Martin Duffy 1966-2004

 

I find it so hard to believe I am writing this, but my good friend and fellow drummer Martin Duffy has passed away suddenly. The event is tragic. Martin perished along with his 9 year old daughter Hannah, Monday night into Tuesday morning at their home after apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. Also home with Martin was his 12 year old son John and wife Valerie, they are in critical but stable condition and are expected to recover. A faulty flue appears to be the cause.

I cannot put into words the tremendous loss. A loss on so many levels. Martin has been a driving force of Side Drumming in the NYC area for decades. He has taught many bands including FDNY Emerald PB, Rory O'Moore, and of course the Monaghan PB. You cannot think of the Monaghan PB without thinking of Martin and the rest of the Duffy family. Without them it is fair to say there probably would be no MPB today. During the tough years, the non-glory years, they were the heart beat that kept it alive. The band rose from g5 to g2 . Martin worked so very hard to keep the drum corp going. I had the pleasure of playing under him from ' 95 to ' 01. We had some great times.

From the season of ' 02 to ' 03 he played as an instructor with the Rory O'Moore PB. This g4 drum corp was nothing less than impressive under Martin's tutelage. About the same time Martin left Monaghan to instruct, I did the very same thing to instruct Inis Fada g4 band. Martin and I enjoyed the healthiest spirit of competition. We knew we had made the right choice to continue doing what we do best; instruct. After many a contest we would chat about our corps, about drum scores, and about life in general. We shared so many moments and thoughts together it was a bond that happens only to a select few in a lifetime. You see we go back a long way.

It was about 1976, when Martins' dad, Pete brought Martin to me for lessons. Martin was about ten and I about twenty-one. Every Saturday in my parents basement we took the very first baby steps of making a drummer. Out of the three students Martin was the best. He was hungry to do good. He practiced hard. And he was the nicest little guy you would want to teach. An instructors dream come true. I must have spent about four years teaching Martin at Monaghan. After those four years Monaghan was in a temporary slump. Unfortunate for them, but fortunate for me. He joined Inis Fada for at least two seasons, maybe longer. Martin was now on fire. His foundation was solid; time to turn him loose on other influences. The Delco workshop became one of his favorites. He was a regular when Duthart was in town. He devoured his music. Davy Armit, John Quigg, Gordon Bell, he wanted to study w/ them all. His mind for drum scores was encyclopedic. At times Martin would turn to me and say, "hey greg, remember this setting you wrote in ' 82. He would play it like I we were about to go out on the field. I would look at him with total awe and amazement, considering it was now twenty years later.

When Martin returned to Monaghan in the mid to late 80's he was ready for his own charge. Every time he had the corp, he made it talented and attractive enough to lure great players. John Ruxtan, for a couple of seasons and Gordon Bell also for a few. Yet another amazing thing about Martin was his humility. He was happy to step over from the lead spot to a line spot. There was no ego. Above all, he wanted what was best for the Monaghan PB. And he wanted to continue learning.

Martin was an extraordinary human being. Though I instructed him, it is he who taught me so much about drumming and about life. My greatest drumming compliment that I was ever paid, in any time in my life, was when Martin introduced me as his instructor. To me, it was only a partial truth, because Martin learned from us all.

I will miss his talent, his spirit, his weekly phone calls more than I can ever express. I am so very thankful for his friendship. I pray for his sweet daughter Hannah. I pray for the recovery of his wife Valerie and his son John.

Please keep in mind this special human being. Enjoy what we do, and never give up being a student, no matter how talented you are. Martin lived for drummimg. It was his passion in life. And it made it a very happy life for him.

So long dear friend, I will miss you more than you will ever know. You will never be forgotten.

Gregory F. McLaughlin
Inis Fada PB

     
Farewell