Articles

Ron Beck Builds Drummer’s Dreams in San Jose

by Brian L. Shetler
December 01, 2009

Brian L. Shetler, Berliner Cohen attorney, contributed the attached article to Drum Magazine, an online publication, on December 1, 2009, regardng the Ron E. Beck Drum Institute.  Mr. Shetler was inspired by Beck’s dream to pass on some of his techniques to talented, young drummers before they get discouraged and give up on their dreams in the rough and tumble world of professional drumming.

“Ron E. Beck lifts his 5B’s. Before his throne is his performance kit that he uses at the blues and jazz festivals—a champagne sparkle 5-piece DW Drums kit with DW hardware with a single Tama Iron Cobra kick pedal and his cymbals, a 20” ride, 18” crash and a 14” splash, all of the A and K Zildjian variety…But this day he isn’t performing. Instead, he is one-on-one with a new student of his Ron E. Beck Drum Institute, operating in humble settings – a studio at the Practice Place, 1707 Fourth Street, San Jose, California. On the wall of his studio is a tambourine with his motto, “The dream is yours to realize.”  Beck has spent the last forty years realizing his dreams in bands such as Tower of Power, or other R&B, blues and jazz with whom he has shared his time and space: Bell and James, Bobby Womack, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., 5th Dimension, Danny Hull Quintet (Spang-a-Lang), Sista Monica, Chris Cain, Steve Cropper, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana…”

For the complete article, click here.