Many famous and important drummers have either been born here, have lived here / still live here, or are buried here in the Chicago area. These include jazz drummers. blues drummers, rock drummers, percussionists, and all sorts of drummers of all types.
Drummers Tour Maps
Drummers Tour Map -> Google Maps
Drummers Tour Information
Drummers in Chicago Tour Information -> PDF file
Fred Below
James A. “Jimmy” Bertrand
Cassell Burrow
Barrett Deems
Warren “Baby” Dobbs
Johnnie Mae “Big Boss Lady” (Hudson) Dunson
Elga Speed “Elgin Evans” Edmunds
Robert Lee “Bobby” Fields, Jr.
Anthony “Tony” Gooden
Nathaniel Haggins
Theodore “Ted” Harney
Willie Lee “The Touch” Hayes
Eddie “Porkchop” Hines
Armond G. “Jump” Jackson
Clifton James
James Knowles, Sr.
Gene Krupa
S.P Leary
John Panozzo
Odie Payne
Earl Warren Phillips
Robert Garlon Plunkett
Lawrence “Judge” Riley
Theodore Dudley “Red” Saunders
John Siomos
“Kansas City Red” Arthur Lee Stevenson
Marshall Thompson
William “Billy” Warren
Willie “W.W.” Williams
FRED BELOW (1926-1988) – GRAVE
Blues Drummer
Fred Below Jr. was an influential Chicago Blues drummer who worked with Little Walter before becoming a Chess session player who recorded with Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Otis Rush and Howlin’ Wolf.
[Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago – 41°46’20.1″N 87°35’40.7″W]
WARREN “BABY” DOBBS (1898-1959) – GRAVE
Warren “Baby” Dobbs -> Wikipedia
Jazz Drummer Legend
Baby Dobbs was perhaps the first prototypical jazz drummer, being influential to many of the greats, like Gene Krupa. Warren was called Baby to distinguish him from his equally famous brother, Johnny Dobbs, who was a first rate jazz clarinetist. The brothers both performed on King Oliver’s 1923 recordings of his Creole Jazz Band, in Chicago. Louis Armstrong also was part of these musicians. These recordings helped propel jazz into a national sensation. A few years later, Baby would record with Mr. Armstrong on his Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings.
[Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island – 41°40’19.5″N 87°42’16.5″W]
GENE KRUPA (1909-1973) – GRAVE
Gene Krupa Biography -> drummerman.net
Gene Krupa -> Wikipedia
Jazz Drummer Legend
Gene Krupa was one of the most influential drummers to ever exist. I do not say that lightly. Mr. Krupa helped transform the modern day drum set into what it is today, both as an instrument and how it is played. He helped Slingerland develop the tunable tom-tom and he helped with making the drums a solo instrument.
[Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, Calumet City – Immaculata Section G, Lot A, Lot 22 – 41°36’16.9″N 87°32’33.9″W]
JOHN PANOZZO (1948-1996) – GRAVE
DRUMMER FOR STYX
John Panozzo was the original drummer for the rock group, Styx. He was the drummer on every Styx album recorded up to 1990’s Edge of the Century.
[Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip – Section 19, Block 15, Lot A, Lot 24, Grave 1 – 41°41’19.9″N 87°46’02.3″W]
ODIE PAYNE (1926-1989) – GRAVE
Blues Drummer
Odie Payne Jr. was an early Chicago Blues drummer who played on a lot of session work. He recorded with Blues greats such as Tampa Red, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy.
[Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago – 41°46’22.2″N 87°35’58.3″W]