Biography

JACK GILFOY is a native of Indianapolis. He has BM (music) and MS (education) degrees from Indiana University where he was the first jazz drummer to complete a degree in percussion. Along the way Jack got to study jazz drumming with Shelly Manne and Joe Morello. Jack has been a professional musician for over 40 years. He is perhaps best know as a jazzman/"drummist" having performed with greats such as Errol Garner, Teddy Wilson, Jim Cullum, Ken Peplowski, Allen Vache, Harry Warren, Bob Snyder, Milt Hinton and Doc Severinson.
Add "Gigs" with the big bands of Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Larry Elgart, Nelson Riddle, Al Cobine and Buselli/Wallarab. For 30 years Jack toured the World as personal concert/TV show drummer for Henry Mancini. As a jazz educator Jack may well be the only "drummist" to have worked with the ABC's of jazz education, Jamie Aebersold-David Baker-Jerry Coker.

On the pop side of music Gilfoy performed with The Four Preps, Sonny & Sher, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson and even Elvis (1971). As for classical music Jack has played with the Indianapolis Symphony, the Chamber Brass Choir, the Bloomington and Columbus Pops Orchestras and the Sonic Boom Percussion group. (During the Mancini years Jack performed with almost every major symphony in the US, Canada, Australia and Japan). Country? How about the Wright Brothers? Christian? How about Bill Gaither and Sandy Patti? Oh yes, even a few circus shows.

Currently Jack books his own trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet and the Jazz State Of Indiana big band for everything from school concerts to church services, community concerts, festivals, weddings and corporate events.

Gilfoy is the Director of Jazz & Music Business Studies at the Indiana University School Of Music at IUPUI (19th year). He has taught jazz drumming at IU/Bloomington and Ball State University and is currently an associate editor for the Percussive Arts Society journal. As time permits, Jack also gives private drum lessons by appointment.