Roy Burns

Background

Burns was born and grew up in Emporia, Kansas.

Career

Burns was one of the first to give drum clinics, and is credited with pioneering the concept. At the age of 20, and on the advice of Louie Bellson who had heard him play, Burns left Kansas to study drumming in New New York Within a year he was Woody Herman"s drummer, and shortly thereafter left to join Benny Goodman.

He is noted for his live and studio work, teaching, and his method books, as well as for pioneering the concept of a drum clinic.

In 1980, he partnered Ron Marquez to form Aquarian Accessories to manufacture percussion equipment. Also in 1980, he began writing a column in Modern Drummer Magazine which ran until 1992.

Achievements

• Aquarian subsequently achieved enormous success with their drum heads.