Heney, John, 1902-1975

John Joseph Heney, Sr. was born in 1903. Heney's professional band career began in 1924, when he joined the Royal Scotch Highlanders Band. He stayed with the Highlanders until 1925, when he joined McDonald's Highlanders Band (The Kilties), which he stayed with until 1926, the same year he joined the John Philip Sousa Band. Heney performed with the Sousa Band during its last six years, as one of three drummers and xylophone soloist. During this time, the Sousa Band was not the only one to enjoy Heney's company, however. Heney also performed with the Sells-Floto Circus Band (aka Montgomerys Concert Band), the Bertram W. Mills Olympia Circus Band, the Sparks Circus Band, the Hagenback-Wallace Circus Band, the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus Band, the Medinah Circus and Carnival Band, the Tom Mix Circus and Wild West Show.

The same year Heney joined the Sousa Band, he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where he became the Band Director at Ketterlinus High School. 1926 was a busy year for Heney. Also during that same year, Heney became the Bandmaster at Stetson University, a position that lasted until 1935, when he became Bandmaster at DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida. His employment as Bandmaster at DeLand lasted 32 years.

While Bandmaster at DeLand, Heney was also active in the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD), the American Bandmasters Association (ABA), and the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), of which he was made an honorary life president in 1941. All of this activity earned Heney the title of "one of the true pioneers of the school band movement in America." (Heney, 46)

As his band directing career flourished, Heney still had time for other pursuits, such as running Heney's Superior Service Station, a local gas station, and the Heney School of Percussion, a private drum studio from which Heney gave lessons.

In 1934, Heney also wrote and published a book, entitled The Correct Way to Drum: A Treatise on the Material Used in Modern Drumming . Besides The Correct Way to Drum, Heney also published 23 musical compositions and a number of journal articles in his lifetime.

Heney spent time in the United States Navy during World War II from 1942 until 1945.

A member of the Sousa Band Fraternal Society, Heney was elected as archivist in November of 1969. During his time as archivist, Heney attempted to collect and preserve as much of the memorabilia from Sousa's life and the history of the Sousa Band and its members as was left in the personal collections of other Sousa Band members and their families. He attempted to ensure that Sousa's memory and music were remembered by consulting on projects to record Sousa's music in the present day and by pushing for Sousa's induction into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.

Heney died on September 1, 1978.

From the guide to the John Heney Collection, 1885-1978, 1926-1976, (Special Collections in Performing Arts)

John J. Heney, Sr. (1903-1978) was an American percussionist, music educator, and historian. Heney began performing professionally in bands as a percussionist in 1924, and joined the John Philip Sousa Band in 1926. That same year he moved to Florida and took positions as high school band director and university bandmaster. In 1935, he became bandmaster at Deland High School in Florida, a position he retained for 32 years. Throughout his career, Heney was active in the National Association of Rudimental Drummers, the American Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Bandmasters Association, of which he was made an honorary life president in 1941. As archivist of the Sousa Band Fraternal Society, he campaigned for Sousa's induction into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.

From the description of John Heney collection, 1885-1978 (1926-1976). (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 55081906

Bandmaster and musician. Born in 1902 and graduated from Stetson University, he served as Bandmaster in the DeLand Public Schools for over thirty years. He was the last remaining head of the drum section of the famous Sousa Band. Before joining the Sousa Band he played with other bands and the Royal Scotch Highlanders. He retired as bandmaster in 1967 and died in 1975.

From the guide to the John Heney Papers, 1927-1969, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)