Roy Haynes Receives George Peabody Medal

Drummer Roy Haynes has been awarded the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America at graduation ceremonies for the Peabody Conservatory, the musical arm of John Hopkins University.

Haynes, who turned 87 this year, has been hugely influential on several generations of drummers thanks to his development of new techniques for the snare drum and cymbals.

Haynes began his career in the 40s playing with Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Moving through the 50s and beyond Haynes continued to play with many of the greatest jazz artists in history including John Coltrane, Chick Corea and Sarah Vaughn.

Established in 1980, the George Peabody Medal has been awarded to several other jazz performers, composers and producers. Among them, Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson, Quincey Jones and Wynton Marsalis.