FARMINGDALE — Having a passion for music since childhood and a professional trumpet-playing father who owned a music store, Rick Drumm, coincidentally to his last name, picked up the drums at age eight and began playing professionally at 14. After having a long career as a performer, Drumm took jobs in the business side of the music industry.

Having known the D'Addario family for some time, Drumm became president in 2006 of D'Addario & Company, one of the largest manufacturers of music accessories. Since then, he has been integral in helping the business grow and in training the next generation of D'Addarios.