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Article: Shaping the sound of percussion for 30 years: how old-world values molded Mike Balter, his company, and an entire industry.(PERCUSSION 2007)
- Article from:
- Music Trades
- Article date:
- November 1, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Music Trades Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]
Late jazz legend Lionel Hampton was buried holding a pair of Mike Balter 23R vibe mallets. As Mike Balter observes his company's 30th anniversary, he takes pride in this fact just as he takes pride in every keyboard, concert, ensemble, or drum corps mallet that bears his name. He is among a handful of "originals" who changed not only the percussion industry, but the way percussion instruments are perceived and played.
From a young age Mike Balter was a serious student of percussion. "Dean of Percussion" Roy Knapp, who had previously taught Baby Dodds, Sid Catlett, Gene Krupa, and Louie Bellson and was a mainstay of the Chicago ...