Roy Burns (November 30, 1935 – May 2, 2018) was an American drummer, teacher, and percussion manufacturer.
Burns was born in Emporia, Kansas. Louie Bellson heard him play in Kansas City and advised him to study in New York City. In August 1955, at the age of 20, Burns left Kansas with $300 and a drum set to study drumming in New York City. Within a year, he was Woody Herman's drummer. Shortly after, he left to join Benny Goodman's band, which was having a resurgence due to the film The Benny Goodman Story (1956). In 1958, Burns was with Goodman's band as they toured Europe and recorded several albums at the Brussels World's Fair.[1]
In 1960, he was a teacher and studio musician with the NBC Orchestra, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show. From 1968 to 1980, he worked for the Rogers Drum Company and traveled the world as a clinician.[1] In 1980, he began writing a column in Modern Drummer magazine which ran until 1992. In 1980, he and Ron Marquez started Aquarian Accessories to manufacture percussion equipment.[1]