This yar continues to take its deadly toll not only on show business as such but also on the drumming community. We are saddened to learn that on John Craviotto – founder and CEO of the Craviotto Drum Company – passed away on July 15.
John Craviotto started out as a professional drummer and spent the 1970’s working with such American music institutions as Neil Young or Ry Cooder.
Having taken a leave from music in the early 1980’s, the man took up boat building. In the mid-80’s, Craviotto teamed up with Billy Gibson, drummer of Huey Lewis & The News. They launched a drum company called Select Drum Company (later changed to Solid Drum Company).
Having developed his own steam-bending technique, he formed a partnership with Don Lombardi and Craviotto snare drums were available as part of Drum Workshop’s catalogs for about 10 years.
At the begining of the third millenium, John Craviotto started a new and, as it turns out, his final venture, i.e. Craviotto Drum Company.
