#446 Terry Gibbs- Drummer, Vibraphonist, Composer, Author and More!
This week’s guest is Terry Gibbs! Terry is 100 years old at the time of this interview. 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!
Happy Birthday to Richie Gajate-Garcia! Richie, a Puerto Rican born in New York City, was raised on the island of Puerto Rico from the age of seven. Richie grew up with musical influences of his percussionist step father Doel Garcia and family friends like Tito Puente, Monchito Munoz and Armando Peraza.
Richie started his formal education at Springfield College and then went on to the Conservatory of Music in Chicago where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education. Since then, Richie has taught at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and the Los Angeles Music Academy known as LAMA in Pasadena, California. He is one of the top clinicians worldwide and has become an ambassador to the world teaching and demonstrating the art of drums and percussion with over 700 clinics to his credit. Richie has performed, recorded and toured the world as a drummer/percussionist for several major artists including Phil Collins, Sting, Diana Ross, Hiroshima, John Denver, Tito Puente and the Boston Pops. His experiences transcend musical genres from classical to pop, jazz, salsa, country and hip hop.
Richie has authored instructional books which include play along cds. He pioneered instructional drum/percussion videos long before dvds existed and currently has instructional dvds on the market. Countless musicians have credit Richie with their musical successes including his son, Roland Gajate Garcia who was nominated percussionist of the year by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine.
Richie himself has held that title and many more distinctions in the music community including performances on grammy winning and nominated projects. He has been an advocate for music in public schools and spoke on an educational panel for Bill Clinton during his presidency. Richie has invented the gajate bracket distributed by Latin Percussion Inc. which has impacted the genre of multi percussion and taken indepence to a new level. Richie’s nickname is “el pulpo” which means “the octopus”.
Richie lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife of 30 years Mary. His two adult sons are thriving in the music industry playing regularly on tv and touring with legends. Richie is a trendsetter who continues to passionately perform while he educate and mentors worldwide.
Happy Birthday to Daniel De Los Reyes! Daniel was born into a family that for three generations has been making a living at banging and shaking things to make music. His grandfather, Walfredo de los Reyes II, laid the family musical foundation by co-founding the famous Cuban orchestra, Casino de la Playa. His father, Walfredo de los Reyes III, went on to become one of Cuba’s most successful drummers/percussionists before moving to Puerto Rico and then the United States. As one of the first drummers to incorporate the drum set with congas and other percussion, Walfredo III blazed a wide path that many would follow. He continues to wow crowds with his drumming and percussion ability, extensive musical history, and incredible enthusiasm at the ripe young age of 79. Daniel and his brothers, Walfredo Reyes Jr. and Kamar de los Reyes, keep the torch burning brighter than ever as they consistently stamp the de los Reyes name all over the percussion and entertainment landscape.
Currently on tour with the Grammy award-winning Zac Brown Band, Daniel has performed with a virtual who’s-who of artists including Don Henley, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sting, The Killers, Sheryl Crow, Patti LaBelle, Peter Frampton, Jennifer Lopez, Don Omar, Stevie Nicks, Louie Vega, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Lionel Richie, Kenny Ortega, Steve Winwood, and many more.
Gig Alerts
The Newport Folk Fest is happening in Newport, Rhode Island from July 25th-27th.
The Cincinnati Music Fest is happening in Cincinnati, Ohio from July 25th-26th.
The Newport Jazz Festival is happening in Newport, Rhode Island, from August 1st-3rd. One of the people performing is friend of the show, Obed Calvaire with Danilo Perez and John Patitucci.
Educational Spotlight
Last week’s guest, Thomas Taylor is doing a tribute at this year’s PASIC50 to the legendary group, M’Boom with friend of the show Stefon Harris.
There is 1 SPOT LEFT at the Drum Fantasy Camp happening in Los Angeles from August 2nd-6th.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording is mentioned in the interview. It is “Queer Street” by the Count Basie Big Band with Shadow Wilson on drums.
Music News
FireAid, the high-profile benefit concert, raised over $100 million in early 2025 to support victims of the LA wildfires. Months later, questions and suspicions are emerging about how those funds were spent—and whether they benefited victims as intended. -Article
You can check out Altadena Musicians (dot org) and their app, Instrumental Giving to help pair musicians in need with vetted instruments. Friend of the show, Kassandra Kocoshis has partnered with them to help out as well.
Metallica’s non-profit education program expands to 75 schools, with $3 million committed in its seventh year. -Article
Shout-out to everyone who went to see Coldplay and didn’t have their relationship(s) ruined.
How Public Media Lost The Federal Funding Battle, And What Happens Next To Stations, NPR And PBS -Article
WGA has released a Statement on Paramount’s Decision to Cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert -Full Statement
In other news, friend of the show, Nêgah Santos and the rest of the Colbert band will be following suit in losing their jobs in the next 10 months, similarly to the Seth Meyers band.
Terry Gibbs Interview
The song leading into the interview is called, “El Reigo” from the album ‘El Latino’ by Terry Gibbs. This song also features Candido Camero, Carlos “Patato” Valdez, and Willie Bobo on percussion.
Shout-out to Pete Zambito for joining me on this week’s podcast. If you are interested in checking out his other episodes, his podcast is called “Pete’s Percussion Podcast”.
Terry is a Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame recipient.
Terry mentions the playful battle/duet he used to do with Terry Pollard on the vibes.
Terry mentions that Stefon Harris is involved in a documentary about different vibraphone players. Terry is one of them.
Terry says Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie are his inspirations for the way he played the vibraphone and learn bebop.
Terry Gibb’s real name is Julius Herbert Gubenko.
His autobiography is “Good Vibes” A Life in Jazz.
Terry talks about writing and editing his book which came out in 2003.
Terry was born in 1924. Some points of note from that year are as follows.
-1924 Lionel Sternberger added a slice of cheese to a hamburger at The Rite Spot in Pasadena to make the 1st cheeseburger. However, Louis Lunch claims the first hamburger in New Haven in 1895. In 1924 was the 1st Macy’s parade, 1st crossword published, Alice in Wonderland was released by Disney, Band-aids and Kleenex mass produced to the public, the 1st Winter Olympics (located in France), A new house averaged about $7,720, a new car (like the Model T) cost about $265, eggs $0.48 a dozen, gallon of gas $0.11-$0.25. Other world events: Great Depression (because of Stock Market Crash in 1929 and dust bowl storms and drought ruining crops), The New Deal, WWII, Holocaust, and more!
Terry talks about his family escaping from Russia after WWI.
He was a boxer as a kid before playing music. He started by playing mitzvahs and events with his dad at age 11.
He elaborates on his mom, who was a baker and learned how to speak English from a black janitor and used his vernacular.
The great Horace Silver played with Terry Gibbs and went to the same high school as Damon. Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT.
Terry could speak english and yiddish.
He talks about the origin of his name Terry Gibbs from a boxer he idolized, and shortening his last name.
Terry talks about the sport Punchball and how it related to baseball.
Terry talks about the record ban and his relationship with Tiny Kahn.
Terry joined the army for WWII. In his book he mentions that they wanted him to be a morse code operator because he understood rhythm, but he wanted to fight so he failed the test on purpose. He became a tank operator before transitioning to an army band. He talks about being home on furlough and Tiny taking him to 52nd street and then him following around different bebop jazz artists.
He mentions meeting Tony Bennett and Harry Belafonte at jazz jam sessions.
Terry played with some great drummers. He played with some of the greatest drummers from Louie Bellson to Buddy Rich to Art Blakey to Mel Lewis to Hal Blaine to Elvin Jones to Shelley Manne and more!
Damon mentions two albums that weren’t talked about in the autobiography. “El Latino” (used leading into the interview) with Willie Bobo, Candido Camero, and Carlos “Patato” Valdes as well as “The Latin Connection” with Tito Puente, (friend of the show) Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, (friend of the show) Jose Madera, and Orestes Vilato. Terry talks about working with these musicians (as well as Sonny Bravo).
Terry does a Q&A show every Saturday afternoon on his Facebook page where you can ask questions of him.
Terry talks about introducing his piano player Alice McLeod to her future husband, John Coltrane.
Terry talks about a pool party he had with some jazz heavyweights and almost with Miles Davis.
Terry talks about some Teddy Wilson negotiation tactics.
Terry spent a bunch of time in Buddy Rich’s band.
Terry tells the story about the iconic recording for the week.
Terry felt Buddy Rich played the best with Oscar Peterson (piano) and Ray Brown (bass).
Terry tells the story of when he got the call from Woody Herman to join his band.
Terry talks about issues with his second wife where you couldn’t get custody if you were a man unless your wife was extremely sick or a prostitute. He had to finagle getting his son Gerry to meet Buddy Rich. He talks about how his son played for Buddy and received his drums as a gift.
Terry talks about being able to avoid major drug use.
Terry talks about finding old recordings that he eventually released.
Terry talks about his third wife Rebekah, and his love for music first, then his love for women after.
Terry talks about some final moments with Rebekah.
Terry talks a little about current events and living through other world events like WWII.
