Massachusetts Legendary Jazz Drummer Roy Haynes Was a Pioneer

The world lost a musical genius, and Massachusetts surrendered another talented native when legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes died recently.

Born in the Roxbury section of Boston on March 13, 1925, Roy Haynes, a pioneer of modern jazz, kept beat for the best musicians and finest vocalists from Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane to Miles Davis and Billie Holiday to Sarah Vaughn.

JazzWax.com stated, "Sarah Vaughn liked to play around with his name when introducing him during performances. She'd say 'Roy' and leave a space for Roy to add a bass drum fill before saying 'Haynes.'"

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An example is a live version of the Vaughn original "Shulie-A-Bop" recorded in 1954. Hearing it was my first real introduction to Roy Haynes. The song is available on most music streaming services.

NPR.org reported Haynes described his block growing up in Roxbury as "a mixture of French Canadian, Jewish, Irish and Black families from the South."

Haynes's parents Gustavus and Edna were from Barbados. NPR said both were active in the church.

"Both sang and Gustavus played the organ in church," the site said.

NPR said Haynes "took an early lesson from a Roxbury drummer named Herbie Wright" and studied briefly at the Boston Conservatory before dropping out of Roxbury Memorial High School.

Haynes reportedly met his "hero," former Count Basie drummer Jo Jones, after "talking his way backstage at a Basie gig at the RKO Boston Theater, claiming to be Jones' son."

After performing in Boston, Haynes left for the jazz clubs in New York City by 1945. During his career, Haynes won many awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jazz Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

Haynes died in Nassau County, New York on November 12, 2024. He was 99.