Also known as: Blaine, Hal
Origin: Holyoke, MA, USA
Born Harold Simon Belsky on February 5, 1929, in the central Massachusetts town of Holyoke, Hal Blaine is considered by many to have been one of the most prolific and influential American drummers of all time. He picked up the sticks about a year after moving with his family to Hartford, CT at age 7, and then relocated out to California with them again in his early teens. At age 20, he took lessons from Roy Knapp, who had also mentored jazz drummer Gene Krupa. He got his start playing in seedy Chicago clubs and then his career took off after becoming a member of Count Basie's big band. Unlike …