This web site is the start of a repository of materials and history being collected about the life of Al Germansky with a focus on his music career as a musician and master drum instructor.

Al was born in Newark, New Jersey USA in 1930. He started teaching in 1947 in Newark and later moved his studio to West Orange. He was an active drummer from the 1940s through the 1980s. Sadly, he passed away in 1993 (Eulogy).

• Newspaper Articles
• Pictures
• Al Germansky Drum School, City Music, Newark
• Performing on an album live with the Judd Woldin Trio

Notable Students

Several of Al's students went on to notable careers in jazz and drum education:

• Charli Persip, who studied with Al in Newark before going on to tour and record with Dizzy Gillespie's big and small bands.
• Jimmie Smith, who trained at the Al Germansky School for Drummers from 1951 to 1954 before a long career as a jazz drummer.
• Bobby Thomas, who began studying with Al at age 12 and later worked with Wes Montgomery and Junior Mance, and taught jazz at Rutgers University.
• Tiger Bill Meligari, developer of the Tension Free Drumming System, who credits Al as one of his first private instructors.

Stay tuned as this project continues to collect and post more information.

Thank you for visiting!
- Mitch, Al's son