History of Rock n/ Roll Drumming

Our speaker will be Past District Governor Alan Havir.  Alan will share with us his rock n’ roll music background and give us a history of Rock n’ Roll drumming.  He and his band have performed in many venues, including arenas in Phoenix and Las Vegas.

In the years of 1962 thru 1966 music history was in the making with a high school band called “The Four Glads” performing at all the major Phoenix night clubs, in Las Vegas with “The Beatles” as a cover band, and being tutored by “The Rat Pack” for comedy and how professional shows go together from the famous comedian, Joey Bishop and singer/actor Sammy Davis Jr.  The lead drummer of The Four Glads was Alan Havir, now an Arizona D5495 Past District Governor (PDG).in Rotary year 2011-12 and member of the Rotary Club of Paradise Valley.

After Alan received his bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Arizona State University and master’s degree in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University, he moved to Los Angeles to travel and perform with several musicians from 1976 through 1994, and then back to Phoenix in 1995.

As a Rotarian, he has:

• Promoted and performed in Rotary concerts with “The Kingston Trio.”
• Performed in the 2007-08 Phoenix Rock and Roll Marathon as “The Arizona Rotary Blues Band” for the Rotary Gift of Life-Arizona Foundation.
• Wrote and directed “You’re a Good Rotarian” stage production for several large Rotary Foundation Dinners
• Produced and directed Rotary events such as the Southwest Presidents, President Elects, Treasurers and Secretaries (PETS) Conference, and several west coast District Conferences, and the Zone 26-27 Institute

After 63 years of professionally playing drums, he currently performs with his daughter, Ayana, at local Phoenix area events and enjoys speaking to Rotary clubs and Rotary Youth Leadership Award camps (RYLS) on “The History of Rock Drums”.