By DAN ARMONAITIS
The first time Marshall Tucker Band co-founder Paul T. Riddle ever heard the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet recording of “Take Five,” which featured Joe Morello on drums, it was over the phone.
Riddle was just a kid and his drum teacher, David Haddox, called the Riddle home in Spartanburg and enthusiastically played the jazz standard for his young student.
“I’ll never forget that,” said Riddle, who now gives drum lessons in Greenville. “I always hope that when I’m teaching that I can inspire someone the way (Haddox) inspired me. … He’s the reason I play drums. He’s the reason I’m teaching right now.”
Haddox, who most recently taught at Roper Music in Spartanburg, died Monday, Dec. 9, succumbing to a months-long battle with cancer at age 74.
“I just loved him,” Riddle said. “He was a sweetheart and just had the kindest heart. And I loved the excitement he had for music.”
Riddle recalled being only 12 or 13 years old when Haddox would invite him to sit in on gigs with his jazz band at the Longhorn Supper Club in Spartanburg.
“My father would have to go with me because I was too young to go in,” Riddle said. “So, because of David, I got to play with all these big ole grown up men playing real serious music. I got to play with Jack Green, who was a great trombone player from Spartanburg; (famed jazz musician) Urbie Green was his brother, and he taught Urbie to play.”
A Spartanburg native, Haddox was a longtime music educator with a distinguished background that included playing in Jerry Lee Lewis’ touring band and accompanying artists ranging from country music hit-maker Billy “Crash” Craddock to legendary gospel group The Mighty Clouds of Joy and seminal R&B outfit The Soul Survivors.
“He did all this stuff, and he would talk about it if it came up, but he wouldn’t bring it up himself,” said Spartanburg-based singer-songwriter Fayssoux McLean, who took drum lessons from Haddox in recent years. “He was never one to toot his own horn at all.”
McLean, who described Haddox as “just a funny, sweet and kind person,” said she’d always try to persuade him to go public with the many fascinating stories he told in private.
“There was this one story he told about Fats Domino coming to town for a concert at the (Spartanburg Memorial) Auditorium,” McLean said. “It must have been in the late ’50s or something like that. (Haddox) was in the street and he saw Fats Domino pull up in a limousine … And Fats noticed that there were some menacing looking boys around, so he said to David and his friend, ‘you don’t need to be hanging around here,’ and he took them home and gave them tickets to the show.
“And I thought that was darling. That’s he kind of thing people need to know, but, for some reason, he didn’t want to talk (publicly) about it.”
In the mid 1970s, Haddox played in a jazz outfit with country star David Ball. The group played regularly at former Spartanburg nightspot Hooly’s during a period in which Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood, Ball’s cohorts in Uncle Walt’s Band, were playing with another pre-Americana band known as The Contenders.
“Everybody loved Dave Haddox’s drumming,” Ball said. “He was a real pro and had a great touch for jazz. We were playing what I guess you’d call kind of ‘rockin’ jazz’ and Haddox kept it all together. He never hit a bad note.”
The Nashville-based Ball said his friendship with Haddox continued for decades and that he would often enlist the drummer to perform with him at private functions held in Spartanburg long after Ball broke into the country music mainstream with his 1994 hit, “Thinkin’ Problem.”
Haddox was also a member of the Buffalo Hut Coalition, a rock band that was popular around the region in the late 1980s and early ’90s and was led by Spartanburg native Michael Buffalo Smith.
“I feel very fortunate that I was able to play in a band with him for all those years,” Smith said. “He’s the best drummer I ever played with, by far. … There were times in our shows when we’d do ‘Willie and the Hand Jive,’ and in the middle of it, Greg (Yeary) and I would leave the stage and let Dave do his solo.
“But his drum solo was not your typical drum solo. He was doing what I think he called ‘hand-over-hand’ movements. It was real complicated but he kept it interesting.”
Still, as talented as he was as a performer, Haddox was best known in the Upstate music community for his work teaching others.
Spartanburg singer-songwriter Randy Foster, who teaches guitar at Roper Music, said he always enjoyed working alongside Haddox.
“David didn’t come across as the typical teacher; he just had a different demeanor,” Foster said. “David was sort of a hippie. I mean, he maintained that mantra his entire life. Since the ’60s, he didn’t change a bit. But he was a true gentleman and a great teacher. He did a really good job, and all the students loved him.”
I got to know Haddox when he played with different bands at Jazz in the Park at Duncan Park in the 1980s and 1990s.
I was stage manager at most of these outdoor events and David was always pleasant and easy to help set up.
He just wanted to play and be part of the event. IMO, David was a real entertainer.
We are so very sorry. You both have been such an important part in my sweet Katherine’s life. Please know how much we care❤️
Thank you for this wonderful article. David’s life was indeed full of amazing events. He was the most talented and sweetest and kindest person I have ever known. Me and our daughter learned so much from him. His loving physical presence is already painfully missed. But he is not suffering anymore and is with G-d, as he always has been, anyway. David was my deepest love and he will continue to occupy that space in my heart forever. ❤️
Inga we love you so much and that precious daughter of yours too! Please let us know if there’s anything at all we can do!
So sorry for your loss ingeborg l know that you were blessed in your marriage with him and will miss him dearly, take care friend, Linda Legget
I’m so sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace.
Another great tribute, Dan. Like Howard Childress, I knew of Dave Haddox but I didn’t know the history of his career. Looks like Spartanburg has lost two of its finest close together. Thank you for your detailed work.
Always wishing you the best. The Music Advocate is already proving itself to be very important to the area’s entertainment scene.
Jennifer Prince
Actually had David on my mind about one week ago , just reminiscing……..he taught my brother Tony Phillips ,drum lessons, and ended up teaching me piano for a bit, playing by ear ….he taught a great version of Ray Charles …What I say? Still play it to this day!!!
Love and prayers to the Haddox family !!!
Sad to hear this news about David. He took me under his wing as a young kid and showed me the way around a drum set. He was kind, very humble and had some fascinating stories. As mentioned in this piece, he never bragged about any accomplishment or have any sort of an ego. I found out things he had done, people he had taught, etc. from other people. It wasn’t until I asked him about it that he would go into detail about any of it. Just so down to earth. I have such fond memories of him. He will be missed greatly.
Mr. David is the reason my daughter loved music . She took drums from age 5 until 9 with him and she loved him. He was patient and kind but still made learning interesting ! He was a peaceful presence in the chaotic world. Scott, Catelyn and I wish love and peace for Ingeborg and her daughter . The angels now have a great drummer to add the heavenly orchestra.
Thank you for the wonderful tribute Dan. Dave was a great man and superior talent and I truly loved him. Our years together in Buffalo Hut Coalition were some of my happiest. He never ceased to amaze me on drums. Prayers are going up for his sweet wife Inge and daughter Maya and for all other close friends and family. Godspeed David. See you in the Light.
David was a remarkable man and a very dear lifelong friend to my husband! He will be missed and our hearts are broken. We’re rejoicing only that he is no longer in pain and suffering but he’s in the presence of our Heavenly Father! Much love and prayers for his beautiful wife and daughter ❤️
I was in high school when David and I played at the Longhorn along with David Bagwell. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey in playing with bands. We also played at the AmVets in Greenville. I lost touch until recently and fortunately, I was able to talk to him last week by phone. He sounded the same, as if the years stood still. What a fun, exciting, adventurous, life it was back then as teens! I considered him as the little brother I never had back then. I’ll always remember him as the most awesome drummer Ever!!!
RIP my dear friend who we both started out playing in Spartanburg. Prayer for his beautiful wife Ingaborg and daughter, Maya.
Thinking of Family and Friends
Ingeborg and Maya we are so very very sorry for your loss. We will be keeping you in our prayers.
Above all David was a kind, gentle soul who loved the Lord. Perfect way to be remembered.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute Dan- such a fitting description of David’s talent and more importantly his heart. Blessings and comfort to Ingeborg, Maya and family.
What a beautiful legacy of kindness and music David has left us with! Oh Ingeborg, you and Maya are in my thoughts and prayers for peace and consolation during this very difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss.
Dave’s lessons were truly the highlight of my adolescence. I still find myself recounting his wild band stories, his cheesy jokes, and his perennial wisdom on a weekly basis. The joke that comes back to me the most in life is also the one Dave liked to tell whenever I got frustrated trying to learn a new beat: “Matt, don’t you know you can’t be a doctor without… patience?”
Dave quickly became more than just my drum teacher. He was a dear friend and mentor. Anyone who knew him even a little will be feeling pain in his absence. Rest in Peace.
Sorry to hear about Dave’s passing.Iknew him from school and Little Theater.
So sorry for your loss of your love ❤️ one you’re in my prayers
David played in a band at my father’s Supper Club, The Longhorn.He tried to teach me to play the piano. I wish I had been a better student, I did manage to learn chop sticks. He was a good friend and a gentle soul. Thank you for the stories and loving tribute to a beautiful person,awesome musician, and teacher. Thanks David for the beautiful memories. My deepest sympathy to his family.
I would love to hear from other members of the band that played at the Longhorn.
I knew David from driving school buses for BSHS. We had some very interesting conversations about music and some of the bands he played with. My prayers are with the family. David was a very unique person.