May 18, 2020, 13:43 PM
by
Percussive Arts Society
PAS is proud to announce our Hall of Fame Class of 2020: Garry Kvistad, Ndugu Chancler, and Neil Peart.
“On behalf of the entire PAS community, I want to congratulate Garry, and the friends and families of Neil and Ndugu. Each of their contributions to our field are immeasurable and I am thrilled they will be inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame this year.
— Joshua Simonds, PAS Executive Director
About the PAS Hall of Fame
The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame was established in 1972 to recognize the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion performance, education, research, scholarship, administration, composition and the industry. Inductees demonstrate the highest ideals and professional integrity to their profession to bring about significant events, substantive improvements in the world of percussion, and the betterment of the profession through exemplary services or acts.
Garry Kvistad
Garry Kvistad attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and received a Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. In 1993 Northern Illinois University honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award. In the 1970s Garry worked with composer/conductor Lucas Foss in Buffalo, New York, after which he joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University before moving on to the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. During this time, he co-founded the Blackearth Percussion Group, which recorded and toured in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Garry has served as the timpanist and percussionist with the Chicago Grant Park Symphony, was a summer Tanglewood Fellow, and worked as a percussionist with the Cabrillo Music Festival Orchestra in California. He has been featured in performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Israel Philharmonic, as well as many other orchestras in North America and Europe. Giri Mekar, the Balinese Gong Kebyar Gamelan ensemble which he formed in 1987, is in residence at Bard College in Red Hook, New York. In 1980 Garry started performing with Steve Reich and Musicians. Garry has been performing and touring extensively with Nexus since 2002.
Garry is also an instrument builder. He built his first metallophone from the aluminum tubes of discarded lawn chairs. This led to Woodstock Chimes, which manufactures wind chimes. Garry and his wife, Diane, are active in the Woodstock Community helping to reinforce support for the arts, and food and shelter programs. Through their charitable foundation, The Woodstock Chimes Fund, they have assisted artists and humanitarian efforts mostly in the Hudson Valley.
Ndugu Chancler
Ndugu Chancler recorded with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, John Lee Hooker, Kenny Rogers, and Michael Jackson. Ndugu was the drummer on Jackson’s hit single "Billie Jean" and on the albums Thriller and Bad. Ndugu also played on a number of movie soundtracks including An Officer and a Gentleman, Indecent Proposal, and The Color Purple.
As a songwriter Ndugu co-wrote hits including "Dance Sister Dance" for Santana, "Reach For It" for George Duke, and "Let It Whip" for the Dazz Band. His production credits include Flora Purim, Bill Summers, and Toki, along with his own solo recordings: Ndugu and the Chocolate Jam Co., and Ndugu Chancler. Ndugu co-produced recordings for Santana, George Duke, The Crusaders, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Tina Turner, and a group he co-led with Patrice Rushen and Ernie Watts, The Meeting. These associations earned many Gold and Platinum albums and Grammy Awards.
As an educator, Ndugu worked with the Jazz Mentorship Program and the Thelonious Monk Institute, and he was the faculty advisor to the U.S.C. Jazz Reach in Los Angeles. Ndugu was also on the faculty of the Young Musicians Program at Cal Berkeley, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Diaz Music Institute, and Music For All, and he was an Adjunct Professor of Jazz and Popular Music Studies at The University of Southern California, Flora L. Thornton School of Music.
Neil Peart
Neil Peart joined rock trio Rush in 1974. The group started as a blues-rock band in 1968, but evolved into a progressive group that incorporated elements of heavy metal and punk.Peart used an extensive drum set that completely surrounded him and included melodicand synthesized percussion instruments along with the usual drums and cymbals, and his intricate solos were highlights of Rush concerts. During Peart’s time with Rush, the band released over 20 albums, 14 of which went platinum.
Many considered Neil to be the world’s best rock drummer, and he was honored in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll 38 times. In addition to his drumming, Peart wrote the lyrics to Rush songs, inspired by science fiction, classical mythology, philosophy, and literary works. Peart was also the author of several books, including The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa and Ghost Rider.
In the 1990s, Peart produced two tribute albums to jazz legend Buddy Rich, titled Burning for Buddy, which featured such drummers as Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, Kenny Aronoff, Rod Morgenstein, Simon Phillips, Steve Smith, Max Roach, Joe Morello, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Gadd, and Peart, among others, playing tunes associated with Rich and backed by a big band made up of Rich alumni.