Barrett Deems
1914–1998 (age 84)
Jazz drummer
Biography
Barrett Deems began playing drums as a youth in St. Louis, rising through the swing ranks with crisp timekeeping and exuberant solos that made him a first-call accompanist for Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats.
He carried that sense of joy through decades of performances, mentoring younger drummers and reminding audiences that the agility of rhythm and the warmth of a smile can lift spirits long after the final bar.