Pasadena-Based Los Angeles College of Music to Honor Ralph Humphrey with Posthumous Scholarship

Pasadena’s Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) will create a posthumous drumming scholarship in honor of Ralph Humphrey, a founding member of the school and its Drum Head for 27 years, who died on April 25, 2023. Humphrey co-founded the school in 1996 along with Frank Gambale & Joe Porcaro. The Los Angeles College of Music will be holding a memorial at their Pasadena campus in late August where details of the scholarship will be announced.

Humphrey was a working professional musician/drummer and teacher in the Los Angeles area, spanning over 55 years. He was best known for touring and recording with the Don Ellis Big Band from 1968-73, and later Frank Zappa from 1973-74. He also worked with Al Jarreau, The Manhattan Transfer, Babaghanoush, Free Flight, The Outsidemen, Natalie Cole, The Tierney Sutton Band, and locally with the greats of Mendocino County, and a host of other individuals and groups.

As the Drum Department chair at LACM, Humphrey created the curriculum for the department and authored two drum method books, Even in the Odds published by Barnhouse and more recently Rhythm By The Numbers, published by Alfred. He endorsed Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks and Prologic practice pads.

LACM President Tom Aylesbury said, “Ralph changed the lives of so many drum students, both personally and professionally. Those of you that performed with or studied under Ralph knew of his character and dedication to the drumming community. He was a dedicated musician, educator, husband and father. I am honored to have to have known Ralph for the past 27 years. He will be missed.”

The LACM Foundation provides financial assistance to aspiring musicians in the form of scholarship funding toward the pursuit of a college degree in music, as well as to offer support to organizations working to develop and educate young musicians as they grow toward the age of college entrance. For more visit the LACM Foundation at https://lacm.edu/foundation/.