#467 Thom Hannum- Hall of Fame Educator, Arranger, Author, and More!
This week’s guest is welcoming back Thom Hannum. Thom is best known for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and Star of Indiana.
Thom worked as the Percussion Director and Arranger for the DCI award-winning Carolina Crown from Ft. Mill, SC in recent years. Thom is currently a Senior Advisor to the Boston Crusaders.
Mr. Hannum was also a member of the design team for the Tony Award Winning show Blast!
In the summer of 2001, Mr. Hannum was selected for induction into the DCI Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
In 2018, Thom received the Lowell Mason Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and in 2019 Kappa Kappa Psi, a national music fraternity, presented Mr. Hannum with the Distinguished Service To Music Medal, their highest honor.
The Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) presented Thom with the prestigious Paul Smith Hall of Fame Award in March of 2020.
Mr. Hannum spent more than 40 years building one of the nation’s premier collegiate percussion programs as the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band.
Thom is a product consultant and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, Evans Drum Heads, the Pearl Corporation, and Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets where he has developed several Signature Series drumsticks and keyboard mallets.
In August 2024, Thom was inducted into Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
“Thom’s involvement and influence in the marching arts has been paramount and formative in the development of the genre,” states Julie Davila, current PAS President and longtime DCI adjudicator.
“There is no doubt that today’s exceptional performances, both in execution and design, are a direct result from his leadership and influence.
“Growing up in the ’80s,” she continues, “I was a student and fan enamored with many of Thom’s championship groups.
His association and tutelage with the Garfield Cadets, the Crossmen, and Star of Indiana were remarkable, and Thom became recognized for his hallmark of musicality, creativity in colors and timbres, and standard-setting precision.”
In 2001, Thom was inducted into Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.
From a member of the Brookhaven Crusaders to a Broadway arranger, Thom Hannum may be one of the most influential percussion arrangers of the 20th Century.
Thom’s work with Crossmen, The Cadets, Star of Indiana, and “Blast!” has been innovative and inspiring to all who have heard or played his arrangements.
Thom is also credited with leading the Garfield Cadets percussion section in 1987 to a perfect score in Percussion Effect, Field and Ensemble Performance Percussion.
Through the Hal Leonard Corporation, Mr. Hannum has published a Textbook and corresponding Student Workbook, Championship Concepts For Marching Percussion, which provide many band programs with a comprehensive foundation for percussion education.
Thom’s in depth book, A Percussionist’s Guide to Check Patterns, was published by Alfred Publications in early 2009. His instructional video produced by Warner Brothers/Chappell, Fundamental Techniques For Marching Percussion, demonstrates many of the concepts outlined in the books.
In addition, Mr. Hannum has published percussion arrangements and solos with Warner Brothers, Rowloff Productions, and Drop6 Media, Inc.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Marcos Torres! Marcos was also featured on the App Episode Vol 2. A versatile percussionist, producer, and Grammy Award-Winning engineer, Marcos has been at the forefront of creating a fresh new sound within the Salsa genre for over a decade. His respect for the tradition and trajectory of this music, as well as his love and knowledge of Hip-Hop, R&B, and aptitude for sound curation as a whole, have led to him to help push the boundaries of the genre as we know it today.
Born into a musical family of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, Marcos was gifted a bongo at the age of three, and never looked back. He has since turned into one of his generation’s most respected and sought after percussionists, performing with salsa superstars La India, Tito Nieves, Ismael Miranda, Jerry Rivera, Obie Bermudez, and the legendary Issac Delgado among many others.
He is currently working out of New York City in varied roles as a percussionist, producer and engineer with rising artists from across Latin America including Jeremy Bosch, Fer Casillas, Tania Matus and Flaco Navaja.
Happy Birthday to Raynor Carroll! Raynor Carroll joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Co-Principal Percussionist/Timpanist in the 1983/84 season. In addition to his performances at Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts, Carroll participates in the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella and Chamber Music series. In addition to performing, Carroll is an active teacher/clinician on timpani, percussion, and West African drumming. He taught for nearly 20 years at his alma mater, California State University Los Angeles, and has taught at the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles Music Academy, and California State University Long Beach. Mr. Carroll currently also teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles. Mr. Carroll is the founder and owner of Batterie Music, a publishing company specializing in music for the symphonic percussionist. His highly acclaimed timpani method “Exercises, Etudes and Solos for the Timpani” and the multi-volume orchestral repertoire series are among his published works. For information about Raynor Carroll’s “Music for the Symphonic Percussionist” series, please visit www.batteriemusic.com.
Happy Birthday to Marcelo Woloski! Marcelo Woloski is a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winning percussionist, producer and composer. His broad array of sounds, versatility, masterful skill, charismatic personality and creativity has made him the to-go person for recording artists, producers and arrangers throughout the globe. As described by Journalist Raul Da Gama "Woloski is a musician and percussion colourist who employs an enormous aural palette to express himself."
The Berklee College of Music graduated percussionist, based in New York City for 12 years, became a regular member, has recorded multiple albums, and has toured the world with groups like Snarky Puppy, Banda Magda, and the group of Sofía Ribeiro.
Voted “Percussionist of the year 2017” by Bateristica Magazine and “Most creative performer” by Sala Musik Festival 2020, Woloski's performing and recording credits include Susana Baca, Ruben Blades, Marta Gomez, Laura Mvula, Paquito D'Rivera, Becca Stevens, Lalah Hathaway, Chris Potter, and The Kronos Quartet among others.
Marcelo's work as a composer can be heard on the new music he is releasing with Quiet Colors along with Joanna Kucharczyk ; on his debut album Mundo Por Connell , which features 27 musicians from 12 different countries, as well as his songs Palermo , Bardis and Portal released by Snarky Puppy, and his Mini-documentary about racial justice Justice Now (shown at 1927 Art Gallery - Athens ,Greece - 2021).
Woloski plays Latin Percussion, Evans, Vic Firth, Woodpack, Cincinatti washboards, Requena Cajons, SM Percussion, Cosmos Maracas, DEM'sticks, and J.King broomsticks.
Happy Birthday to Jhair Sala! Jhair Sala is a world-class and in-demand percussionist who regularly performs with the Pedrito Martinez Group. Sala’s unique style represents a new-school approach to Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Cuban musical styles.
When the Peruvian-born Jhair Sala was barely three-years-old, he sat with his father beating on wooden boxes known as cajons. At that tender age, Sala’s inherent percussive talents were pushing through. His family moved to New Jersey when he was six, and his passion for percussion continued to grow.
Jhair Sala's first teacher was Lucho Gomez, who taught him proper finger, hand, and palm techniques for cajon and other percussion instruments. During his teens, he performed with his mother's band on The Mariela Valencia Show, which gave him an opportunity to travel all over the world and absorb a variety of cultures and musical traditions.
Once settled in the USA, Jhair Sala had the opportunity to study percussion with his idol, Pedrito Pablo Martinez. Under Martinez’s guidance, he absorbed Cuban music and gained fluency on congas, bongos, timbales, and Bata. Subsequent lessons with Roberto Chino Bolaños readied him for his first significant American appearance.
Performing with the group Kambalache Negro, Jhair Sala revealed a unique perspective on soloing and grooving. His career took off and he began performing with bands and artists that include: Desmond Child, Patience Dabany, Hector Tricoche, Andy Montañez, Pedrito Pablo Martinez, Justo Betancourt, Xiomara Laugart, Brenda K. Star, Osmany Paredes, Jimmy Bosch, Adalberto Santiago and Ismael Miranda, Nino Segarra, Raulin Rosendo, Paquito Guzman and many others.
Jhair Sala gained a reputation as a first-call accompanist. One of his first recording collaborations was with Mongo Santamaria's oldest daughter, Ileana, who produced the album I Know What I Want. Sala’s session credits also includes albums with Patience Dabany, Osmany Paredes, Edmar Castañeda, Mariela Valencia, Kambalache Negro,Ropa Vieja, Afrodita, Yerba Buena, and Ibboru, among others.
Jhair Sala is comfortable in all Latin genres, attributing his versatility to a close study of such masters as Pedrito Martinez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Little Johnny Rivero, Paoli Mejias, Karl Perazzo, Chino Bolanos, Mariela Valencia, Carlos Sala, Lucho Gomez, and Juanchi Vasquez.
Gig Alerts
The New Orleans “Jazzfest” has announced their lineup for the festival taking place between April 23rd-May3rd.
Damon mentions a few different music cruise options. The first being a search on a Music Festival Website. Next being the company Sixthman (dot net). And lastly, a bunch of Jazz based cruises hosted by Signature Cruise Experiences.
Educational Spotlight
Thom Hannum is the Director of Education for the Pearl drums and Adams percussion company.
Friends of the show, Paulo Stagnaro, Marcos Lopez, and Marcos Torres have released another episode of the Working Percussionist Podcast.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording was chosen by Thom. It is “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves with Alex Cooper on drums.
Music News
Drumeo has its fan voted awards open now until Dec 21st.
KISS’s Gene Simmons and SoundExchange President Michael Huppe called on Congress to require AM/FM radio stations to pay recording artists for using their music in House Bill 861. -Article
You can contact your representative by CLICKING HERE.
Thom Hannum Interview
The song leading into the interview was a snare solo performed by Thom at a clinic.
Thom starts with complimenting Damon on his PASIC 50 clinic.
Thom has retired from teaching day to day at Umass Amherst.
Thom talks about working with friend of the show, Ian Hale on keeping the marching band going virtually during the pandemic.
Thom talks about the percussion techniques class he would run every spring.
Thom talks about the Pearl Education Team he is helping head up.
Thom mentions Pearl Drums and Percussion, Adams concert instruments, as well as the Belsona family of products.
Thom talks about the educational based approach that companies are taking.
Thom is the only percussion instructor involved in two perfect scores for the drumlines.
Thom mentions some friends of the show involved in the Boston Crusaders perfect score drumline, including: Colin McNutt, Iain Moyer, and Jim Ancona.
Thom makes a reference to the contribution Damon provided to the Crusaders show.
Damon mentions the Percussion Composition and Arranging class that Thom taught.
Damon also mentions some of the people that were taught by Thom that also went on to teach.
Thom talks about his experience marching in the Crossmen (between 1975-1978). He also attended West Chester University. Shout-out to Chris Thompson
Damon mentions the Ludwig Goransson Black Panther film score.
Thom talks about some advantages and disadvantages of writing solely with computer software vs getting on an instrument.
Thom talks about writing the front ensemble first, and the battery percussion second.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Tom Aungst.
Thom talks about his sons, Greg and William Hannum.
Thom has been inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame.
Thom talks about his family and some non-musical adventures.
Thom chooses the iconic recording.
Thom uses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, D’addario/Evans Drumheads, as well as his publishers, Hal Leonard, Alfred Music, Drop 6 Media.
Shout-out to Joe Marrella, Eric Landis, Billy Kaufman, Fred Sanford, the fellow percussion instructors Thom has taught with and most importantly, the students Thom has taught.
The song leading out of the interivew is from the 1977 Crossmen show where Thom was in the snareline.
