John “Jake” Hanna
April 4, 1931 – February 12, 2010
Jake Hanna was a respected jazz drummer who was known for his sense of timing and his ability to play well within either a big band or small combo setting. Over the course of his career, he played with the likes of Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Bing Crosby, and Duke Ellington. He became a familiar face to American television viewers when he joined Merv Griffin’s band during the early ’60s. Hanna was 78 when he died from complications of bone marrow disease on February 12, 2010.