Neal Graham
Neal Graham started out as a music educator and performer, then in the early 1970s he set up a teaching studio in Fort Wayne, which also sold a few drum-related items. The retail business was a victim of its own success, becoming The Percussion Center and establishing a reputation both locally and nationally. Fortuitously, more than once Rush tours happened to start in Indiana, and The Percussion Center was called upon to service equipment and provide consumables. “We serviced them in Fort Wayne a couple of times and they developed a relationship from this contact,” says Neal. “They didn’t want to bring consumable items like heads and sticks with them from Canada and have the hassles of the border crossings.”
Before long, The Percussion Center had become Neil Peart’s magasin du choix for drums and percussion equipment: when he wanted a new kit, or to try a different manufacturer, he would come to Fort Wayne. In 1986, prior to the recording of ‘Hold Your Fire’ Neil conducted a bake-off of six drum kits. Before the testing began Neil ran his first ever drum clinic, for the Center. “I had promised Neal Graham for years,” he said. “Though the idea of speaking in front of a crowd seemed a lot more intimidating than just playing drums.”
After 22 years of business, the Percussion Center was closed so that Neal could give his full attention to XL Specialty Percussion Inc., a manufacturing and distribution company that produces drum cases under the trademark Protechtor Cases, and accessories for marching percussion products.