| In Memoriam Maurie Lishon
Franks Drum Shop was located in the heart of Chicago's loop on the fourth floor at 226 S. Wabash. As one would enter the "shop," as Maurie and Jan would always call it, one was in awe. Maurie and Jan often said that they wanted the feeling of stepping off the elevator at Franks to be much like the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the doors to Dorothy's house opened onto the land of Oz and the movie went from black-and-white to color. They wanted people to feel special once they stepped off the elevator into Maurie's playground. They wanted people to come in and be part of Maurie's colorful world of drums and percussion. As you entered the shop you were greeted not as a customer but as if you were entering Maurie and Jan's home and you were coming to a family reunion as part of the family. In fact, everyone who entered Franks Drum Shop soon became part of Maurie and Jan's "shop" family. When the shop would feature one of its monthly clinics, it was indeed a family reunion-a drummers' family reunion. Among the customers, many life-long friendships were started at those Franks Drum Shop clinics. Famous drummers of the day would always come to Franks to say hi to Maurie and Jan. If you were there, it would be common for Maurie to introduce you to Buddy, Gene, or Louie, and Maurie would say to them, "Hey, I want you to meet one of my kids." Everyone who entered Franks had a special place in Maurie's heart. Maurie and Jan Lishon were partners in life and in the workplace. When one thinks of Franks Drum Shop one thinks of Maurie and Jan. They were never apart. They were considered one unit, as if their name was "MaurieandJan." This past year they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They touched the lives of thousands of people who entered Maurie's world of drums and percussion. Maurie Lishon had a special way of encouraging a young drummer to do better. If you did not do better and live up to his expectation of you, he had no problem telling you of his disappointment. People throughout the country are among Maurie and Jan's "kids"-members of their "shop" family. Maurie was a father figure to so many. Once you became a member of his "shop" family he became your "musical/drummer father." You would go to him for advice, encouragement, inspiration, counsel, etc. And he would never let you down. Franks was a place in which one could just hang out and spend the day. Maurie would make you feel at home and start talking drums and percussion. The talks could last for hours. In those talks he was selling-not products but the love and passion of drums, percussion, and music. It is amazing how many have been influenced by Maurie Lishon. It is amazing how many of Maurie's "kids" now have the title "Doctor" before their name; how many are professional musicians; how many are drum teachers; how many are in the drum/percussion industry; how many have a better appreciation for drums and percussion because they were one of Maurie's "kids." Maurie will be missed by his "shop" family. They are who they are in part because of Maurie Lishon. Maurie would often joke by saying "Franks for the memories" instead of "Thanks for the memories." Maurie, we now say "Franks for the memories" to you, and thanks for being Maurie Lishon. A scholarship in Maurie's memory and Jan's honor has been established
at PAS. Donations can be made to:
I share your love and respect for Maury and Jan. They were the warmest, sympathetic and outgoing people ever in the drum shop/percussion center establishments in this country. They provided the best services, education and camaraderie for professional and student. They were supreme as people with heart, warmth and loving friendship. George Gaber
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Maurie
Lishon-famous staff musician, show drummer, PAS Hall-of-Famer,
and friend to thousands-is best remembered as owner of Chicago's
legendary Franks Drum Shop. To understand the philosophy and atmosphere
of Franks Drum Shop one must understand Maurie and Jan.
