Bob Young eagerly joined The Chardon Polka Band in 2020 with the promise that – pending disaster – he would partake in a flurry of performances and festivals while traveling all over the U.S. Although 2020 had much to say to prevent just about all of this, he did experience one Pizza Ranch with the band and still hopes to fill the drummer role for whatever adventures are to come.

Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, the drums have always been a major part of Bob’s life, from middle/high school bands, to pursuing Music Education at Youngstown State University. While there, he explored as much in the world of percussion as was available. Outside of major university ensembles, he traveled and performed with both Matrix Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble and Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and served as auxiliary percussionist in the YSU Frank Zappa Ensemble (with the CPB’s Mitch Lawrence on saxophone). Bob also maintained an active studio of private percussion students, and held a number of drumline and front ensemble instructor positions ranging from Youngstown to the Akron area, including one season instructing the YSU Marching Pride Drumline.

Since graduating college, Bob has expanded his private percussion studio, and continues teaching students in both the Youngstown area and Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Maintaining an active performance schedule, Bob is a co-founder of the Newyo Percussion Quartet and also performs, writes, and records with experimental rock band Sam Goodwill. Area bands which Bob has played with include The Zou, Third Class, Cleveland’s The Lighthouse and the Whaler, and many others. He also performs as a freelance percussionist, including numerous musicals with the Youngstown Playhouse and various other area theaters, and regular performances with the Clarion University Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

When Bob provided this list of credentials and proof of experience to The Chardon Polka Band, he didn’t realize that his first video shoot with the group would feature a man dancing around in a Bigfoot costume.