Joe Morello
July 17, 1928 – March 12, 2011
Joe Morello was a world renowned jazz drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his 12-year run with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Morello had a birth defect that partially impaired his vision, so he tended to spend much of his free time participating in indoor activities . He took up the violin first and soon found himself as a featured soloist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. At the age of 15, he switched over to the drums and eventually moved to New York City to further his career. It was there he began playing with the likes of Stan Kenton, Art Pepper, and Brubeck to name a few. He actually declined offers to play with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Over a career that spanned over 50 years, Morello played on at least 120 albums, 60 of those being Brubeck’s. He also wrote several instruction books and became a highly regarded instructor – Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen and Conan O’Brien fame was one of his many successful students. Joe Morello was 82 when he passed away in his home.
You can learn more about Joe Morello by watching THIS INTERVIEW for the National Association of Music Merchants.
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