Drummer #27 Drummers I’ve seen and heard in my lifetime
Ron Hefner-Captain Beefheart-Robert Wyatt
I’ve written about various drummers I saw and heard during the early 70s. Drummer #27 is a good friend and fantastic drummer, Ron Hefner. I met and heard Ron in Orlando, the year was approximately 1972. He was playing a funky lounge show bar on the OBT, aka Orange Blossom Trail. Ron was playing with another old friend, Glenn Lee. They had been traveling on the road and were now living in Orlando.
Musicians with their skill could find a 5-6 night a week gig in those days.
Ron and Glenn were different than the musicians I’d been working with. Though they were playing commercial Top-40 music, their taste was Jazz and Avant Garde. Hanging out with Ron and Glenn, I discovered the music of Sun Ra, Captain Beefheart, Art Ensemble of Chicago, John Cage, Terry Riley, Soft Machine and more. Ron told me about various jazz drummers including Max Roach, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Alan Dawson. He also “turned me on” to Beefheart drummer - John French, Soft Machine Drummer – Robert Wyatt – Tony Oxley – Milford Graves – Han Bennick and many more.
When I heard Ron he was playing a set of Bronze Finish Fibes. They sounded fantastic, loud and resonant. Ron played traditional and match grip. He could play in the style of Mitch Mitchell. He also had a back beat groove like Levon Helm. I learned a lot from my observation and improvisation sessions with Ron. Swing was always a part of Ron’s articulation.
Ron is now retired from music and his day gig as a Professor of English in Fort Myers, Florida. Musicians of Ron’s caliber are a classic tradition from that period. As a true professional drummer, Ron played every kind of venue for decades. These include Jazz Clubs, Show Rooms, Hotel Lounges, Bars, Restaurants, Concerts, and Churches.
In 2023, the professional musician/drummer in the style of Ron Hefner has vanished. (Music and Gigs to play music are not what they use to be in the old days)
The music business world is always changing. Tommy Thomas (1901-1995) my teacher and drummer started his music career playing in Vaudeville and Silent Movies. Talkies eliminated those theatre gigs when the technology of film with sound became popular.
I remember Ron by name. And Captain Beefheart. Forgot all about them until reading this. That would be an unpopular name with today's Vegan crowd.