Don Lamond #35 - Beyond the Sea - Charlie Parker - Woody Herman
100 drummers I’ve seen and heard in my lifetime
Drummer # 35 – Don Lamond (1920-2003)
I met Don Lamond in 1974. After commuting back and forth to gigs in Saint Pete, Tampa and Clearwater, my drivers license was suspended for one year. I had exceeded my number of points from multiple traffic offences, mainly speeding tickets.
What would I do now? Unable to drive, I frantically applied for a day gig at Discount Music, in Orlando.
(The right place at the right time, they hired me)
I would manage the drum department. This also included general sales from the complete store, guitars, amps, keyboards, sound equipment, picks and strings.
I rented a place downtown, I could walk to my new day gig. I also rode a bicycle. It was good exercise. I really got in shape.
The store manager was a trumpet player, familiar with big bands. I was in my drum department when he walked in with a very hip looking guy. He introduced me to Don Lamond, told me a little about Don and his reputation. I was unfamiliar with him in 1974. Don was hired to play drums in the Top of the World Band, at Walt Disney World. This was in the Contemporary Hotel.
Working my day gig at the music store, various drummers that played in different bands at Walt Disney World would come into the store. It was a white-collar gig compared to the lounge lizard establishments I was accustom to.
In Orlando, 1974, there were various opportunities to play music on your instrument, as a professional musician.
There were several venues-entertainment providers that employed full time musicians. Circus World and Rosie O’Gradys. Established musicians were doubling down and working both gigs. I went out to Circus World and observed one day. It would have been a cool gig, playing Badabooms for trapeze artist, clowns and jugglers.
I continued to recognize that my current skills as a player were good for the general nightclub scene, but if I wanted to get a gig at Walt Disney World, I would need to learn how to read. I was seeing a different level of drummers and musicians in the Orlando area.
In 2023, I know who Don Lamond was, his legendary history as a great drummer. I eventually heard Don play several times. Though he was known as a big band drummer, he was an excellent small group player.
Don Lamond played with Charlie Parker and replaced Davy Tough in the Woody Herman’s, First Herd in 1945. Don Lamond’s discography is a long list of well known recording artist. Ruth Brown, Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Stan Getz, Harry James, Hank Jones, Quincy Jones, Herbie Mann, Howard McGee, Carmen McRae, Chico O’Farrill, George Russell, Nelson Riddle, Johnny Smith, Cootie Williams, Charlie Parker.
I heard Don several times when he played at The Village Lounge at Walt Disney World. He had a very articulate ride cymbal swing style without displaying a lot of unnecessary chops.
Don Lamond is the drummer on the classic tune recorded in 1959 by Bobby Darin called, Beyond The Sea. I’ve seen video and written interviews with many Rock drummers who talk about Don’s legendary fill in that tune.
If you can find it, Don published a paperback with great inside information and stories. I seem to remember Don saying that his performance on that tune was a first take, thought to be a rehearsal run through.
Badaboom
I’ve been told many times by drummers in casual conversation, ‘I sound like ————‘ it’s usually interesting. Maybe I did at that time. In 1978, I was playing a music reception in Orlando, I think it was the Florida Music Educators convention. I was a student at University of Central Florida. It was our jazz band rhythm section, a good trio. I think John Lamb, the great bassist from Duke Ellington, was sitting in. Louie Bellson showed up. He told me as he was walking to get to our location, he thought it was Don Lamond, playing, referring to me. I didn’t think much about it at the time. Louie Bellson sat in on my Fibes drumset, he sounded like Louie Bellson. Hearing him play again with John Lamb was great. They were with Duke many years.