Best Percussionist

24.06% Kent Klee* 16.95% Todd Harrold* 13.39% Jerry Miller* 11.72% Kevin Jackson* 2.51% Toaster 2.30% Lou Grant 2.09% Josh Varney 1.88% Lance Hill, Nat Tuttle 1.46% Sean Rollins 1.26% Rich Lee, Todd Martz 1.05% Adam Rudolph, Jamie Simon, Kris Hensler, Phil Bradley, Phil Powers Others with Votes: Duane Alexander, Johnny D., Andy Gross, Dave Taylor, Jason Bair, Justin Gillespie, Troy Hixson, Charley Shirmeyer, Daniel Hall, Jason Berry, Matt Kever, Rick Durnell, Big Green Truck, Chuck Thomas, Dave Trevino, Dennis Lesh, Drew Bennett, Eric Adams, Gary Kiefaber, Geoff Montgomery, the guy from Gravity, Ian Mosher, Jeff Degitz, Jeff Skiver, Jeremy Sells, Jerry Foust, Joe from Industrial Strength, Kevin Hockaday, Larry Ford, Lee Kerlake, Mark Mettert, Matt Cashdollar, Mike from Heavy Step, Paul Siefert, Rick Schreiner, Ryan Otherson, Salsa Dave, Scott from Mouthpiece, Steve Smeltzer, Steve Sullivan-Doyle, J. Scott Kump, Terry Smith, Terry Vaughn, Tim Hare, Tim Sorrell, Tri State Killing Spree drummer, Vince Lutskus 2000 Winner: NA 1999 Winner: NA 1998 Winner: NA 1997 Winner: NA * On the ballot

There’s an old joke that goes something like, “What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? A drummer.” That may apply to some drummers, but certainly not to Kent Klee. Klee won the Whammy for Best Percussionist, beating out an A-list of nominees that included Jerry Miller, Todd Harrold and Kevin Jackson. “It was an honor to be on the ballot with such good drummers,” Klee said. “It was definitely a privilege. I’m extremely surprised. It’s very encouraging to be respected by your peers.” If there is a harder working drummer in Fort Wayne than Klee, well, uh, they must be working really hard. It’s hard to associate Klee with any one band because he plays with so many, seven or eight by his count, in addition to sitting in with a host of others. Fawn Liebowitz and David Todoran and the Mobile Homewreckers are perhaps the most visible of his associations. When he’s not keeping things rolling for them, he’s teaching the next generation of drummers through private lessons and at Snider and Homestead high schools. His students would be hard pressed to find a better, more experienced mentor. Klee is at home behind his kit whether he’s playing blues, rock, jazz, reggae, whatever. Having played around Fort Wayne for nearly two decades, Klee has seen the music scene change for the better. “It hasn’t really gotten any bigger in the 19 years I’ve been playing around here, but the camaraderie is a lot better.” It’s got a better beat, too.

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