Hal Blaine

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Birth Date
Deceased Date
Job Title
Musician, Drummer
Tags
Jazz, Drums, Elvis Presley, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Studio Musicians, The Wrecking Crew, The Carpenters, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Gene Krupa, Hal Blaine, Rock and Roll, Multiple Interviews, Comedy, The Beach Boys, Deceased, Barbra Streisand, Musicians Hall of Fame

Hal Blaine was perhaps the most recorded drummer from the California recording studios of the 1950s-'70s.  His influential style can be heard on more than 170 number one hit songs and 450 tunes that made the top 40 on the charts during those decades.  His beat can be heard on hundreds of albums by artists ranging from the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley to the Carpenters and Barbra Streisand.  As a creative performer, Hal became one of the early studio players to gain such notoriety that he was asked to endorse drum kits, heads and sticks. Shortly after the opening of the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA, Hal attended a drum exhibit and spoke to the guests about his long career in music.  At the time he enjoyed the museum displays enough to leave behind the noted drum kit that he used on many of his record dates.  The kit remains in the museum in honor of Hal's many contributions to music.