Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30 1917 Brooklyn, New York - April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuoso technique, power, speed and ability to improvise.

Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 - October 16, 1973) was a famous and influential American jazz and big band drummer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.

Jo Jones (later known as Papa Jo Jones) was an American drummer, one of the most influential in the history of jazz.

William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb (February 10, 1905 –June 16, 1939) was a jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.

Edwin Thomas "Ed" Shaughnessy (b. January 29, 1929) is a swing music and bebop drummer best known for his long association with Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson". He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up in the New York City area, working in the 1940s with George Shearing, Jack Teagarden, and Charlie Ventura. In the 1950s he worked in the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey bands.

Sidney Catlett (born January 17, 1910 in Evansville, Indiana and died March 25, 1951 Chicago, Illinois) was a swinging jazz drummer often referred to as "Big Sid Catlett" because of his large frame. He started at piano, but switched to drums and entered formal study when his family moved to Chicago. His career began in Chicago in 1928 with Darnell Howard. In adulthood he moved to New York City and worked with Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, Elmer Snowden, and others.

Cozy Cole (October 19, 1909 - January 31, 1981) was a well known jazz drummer who had a #1 hit with the song "Topsy Part 2". The song contained a lengthy drum solo, and one of the few drum solo recordings that ever made the popular Billboard top 100 (1958) charts. The single, issued on the tiny Brooklyn-based Love Records, was a sensation. He is cited as an influence by many contemporary rock drummers, including Cozy Powell, …

Sonny Greer (13 December 1895-23 March 1982) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Ellington. Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Ellington, who he met in 1919. He was Ellington's first drummer, playing with his quintet, the Washingtonians, and moving with Ellington into the Cotton Club.

Ben Pollack was a drummer and bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to either discover or employ, at one time or another, musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland and Harry James. This ability earned him the nickname "Father of Swing". Born in Chicago, Illinois to a well-to-do family, Pollack was largely self taught as a drummer, …

J. C. Heard (1917 - 1988) was a United States swing, bop, and blues drummer. He obtained his first important professional job with Teddy Wilson in 1939 and continued performing into the 1980s. He also played with Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Erroll Garner, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Pete Johnson, Charlie Parker, Sir Charles Thompson and Roy Eldridge besides leading his own groups. From 1966 on he worked as a bandleader in Detroit.

Gordon Specs Powell(born June 5, 1922 in New York City) is a jazz drummer who began in the swing era. However he could also do Bebop and Hard bop. He started out on piano but became exclusively a drummer in the late 1930s. He worked with Benny Carter, Ben Webster, and others early in his career. He started working as a staff musician for CBS in 1943. He was lead drummer on The Ed Sullivan Show in the early 1960s. That said his only album as a leader was in 1957.

James "Osie" Johnson (born January 11, 1923 in Washington, D.C.; died February 10, 1966 in New York City) was a jazz drummer. He first worked with Sabby Lewis and then, after service in the United States Navy freelanced for a time in Chicago. From 1951 to 1953 he worked in Earl Hines's band. He can be heard on albums by Paul Gonsalves, Zoot Sims, and Mose Allison.

Barrett Deems (March 1, 1914-September 15, 1998) was an American swing music jazz drummer born in Springfield, Illinois, probably better known for his work with musicians like Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Red Norvo or Muggsy Spanier, among others.

Leo Watson (27 February 1898-2 May 1950) was an American jazz vocalese singer, drummer, trombonist and tipple player born in Kansas City, Missouri, perhaps best-known as a band member of "The Spirits of Rhythm" which included guitarist Teddy Bunn. Watson also worked shortly with a variety of big bands, including those of Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw and Jimmy Mundy.

Joe Daniels (9 March, 1908-July? 1993) was an African swing music jazz drummer and bandleader born in Zeerust, South Africa, probably better known for his work with Max Goldberg in the 20s and later working with Harry Roy.

David "Panama" Francis (born December 21 1918 in Miami, Florida; died November 13, 2001 in Orlando, Florida) was an American swing jazz drummer. He began performing at the age of eight, and booked his first night club at the age of thirteen. His career took off after he moved to New York City in 1938. Early collaborations included Tab Smith, Billy Hick's Sizzling Six, the Roy Eldridge Orchestra, and six years with Lucky Millinder's Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.