The drum is the most universally distributed of all instruments. There is no ethnic group anywhere in the world that doesn't know the drum. This comprehensive volume by Dr. Joseph H. Howard, one of the country's leading authorities on drums, relates the complete story-from primitive origins to the present day-of the drum in this hemisphere. Anthropologically sound and fascinating from any point of view, Drums in the Americas discusses the heritage of the drum from its communal use as an instrument of warning to one of ritual and ceremony to its final evolution as a musical instrument. From Indian tribal drumming to the complexities of big-beat rock 'n' roll and modern jazz, the story of the drum in the Americas is told with intelligence and vitality. Handsomely illustrated, Drums in the Americas is an important contribution to Americana and a significant addition to the world's musical knowledge.