A Message from Dave (8.09) :

As many of you know, we lost use of the original Wally’s Drums location at 514 7th st. following a fire in January ’07. After months of frustration and rebuilding, we finally resumed business in Oregon City at at location a bit further up the hill from Wally's and at long last, continued carving out a niche as the Northwest’s premier percussive resource.

Within the last few months, along with our fellow retail comrades, we’ve experienced a growing decline in sales spurred by the ongoing economic downturn. It would seem even the “bread and butter” things like musical instruments can and must be sacrificed. Our school music programs are hurting as well, and it pains deeply me to watch this trend continue. 

The resulting struggle has effected the ability to maintain the store’s universal retail hours and lasting viability while simultaneously supporting and growing our new percussive entity, OffWorld Percussion in it’s multiple facets, along with pro audio recording pursuits at GP Studios. Despite a lengthy fight I’ve come to the difficult decision to conclude operations and close up shop, at least for now..

I consider myself unofficially/sentimentally connected with Wally's and as always direct all in-town music related business there. I will continue to be available as an outside percussion consultant, and glad to travel to access/repair your current equipment, including, timpani tuning/repair, drumkits and the like. I’m equipped to continue presenting hands-on classical and marching percussion clinics to benefit students at MS and HS levels on request. Please contact me anytime let me know how I can be a benefit your program. Call me direct at 360.921.6988.

I will continue updating and contributing to this website at every free moment I can. It will manifest a sort of hub for all things percussion- related happening in the greater Northwest. You can expect to see videos, links, bios, stories and anything else I feel worthy of mention. Feel free to contact me direct anytime if you have something you would like to contribute to this page here.

I wanted to take an opportunity to offer my sincerest thanks to all of those who have directed your business to and supported my percussive outlet for the years running both Wally’s Drums and more recently Dave’s Pro Drums.  It’s been a labor of love for sure and this endeavor would never have survived for so long without you guys ...you know who you are.

It has been an honor serving all of you, we’ll see you again real soon.

Cheers,

DAVE

PROUD DEALERS OF :

Jeff Cumpston 1956 - 2009

We lost an amazingly gifted educator and performer recently. Jeff died as a result of an accident while in hiatus in Zimbabwe 8.9.09. More information regarding his life and legacy available here : http://blog.cumpston.us

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff in early 2001 shortly after landing the job at Wally’s Music in OC. I remember my former boss Steve bringing him over into the drum shop saying “you need to get to know this guy”. Suffice it to say it always a great honor whenever he graced the store to outfit his WLHS percussion section with gear, or just to hang out. Upon visiting his band room it had to be the most well equipped, cleanest and best laid out of any I’ve ever seen. Always a supporter of the “mom and pop” sized business like ours, he was ever devoted to focusing business on us despite lower “Wallmart-priced” options existing everywhere. For this I’ll always be grateful.

I’ve never failed to site Jeff’s craft while explaining to others the epitome of what a band director should really be.. caring, loving, motivational, incomparably authoritative, witty, musically gifted and deeply inspirational in every since of the word. He was dedicated to his kids 1000%. Anything less of an learning experience offered to our students, in my opinion, will never cut it.

Jeff was always considered one of the go-to Portland-based

pros both within the classical and jazz idioms. I was lucky enough to see him play the kit on a number of occasions, most notably filling in for Mel’s ensemble at the old Jimmy Macs... never heard anything quite close to it. He had this incredible frenetic energy and tempered power about his drumming that hinted at the decades of performance… Amazing, jaw-dropping virtuosity that never let up.

Probably one of the coolest things I’ve seen is how effortlessly he joined in with his students to perform at concerts. The novelty and importance of this, not only to witness but as an terrific experience for the kids themselves, cannot be overstated.

Once, off the cuff he started ripping it up on this used radio shack-special tabletop electronic kits we had in the store.. he made that little thing sound like a million dollars.

I heard at the last minute about the tribute last year and made it just in time to see the astounded look on his face when he walked into the auditorium…priceless. That was a really great day.

The last time I saw Jeff he stopped in my store unexpectedly in late June to pick up some sticks for a show that evening and whipped out some of his formative rudimental chops on a drum pad I’d been working on. I spontaneously gave him a hug because I didn’t realize he was actually back in town and what a privilege it was to see him. When I invited him over to our place for a BBQ he said “if I had a nickel for everyone who said that recently”.

I feel privileged to have known such a gifted and amazing person. Words cannot describe the sadness I experience knowing he’s left us. My heart aches for his family and friends. His legacy will last forever within the legions touched by his spirit.  Jeff was a true inspiration to me, I will miss him dearly. (below : one of the last videos taken of Jeff’s jazz performance, doing what he loved.)

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