Rhythm Band Instruments, LLC has announced the acquisition of the assets of Grover Pro Percussion, Inc. Since 1979 Grover Pro has produced and sold the finest orchestral percussion instruments in the world, including its signature Super OvertoneTMtriangles, Projection PlusTMtambourines and concert snare drums, all of which are designed and manufactured in the USA and sold world-wide.
Grover Pro was founded and run by Neil Grover who has performed for over 40 years with both the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. He can be heard on many Boston Pops recordings as well as movie scores like “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and Phillip Glass’ “Mishima,”. Neil has performed the around the globe with Henry Mancini, Music From Marlboro, the Broadway production of The Pirates of Penzance, and in over 50 concert tours with the famed Boston Pops. He appeared, as a percussionist, in the movie “Blown Away” starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, and has even performed with Aerosmith. Neil is one of the field’s most requested clinicians, in demand across the country and around the world. He has written or co-authored five publications published by Meredith Music and written educational articles for numerous music magazines. He is the former Chair of the Percussion Programs at both the Boston Conservatory and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and has served on the Board of Directors of the Percussive Arts Society.
“We are thrilled to be able to work with Neil Grover and to offer as a key component of our RBI Music initiative, the world-class instruments and accessories that Neil has designed,” said Brad Kirkpatrick, President of Rhythm Band. “For as long as I’ve been in the music industry, Neil has designed products with the performer in mind. He’s performed for years with the Boston Symphony and the Pops so, he knows percussion, and all of the products he produces are exceptional.”
Rhythm Band Instruments has been distributing musical instruments and music education material from Fort Worth, Texas for nearly 60 years. In 2009, the company acquired the Boomwhackers® brand of tuned musical tubes and, in 2016 it acquired the Toca Percussion® brand of hand percussion instruments. These and a multitude of other brands are distributed world-wide via RBI Music.
“I’m really excited to be joining RBI and I intend to remain very active in the design of new products for RBI, as well as continuing a role I’ve always enjoyed in demonstrating and teaching percussion techniques to both professionals and students. What I’ve been most impressed with though, is how professionally RBI has approached the acquisition of our brand. I’m confident that our artists, vendors and dealers will not even notice the changes that naturally come with an acquisition. RBI has planned the transition with great attention to detail, so we’re not going to miss a beat. I’m confident that, with their existing distribution machine and ability to improve Grover Pro marketing, the brand I created will flourish.”
