#414 Charley Poole- Drummer, Educator, Adjudicator and More!
This week’s guest is Charley Poole. Charley Poole has been a fixture on the New England drum and bugle corps scene for more than 60 years since he first played snare drum with St. Paul’s Drum Corps in 1956. He moved to Prospect Drum Corps for seven years starting in 1962, then played snare drum with Boston Crusaders in 1970 and 1971.
He won individual snare drum titles at the state, regional and national levels: four Connecticut state championships; four Northeastern state championships and three national individual snare drum titles.
He has been the arranger, caption head and instructor for many of the best-known New England drum lines, including 27th Lancers of Revere, Massachusetts from 1977 to 1986; East Coast Jazz of Malden, Massachusetts; Fitchburg Kingsmen; Connecticut Yanks Ancient Fife and Drum Corps of Bristol; Fifth Maine Regiment of Portland; St. Aedan’s Emerald Cadets of New Haven and Connecticut Hurricanes.
He has served as a judge with DCI, DCA, WGI and Bands of America. He has taught, arranged and adjudicated drum corps, percussion ensemble and marching band events across the United States, Canada and Japan.
He is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, National Association of Rudimental Drummers and the Marching Percussion Committee of the Percussive Arts Society. He has presented clinics for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association and Ohio Music Conferences. He is a signature artist with Pro-Mark Drum Sticks, Evans Drum Heads, Zildjian Cymbals and Pearl Drums. He is a member of the Massachusetts Drum Corps Hall of Fame and the DCI Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Miguel Merino! Miguel wears the various musical hats of drummer, producer, composer, and lyre player. Appearing as Otaak Band, he takes this ancient instrument far outside the folkloric tradition to produce unique, contemporary sounds. In addition to the typical 5-string lyre, Miguel also plays a variety of lyres and harps with up to 25 strings, which offer a huge range of musical possibilities. In addition to his own composition, Miguel is a dedicated student, researcher and collector of lyre instruments.
Happy Birthday to Brad Dutz! Brad has recorded for artists like KISS, WILLIE NELSON, MICHAEL WOLFF, TRIBAL TECH, DAVID BENOIT, RICK BRAUN, VINNY GOLIA, ALANIS MORRISETTE ,LEANN RIMES, MITCH FORMAN, KIM RICHMOND, RICKIE LEE JONES, HANDS’ONSEMBLE and actors JEFF BRIDGES and RONNY COX, Brad Dutz tries to bring the strangest percussion instruments he has to the session to create a unique sound. He can be heard on TV shows KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY, AMERICAN DAD, ENTERPRISE and FIREFLY. Some of the movies that Brad has played on include LAST VEGAS, BATTLESHIP, BOURNE LEGACY ,COWBOYS and ALIENS, PRINCE OF EGYPT, SYRIANA, HILDAGO, RUGRATS GO WILD,STAR TREK 5, OCEAN’S ELEVEN , ANCHORMAN, HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE ,TRANSFORMERS 1 and 2 , RUSH HOUR 3, RUN DOWN and I SPY, and also IMAX films MYSTERIES OF EGYPT, MT. KILAMANJARO , AMAZON and ISLAND of SHARKS.
Happy Birthday to Tony Escapa! Tony Escapa IV, was born in San Juan, PR. His father a professional pianist and mother a TV Host. It was clear at a young age that passion and talent where a part of him. At age 9 Tony started guitar lessons, but those where short lived as he found his true passion on a Yamaha drum set that was in the same studio as the lessons. Tony quickly sat on the drums and began to play away with no initial training. His father was astounded and preceded to purchase Tony a practice pad, some sticks and said: " in order to get a drum set, you have to prove to me that you will take drumming seriously ". Tony had to learn rudiments and practice for at least two hours a day to prove him self worthy of a drum set. His father however, did not really know was he was getting into only since Tony would practice not for two but from four to eight hours a day.
Tony took private lessons from some of Puerto Rico's best musicians and teachers very early. But the lessons where just like the icing on the cake since little Tony would always be by his father's side in gigs or rehearsal's with legendary artist in the business even before he could walk…That being the spark that ignited Tony's passion for music today.
Gig Alerts
Pearl Jam is going back on tour. Pearl Jam has announced new US tour dates for 2025 in support of their album, Dark Matter. A special ticket club will focus on delivering tickets to fans instead of bots and resellers — and secondary markets are being put on notice.
Dead & Company are returning to the Las Vegas Sphere in 2025 after a highly successful 30-show run in 2024. The new 18-show residency will celebrate the band’s 10th anniversary.
Keith Urban announces his High And Alive World Tour, featuring Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen, and Karley Scott Collins. Friend of the show, Terence F. Clark will be playing drums with him.
The Fearless Flyers will be performing in Los Angeles at The Regent Theater on January 23rd. Friend of the show, Nate Smith, will be on drums.
Educational Spotlight
The Percussive Arts Society has started releasing the PASIC Virtual Sessions. They will be available until the end of 2024. Friend of the show, Kai Stensgaard has a clinic that will be available to watch.
If you are interested in presenting for PASIC in 2025, the artist applications open on December 11th and are open until January 22nd.
Friend of the show, Carter Mclean, has a few spots left for his workshop at Power Station New England on February 22nd and 23rd. You can email him at CarterMcLean@gmail.com to reserve your spot and get more details.
Iconic Recording
Charley chose Buddy Rich as the artist for the iconic recording and Damon chose the song, “Channel One Suite”.
Music News
Dolly Parton has announced an open casting call for her new Broadway musical, “Dolly: An Original Musical.” Parton announced the call on Instagram stating the production is searching for performers of all ages. -Article
Here is the UPCOMING SCHEDULE for Broadway shows in 2025.
Damon mentions the Buena Vista Social Club show that will feature percussionists, Javier Diaz, Mauricio Herrera and Roman Diaz (who used to play with Yoruba Andabo).
Senator Richard Blumenthal hosted a press event at Hartford, Connecticut’s Infinity Music Hall to highlight the impact of predatory ticketing practices on local economics and live entertainment. To that end, he released an open letter to the FTC, demanding an investigation into deceptive ticketing practices and enforcement of the BOTS Act. -Article
Charley Poole Interview
The song leading into the interview is from Charley’s championship solo, titled “All-American”.
Damon first acquainted with Charley when he marched in the Cadets Drum Corps and Charley was a judge.
Charley is from Bristol, CT.
Charley works with the Boston Crusaders Senior Corps.
Charley’s father (Charley Poole Sr.) was in the Plainville Ancient Fife and Drum Corps.
One of Charley’s teachers was Bobby Redican.
Charley attended Boston College, got a degree in political science, and ultimately practiced law.
He also marched the Boston Crusaders in 1970 and 1971.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Mark Reilly.
Damon mentions musters. Charley talks about the Deep River Muster and some of the history around it.
Charley started in the St. Paul’s Drum Corps in 1956.
Charley mentions Bobby Thompson.
He also mentions Bobby’s students: Jimmy Hurley, and Bobby Craig.
He also mentions Rob Carson, Al Murray, and Paul Seaver.
Charley talks about the teacher Earl S. Sturtze and the book he wrote.
Most of this was taught aurally by rote.
Charley studied with Gerry Shellmer who also taught at Berklee and helped Charley learn how to read music.
Charley talks about the regional differences of rudimental drumming.
Damon brings up the presentation Charley, Brendan Mason and Mark Reilly did at this year’s PASIC.
Charley talks about the PASIC presentation they did.
Charley mentions Frank Arsenault, who taught Larry McCormack and Mitch Markovitch.
Shout-out to Marty Hurley, Jeff Prosperie and (friend of the show), Dr. John Wooton.
Charley talks about some of the innovation in drum corps over the years.
Damon counters Charley’s point about Brooklyn and New Haven being hot beds for marching percussion with those two locations also being hot beds for pizza.
Damon brings up drum corps inspections.
Shout-out to Joey Gaudet.
Charley taught the 1977 27th Lancers Drum Corps.
Charley weighs in on some of the current evolutions in pageantry. Shout-out to WGI.
Damon brings up how drumlines have integrated into pop culture.
Charley got his undergrad from Boston College, his Doctors Juris from the New England School of Law and then his Music Ed degree from Boston University.
Charley later taught at Everett High School.
Shout-out to Ralph Hardimon.
Charley talks about what he is up to in retirement.
Damon mentions “Crazy Army” and Charley picks the iconic recording.
Charley reached out later to disclose the name of the jazz club where he saw Buddy Rich. He said, “The club was called "Lennie's on the Pike". The owner and good friend of Buddy was Lennie, and I do not remember his last name. It was on Route One North in Peabody, MA.”
The full name of Lennie was Lennie Sogoloff.
This is not THE solo Charley references by Buddy Rich, but it is A solo from the same song. -DRUM SOLO.
Charley hints at a project he will be doing in the new year.
Charley mentions Bob Redican again and Gerry Shellmer.
Shout-out to Loyal Drums.
The song leading out of the interview is “Crazy Army” performed by Charley, Brendan Mason, and Mark Reilly.
