PAUL KELLY

Our great friend and drumming buddy, Paul Kelly, passed away on November 30th after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Paul's wife Judy and the family were with him at the time. Judy and family: our thoughts and prayers for you continue during this most difficult period.

I first met Paul in Toronto when he joined the Canada's Marching Ambassadors Drum Corps in 1964. Paul was an outstanding drummer from the De La Salle Drum Corps and, having aged-out, decided to continue drumming with a Senior Corps. He performed with the Ambassadors from 1964 through 1967 and was the Canadian Individual Champion for Tenor Drum in 1965. Paul and his family moved to Montreal in late 1967 where he instructed the Metropolitan Drum Corps. Paul was a member of the Canadian Judges Association (CJA). He also judged for DCA. In 1994 Paul joined the Drum Corps Associates Toronto (DCAT) choir, where he performed both as a choir member and soloist — plus served as their President from 2002 to 2005. Paul was one of the original members of our CADRE drumming organization. His support for, and dedication to, CADRE will not be forgotten.

Paul was an outstanding drummer. A drummer and - until his passing - a dedicated student and supporter of the rudimental art form. Paul never stopped learning. I still remember his positive attitude,enthusiasm and work ethic when he was introduced to lifts and levels, Stone's stick control, coordinated hand independence and upper level solos such as Tribute to Doctor Berger, Running The Flam Accent etc. He was a perfect student. As an instructor I will never forget Paul, Rick Hosie and Bill Selfe as a tenor drum section playing their "book" and going contest-after-contest with an absolute minimum of execution errors. They were simply outstanding by any standard.

Some personal and fond memories…

Blood, sweat, tears and discipline at the Shell Tower... talking about rudimental drumming ‘till closing time at the Palace Hotel... watching him learn to read and write music with all those damn questions... the day he and Mosley presented me with their “chicken scratching” entitled "The Ambassadors Field Presentation" which they had concocted on a Toronto street car (I still have their original)… the "Pit" (downtown Toronto) and so on.

Let me conclude with what Paul was all about. Scranton PA, September 2005: CADRE's “Red Shirt” group had just finished rehearsing. Kelly (I very seldom called him Paul) and I have a long talk… family… the great guys… the drumming… the judging… etc… just the two of us. Then he tells me he wants to play something. OK... go ahead. This guy - as sick and as weak as he was from the cancer treatments, and as tired as he was from the rehearsal - stands up and plays "Running The Flam Accent" on a rudimental bass drum!!!! Some drummers reading this piece will understand the significance of that. For those who don't, contact me... I'll send you the solo.

Kelly had all the D & B's you could ever want from a drumming buddy. He's up there in the big practice pad in the sky still learning about the rudimental art form and looking for Jimmy Inrig so they can prepare a future drum line for all of us. We just lost another great one. For your information., D & B’s means dedication and balls.

Kelly ... I'll never forget you.

Fred Johnson
December 2/05