Grassella Oliphant
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Oral History Information
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Job Title
Musician, Drummer
Grassella Oliphant was a drummer is entire life and it is what he loved to do. During his long career, he played back-up for a host of jazz and blues performers as well as singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Gloria Lynne. Beginning in the 1950s, Grassella’s long association with the drum industry began as an endorser of Ludwig and later with Rodgers. He tested several products including the never-to-be produced snare stand that attached to the bass drum. Several of his early recordings have been made available on CD and even into his 80s, Grass led a band that performed monthly in New York.