, along the way with these organizations but prefers to play music for the joy of the experience.
Gig Alerts
Rush is going back out on tour for 2026 with their new drummer Anika Niles from Germany.
They have added more dates, due to popular demand.
Jeffrey Barudin has posted new job openings on his website. Sign up for updates!
The Melbourne Jazz Fest is happening in Australia from October 17th-26th.
Damon has some new dates for live gigs and clinics at schools coming up. He will be a special guest with friend of the show, Andy Sanesi’s band at the Baked Potato.
Damon and friend of the show, Bryan Carter, will be in the houseband for the Sing Out for Freedom benefit for the NY-ACLU. One of the musical acts is the cast of the Broadway show, Buena Vista Social Club. Friend of the show, Renato Thoms will be playing percussion with them.
Educational Spotlight
PASIC 50 is less than 30 days out! It’s not too late to register and get your hotel room.
Some new artists have been announced!
Friends of the show, Paulo Stagnaro, Marcos Lopez, and Marcos Torres have started the Working Percussionist Podcast over on YouTube. Check out Episode 1 below!
Gear Talk
Gon Bops has conga risers for seated players. Damon mentions using plastic serving trays in venues with carpet.
The NBO Oneboard is an option for drummers and percussionists to organize some accessories.
Vic Firth has released new marching tenor sticks/implements by John Mapes and friend of the show, Colin McNutt.
Iconic Recording
Donnie picked, “Blues March” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers from the album, ‘Moanin’.
Music News
Mr. Crim is a history teacher and talks about why African slaves weren’t able to keep their drums in North America.
The Maine Music Alliance has banded together to create a grassroots campaign in opposition to the monopoly that is ticketmaster.
California is taking aim at excessively loud commercials on ad-supported streaming platforms. A new law requires streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video to ensure that the volume of ads does not exceed regular programming audio. -Article
You can CLICK HERE to vote in this year’s upcoming Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll.
Donnie Johns Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “I Lied to You” from the hit film "Sinner" performed at the Hollywood Bowl by Miles Canton.
Damon and Donnie talk about “Go-Go Mickey” and Go Go music.
Donnie talks about the DMV (Delaware, Maryland, Virgina) music.
Donnie talks about his strength in orchestral music first, later drumline, drumset and steel pans.
Damon and Donnie reference a couple of iconic Maryland quotes from Wedding Crashers and The Wire.
Shout-out to Brad Bowser.
Donnie founded the DMV Percussion Academy. He talks about what the intention of the organization provides, like camps, creating music programs, and mentorship.
Donnie talks about his recruitment process. Shout-out to the Maryland Music Educators Association.
Donnie got his undergrad and masters programs from the University of Maryland. He got his doctorate from Shenandoah Music Conservatory.
He talks about his education goals with his degrees and teaching.
Donnie is currently teaching at Bowie State University.
Donnie talks about the relationship he has with military bands in the DMV area.
Donnie participated in the Black Movie Soundtrack concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Shout-out to Sidney Hopson and Derrick Hodge.
Shout-out to friends of the show Kevin Ricard and Jeff Stern.
Donnie talks about starting a Non-Profit organization, like a percussion ensemble.
Donnie talks about what he will be doing at PASIC with the M’Boom ensemble.
Shout-out to Thomas Taylor.
Donnie was on the education committee for years and is still the president of the Maryland/Delaware chapter for the Percussive Arts Society. Shout-out to the D.C. Youth Orchestra.
Donnie mentions some future goals.
Damon mentions the NFL Band in Baltimore. The ESPN documentary, “The Band That Wouldn’t Die” is about that band.
Donnie picks the iconic recording for the week. Honorable mention to “Are You Real”.
Donnie is a member of ABOP (Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists), founded by friend of the show, Raynor Carroll.
Donnie talks about representation. He mentions THIS T-SHIRT.
Donnie uses Yamaha Drums, Black Swamp Percussion instruments, and Innovative Percussion implements.
Shout-out to Matthew Dubbs, John Tafoya, Tony Ames, Jauvon Gilliam, Earl R. Yowell among others.
You can follow Donnie on Facebook, and Instagram.
You can support the DMV Music Academy HERE. You can register for a camp or more HERE.
The song leading out of the interview features Elena Pinderhughes on flute (slide #3)
