This one's for The Beav: Memorial concert Sunday for Grammy-winning drummer Tommy Beavers

“I just want to tell everybody thanks for the blessings,” Grammy-winning drummer Tommy “The Beav” Beavers told the Advertiser in early 2020, ahead of a benefit concert in his honor. “I never knew I had that many people care that much about me.”

Beavers, a Montgomery native, lived in Wetumpka with his wife, Brenda. He died in his sleep on Oct. 29 at age 74. As of Wednesday, funeral service details had not been announced.

“Beavers is well loved around here,” said friend and bandmate Andy Norman. “It’s a total shock to all of us. He’d been in bad health, but none of us was expecting him to pass away.”

Other musicians and friends took to social media to mourn Beavers.

“Oh no... I’ve known/played with Tommy for over 40 years as have most in our area,” said longtime Montgomery musician Lisa Busler. “Such a talent whose impact will be felt for years to come…”

Jeremy Drawbaugh said he’d last worked with Beavers during the recent Hank Williams 100^th birthday. “When I come into the band, Tommy — as did all the guys — welcomed me with the most love and respect and became a brother… He struggled so much just to walk, but didn’t miss a beat when it came to playing his drums.”

“What a rascal, what a friend, what a laugh-maker, what a drummer! You could always recognize his drumming. My heartfelt condolences to Brenda and Tommy's family, and all who loved The Beav! Montgomery has lost one of its legends,” wrote Donna Mills Davis, who knew Beavers for close to 50 years.

“I was glad and honored to call him my friend and share the stage with him on many a night,” wrote keyboardist and singer Jim Geiger. “It really blew my mind that this Grammy award winning drummer would tell me how much he enjoyed my playing and playing in bands with me. But away from the stage he was just as lovely. I will miss his phone calls and him telling me ‘I love you, buddy.’”

Clint Dennis, a friend who played many gigs with Beavers, wrote, “I guess the good Lord needed someone to keep a perfect beat…”

Concert for ‘The Beav’ this weekend

On Sunday, Nov. 5, a benefit concert is being held in Beavers' honor from 2-5 p.m. at Blue Iguana Beach Bar & Grill, 1714 E. Main St., Prattville. Funds raised will go to help cover Beavers’ final expenses.

Among the acts are Jimbo Jones and Bill Hinds, who played with Beavers in the ‘70s band Harmony. Norman’s band The Jukebox All Stars, for which Beavers drummed, is also playing.

Other confirmed acts include Charlie C & The Cuzamatics, Jeff & The Johnsons, Webb Dalton, David Jackson, Andrew Gaskins, Amy Clay, Play Nice with Caleah Michelle, Phillip Morgan, Albert Bouler, and Lyman Jr. Jones.

“So far, it’s a pretty good lineup, and we’re still adding people,” Norman said.

Along with the music, they’ll have a silent auction, which will include guitars autographed by Ted Nugent and Little Big Town. Items are still being accepted for the auction. Anyone who would like to donate should call Jan’s Beach House at 334-277-8300.

Looking back on the music with Tommy Beavers

It’s easy to see why the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia put up a special exhibit for Beavers this past summer.

“We are devastated to hear about the loss of our friend, Tommy Beavers,” the AMHOF posted on social media the day of Beavers’ passing. “His accomplishments are phenomenal and his personality was so sweet. All of us at the Hall of Fame are thankful that we got the chance to meet and speak with Tommy a couple of months ago and even got to put up an exhibit for him.”

Beavers was a member of Harmony, a Montgomery group from the ‘70s that included the late Eddie Wohlford (songwriter, keyboards, singer), Kelvin Holly (guitar, singer), Bill Hinds (guitar, singer), and Jimbo Jones (bass, keyboards, singer, songwriter). The group, formerly known as Harvest, at one time also featured Tommy Shaw before he left to join Styx, and Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Beavers’ music career continued to blossom from here.

“In the early ‘80s, (Beavers) played in Magnum with Jonny Weldon,” Norman said.

The Asleep at the Wheel band has won 8 Grammy awards, one of which was in 1995 for the song “Blues for Dixie,” with Beavers as their drummer and Lyle Lovett singing.

“Very saddened to receive the news that Tommy has passed away. He was a great guy and drummer, and we appreciate all the time and talent he gave the band,” said Ray Benson, band leader for Asleep at the Wheel. “The record recordings, live shows and tv appearances will live on forever. We will always remember that infectious smile and upbeat personality."

Norman said he went with Beavers to see Asleep at the Wheel in 2020 when the band’s tour visited the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.

“We got to hang out with some of the band, and Tommy went down to see Ray,” Norman said. “It was pretty cool.”

Along with Juke Box Allstars and previously with River Rats and the Can Do Band with Norman, Beavers was also in the Graffiti Band.

“Me and him played together for 40 years, off and on in different bands,” Norman said.

Norman said Beavers also moved to Destin, Fla., for a while. “He played with a bunch of Top 40 kind of R&B bands down there at the beach,” Norman said.

Even during his health challenges later in life, Beavers continued to perform.

“Once you got him behind the drums, he was still playing great,” Norman said. ”He never lost that ability.”

He also loved giving back and working with children through the Montgomery Area Musicians Association’s music education workshops.

“The only thing I can tell you about drumming is it takes a lot of practice and a lot of want to,” Beavers told a group from the Boys and Girls Club on Lower Wetumpka Road in 2018.

It wasn’t just the kids that he inspired.

“You can pretty much count on all the drummers in this area. They’ll tell you  that he was their biggest influence,” Norman said. “When he was in his prime, he was the best around.”

Beyond the stage, Beavers felt at home on a racetrack

When Beavers wasn’t driving beats as a drummer, he spent about 40 years driving road tracks.

"I did Road Atlanta. I ran Daytona, Charlotte,” Beavers told the Advertiser in 2018. At the time, it had been about a year since his last race. At that time Beavers and Carl Sanders were partners in B&S Racing, and had hired a driver for their No. 14 car.

"I started out four cylinders and went to V-8 stuff,” Beavers said. “I actually owned Paul Newman’s old car that he had, the Oldsmobile.”

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Memorial concert Sunday for Grammy-winning drummer Tommy Beavers