Carroll Bratman

World-renowned businessman and percussionist.
Born on June 27, 1906 in Baltimore, Maryland USA.
Died on July 15, 1984.
Carroll Bratman was the founder and owner of Carroll Sound, Inc. He started playing percussion in 1921 as a member of the Baltimore Evening Sun Newsboys Band, He studied with Harry Soistmann and Adolph Riehl, received a scholarship to Peabody Conservatory in 1924, and in one year was playing in the Baltimore Symphony. He went to the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. in 1930, all the time playing diverse percussion jobs, and stayed until 1941 when he moved to New York.
Bratman did extensive radio and recording, serving on the staffs at NBC and CBS and playing for many noted conductors. He soon found himself loaning his equipment and, in 1945, decided to go into the rental business, the beginning of what was to become a major enterprise. In 1983, Bratman donated a collection of his instruments to the Percussive Arts Society. Bratman acted as sponsor for Jean-Jacques Perrey and as a musical contractor, building him an experimental laboratory and recording studio.
He was entered into the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame in 1984.