Dom Famularo: ‘Enrich, Educate, Empower’

If ever there were a role model for the music industry to enshrine, it would be Dom Famularo. For those that didn’t know Dom, you might ask, “Why?” That part of the story is easy to tell.

Dom Famularo was the embodiment of leadership. As someone I would call “The Ambassador of Drumming,” he set the example for that which every young musician should strive. I could list all his accolades, but that list would take up the entire magazine, so let me focus on a few outstanding achievements and reflect on his unique career, and the multifaceted approach he took in attaining mastery.

Let’s start with Dom’s prowess on his instrument – the drums. His expert technique was a blend of charming, “old school” showmanship and the belief that students were best served by an educator’s voice. It was this combination of elements that made his drum clinics so infectious and memorable. He could have stopped at master musician, but not Dom. He also could have stopped at mesmerizing performer, but not Dom and, surely, after attaining his master educator status, he could have stopped there. But again, not Dom. His persona was infectious, and his intent was to inspire you! Dom never felt that he was above anyone. Rather, his passion in life was to elevate others. He walked that walk and lived that passion; and that is the takeaway we need to learn from him.

Dom revered the masters. He was almost kid-like about it. When he spoke of his relationships with other drum masters, he became animated as he shared his amazing stories. Yet, as connected to the greats as he was, he never forced ego on anyone. In fact, he did just the opposite. When you would share time with him, he made sure that you became the story. That is mastery! Dom’s great secret was to make you the star. He was gifted at that skill.

I will share a personal story that I don’t often tell, but now seems like the right time and place. I was at a NAMM Show, and while visiting the cymbal section, I crossed paths with Dom at his Sessions booth. Earlier, I had attended “The Sessions: Jeff Beck Tribute,” and I wanted to say hello and tell him how great the seminar was. Dom was as gracious as ever and, as always, we began swapping drum stories and sharing humor for a good bit. As we continued, Peter Erskine saw Dom and walked up to say hello. Imagine if you were a football fanatic and while you were chatting with Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes walked up and joined the conversation. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Peter Erskine fan and, as the next few minutes unfolded, Dom did the simplest thing and, by doing so, he took the need for any introductions away. He simply said, “Menzie, you’re great with a camera. Will you catch a picture of this moment, and send it to me?” The “old school” skillset is that Dom made the moment inclusive! That was always Dom’s way. He never failed to lift everyone up! Dom didn’t do hierarchy, and he always made the whole room a stage, and anyone standing in the room was part of the show and, therefore, deserved respect.

I will close by sharing thoughts on Dom’s work with The Sessions Panel. As most folks know, The Sessions is an educational platform led by author and photographer Jules Follett. Her coffee table book, Sticks ‘n’ Skins is a unique photojournalistic work that features over 500 pages of the music industry’s most notable drummers. Dom was the lead voice for The Sessions panels. The Sessions interviews and YouTube videos have always been some of the best educational material available to all rising musicians, especially drummers. Whether The Sessions panels were held at a NAMM Show, or at a leading university, the quality of the educational content was elite, and will fortunately be memorialized for young musicians to steal from for years to come. The Sessions team took the careful steps to preserve The Sessions interviews. You can find them all on The Sessions website and on YouTube.

The music industry and the drumming community have lost a unique voice, and one not easily replaced. But the humor here is that Dom was so brilliant, and such a unique educator, that he left us a road map to excellence with his body of work. He penned several drum methods and recorded countless “artist interview” videos. He was revered by all the greats, be they fellow musicians, educators, or manufacturers.

Dom – you were an irreplaceable gift, and you will be missed!