MikeD Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Sad to say that one of the all-time greats of rudimental drumming, Jack Pratt, passed away on 4/6/2020. He and I worked together with the GSC corps the King's Regiment in 1977. I spent many an afternoon at his home in Hawthorne as we put together the percussion show for the corps. He had the most amazing collection of LP's of classical music I ever saw. He also was a collector of old comics before it became a "thing". He had many of the early Superman, Batman, etc...I think his master's thesis was on comic books and the war effort of WWII. Jack was a character, and one of the best people I ever had the honor of knowing. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironlips Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) Jack Pratt was a giant whose influence endures. https://www.wdchof.org/members/pratt-jack/ Pratt, John S. “Jack” Jack Pratt is one of the most prolific percussion writers in the drum corps community. He served as rudimental drum instructor of field music with the U.S. Military Academy band at West Point from 1950 to 1969, and was one the first to urge the use of large drum lines, paving the way to modern percussion sections of 30 or more members which began to appear on the contest field by the late 1960s. As an exponent of large drum lines, he urged that the level of difficulty not be reduced and that various performance factors not be sacrificed. His contributions and achievements in drumming were further recognized when he was inducted as a member of the world-wide Percussive Arts Society. He taught the Interstatesmen in the 1960s, when he introduced the rudimental bass drum to the drum corps community, as part of his unique concept of percussion voicing. He has been associated with a number of other corps, including Geneva Appleknockers, Troop 12 Indians, Kingsmen, Lakers, Criterions, Hawthorne Caballeros, King’s Regiment, Doremus Post, Crimson Kings Tri-County Cavaliers, Rochester Grey Knights, Ambassadors. He has judged for the All American and Metro All American associations. Edited April 7, 2020 by ironlips additional details 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weaklefthand4ever Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSnareDrummer Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 10 hours ago, ironlips said: He taught the Interstatesmen in the 1960s, when he introduced the rudimental bass drum to the drum corps community, as part of his unique concept of percussion voicing. I knew I had heard his name before. That's where it came from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geneva Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Sad to hear. He was a valuable source I used when I wrote the history of the Geneva Appleknockers for Steve Vickers’ “A History of Drum and Bugle Corps” vol 2. He was a snare drummer in the Appleknockers senior corps circa 1947-51 as a young man. When he learned that one of my sons was a drummer, he mailed me several of his drum solo books for his use! I was impressed by his kindness and generosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geneva Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (Left to Right) Norm Peth, Bill Calhoun, Jack Pratt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 Jack's non-drumming career was as an English teacher in (I think) the Hackensack NJ school district. Knowing his personality, I bet he was an amazing person to have as a teacher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 a true legend. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.