Trade Regrets: Tom Float

On October 5, Remo, Inc. shared the following sad news:

The Remo family mourns the passing of drum corps and marching legend Tom Float.

Inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2004, Tom was a legendary teacher to countless drummers from the mid-1970s to the present. His tenures include the Anaheim Kingsmen, Sacramento Freelancers, Oakland Crusaders, Velvet Knights, Spirit of Atlanta, and The Blue Devils, where he won four consecutive high percussion awards from 1983-86. He also wrote for and led drumming groups at Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

He was a highly dedicated marching consultant to Remo, Inc., and spent the last fifteen years of his life developing and marketing Tama’s renowned line of marching percussion. It’s safe to say that if you have marched in the past 40 years, the design and performance of your drums, sticks, cymbals, and drumheads have been influenced by Tom Float. Tom changed the game for every drummer, educational event, organization, and drum manufacturer whose path he crossed. His expertise, sincerity, and one-of-a-kind sense of humor will be missed by all. We extended our deepest sympathy to Tom’s wife, Catherine.