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Making drums available to all...
Djembe Drums & Skins provides high quality rope tuned drums, drum tuning supplies and drum accessories at reasonable costs to those who love drumming. DD&S started as a hobby in the 1980s and became a business in 1996. It was owned and operated by Shorty and Sandy Palmer until 1 January 2021, When the 3 long time employees, Brigid, DeerHawke, and Chris took control of the helm when Shorty and Sandy finally got the chance to enjoy retirement. DD&S is located in Sevierville, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains.
Most of our business is done by phone and internet. You are also invited to stop by (appointment only) and choose your own drum. Most of our drums come from West Africa ,Ivory Coast and Ghana. Some come from Mali and Guinea. Specializing in Djembes, we also carry an assortment of African rope tuned drums including Djun Djuns, Bougarabous, Batas, and Congas. These drums have goat skin or cowhide heads and are tuned by ropes attached to rings. We sell complete drums carved and built in West Africa, shells, and drum kits. We also built custom drums that have been carved in Africa and then built by our crew.
All DD&S drum heads are guaranteed for 6 months and if there is a problems after that we charge very reasonable repair rates. All skins and hides are also guaranteed.
We also sell rope (made to Shorty's specs in the US), rope pulling tools, drum rings, drum bags, drum head covers, and more.
Most of our business is done by phone and internet. You are also invited to stop by (appointment only) and choose your own drum. Most of our drums come from West Africa ,Ivory Coast and Ghana. Some come from Mali and Guinea. Specializing in Djembes, we also carry an assortment of African rope tuned drums including Djun Djuns, Bougarabous, Batas, and Congas. These drums have goat skin or cowhide heads and are tuned by ropes attached to rings. We sell complete drums carved and built in West Africa, shells, and drum kits. We also built custom drums that have been carved in Africa and then built by our crew.
All DD&S drum heads are guaranteed for 6 months and if there is a problems after that we charge very reasonable repair rates. All skins and hides are also guaranteed.
We also sell rope (made to Shorty's specs in the US), rope pulling tools, drum rings, drum bags, drum head covers, and more.
Shorty Palmer (Founder)
Shorty in Ghana
Shorty Palmer has been building drums for over 20 years and has been a part of several drumming projects and collaborations. His drum journey began in the 1980’s when he used his many years of carpentry skills to make his own drums. He met and fell in love with a Djembe from Ivory Coast in 1992. He is self taught and also eagerly accepts advice and new techniques from others who share his passion for drums and drumming. In January 2011 Shorty traveled to Ghana to meet with the carvers who build the drums he sells. It was fantastic to bring together the two main carvers, one from Ghana the other from Ivory Coast, to talk shop and share drum ideas.
Sandy Palmer (Co-Founder)
Sandy Palmer is Shorty’s wife of 40+ years, helper and business partner. Sandy loves to dance and also fell in love with the beat of hand drumming in the 1980s . Sandy is an early childhood consultant, teaches yoga in Seymour, and is a Drum Circle Facilitator. She was on the board of the Drum Circle Facilitator's Guild. Sandy shares Shorty’s mission to help everyone have access to a nice drum.
DeerHawke Baker
DeerHawke Baker bought his first djembe in 1993 at a festival in Florida. DeerHawke is better known as the silversmith behind DeerHawke Galleries, before putting his own business on the back burner and turning his artistic drive in a new direction building drums for the legendary Shorty Palmer.
DeerHawke does all of the welding for DD&S, as well as a lot of the wood working in the daily production. After years as Djembe Drums & Skins shop manager he was presented with the opportunity to give Shorty and Sandy their well deserved retirement with the assistance of his silent partner and investor Timothy Sabin. Now as a drum builder he is better known for his exotic rope designs which he affectionately refers to as "Drum Art" and occasionally for his custom art carvings.
While DeerHawke understands that he's stepped into a mighty big set of shoes to fill, his main goal is to see Shorty's Baby continue to grow and bring affordable drums to folks in need, and continue to carry on the Legacy that is Djembe Drums & Skins.
DeerHawke does all of the welding for DD&S, as well as a lot of the wood working in the daily production. After years as Djembe Drums & Skins shop manager he was presented with the opportunity to give Shorty and Sandy their well deserved retirement with the assistance of his silent partner and investor Timothy Sabin. Now as a drum builder he is better known for his exotic rope designs which he affectionately refers to as "Drum Art" and occasionally for his custom art carvings.
While DeerHawke understands that he's stepped into a mighty big set of shoes to fill, his main goal is to see Shorty's Baby continue to grow and bring affordable drums to folks in need, and continue to carry on the Legacy that is Djembe Drums & Skins.
Brigid & Chris's Bios to come
