The following article appeared in the April 1998 issue of Modern Drummer ON-Line Magazine. I am reposting it here for those who did not get a chance to see it at the time. I would like to thank Modern Drummer for recognizing the contribution that Jimmie Stavris Sr. made to the drumming community during his career and the legacy he left for those that had the pleasure of knowing him!
The drumming education community recently observed
the passing of master drum teacher Jimmie Stavris Sr. An
inspiration to many drummers, Stavris spent his entire
life promoting drums and drumming. He was sixty-eight.
Over the course of his thirty-eight-year career, Stavris
instructed more then 2,500 students in the northeastern
US, many of whom are drumming all over the world to
this day. Included among his students was Nick Forté,
who has contributed many articles to Modern Drummer.
Stavris himself learned from drumming luminaries such
as Al Lepak (with whom he studied at Hartt School of
Music) and Burns Moore.
A dedication Web site (www.drumchops.com) has
been set up to honor Stavris, and to give those who knew
him an opportunity to reflect on his enormous
contribution to their drumming pursuits. A special guest
book page has been added to accommodate comments
from the many people touched by his talent.