Arts & Entertainment

Guinness World Records Visits Macomb's Drummer Boy

Julian Pavone, 7, is the world's youngest professional drummer and will be recognized as such in the 2013 Guinness Book of World Records.

To his father, Julian Pavone is “bambino,” but around the world, he is the Guinness World Records’ youngest professional drummer.

GWR representatives paid a special visit to the Pavone’s Macomb Township home Thursday to photograph the 7-year-old Julian for inclusion in the 2013 Guinness Book of World Records.

“The reason Julian jumped out at us really is because we’ve had a lot of success with record-breaking kids and our key audience for our books are kids,” said Michael Whitty, GWR picture editor. “What it does is it provides an inspirational element, so if a 10-year-old at home sees Julian playing the drums, then he may well say to his parent, ‘I’d like to do that.’”

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The way Julian’s father, Bernadino Pavone, tells it, his son had rhythm in the womb.

“We would play music on my wife’s stomach … and he would kick the rhythm,” Bernadino Pavone said. “He had this rhythmic kick and there was kind of a joke I made to my wife, I said, ‘He’s going to be the world’s youngest drummer one day.’”

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And at 5 years, 10 months and 3 days, according to GWR’s calculations, the family joke became reality for Julian, who is now a second-grader at the University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods.

However, the world record is only one honor in a series of awards and recognitions this young musician has already received in his short lifetime.

A guest on more than 200 TV and news shows, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Inside Edition” and “Good Morning America,” Julian is no stranger to the spotlight and readily shows off his skill on the skins, a trait he demonstrated when he launched into an impromptu drum solo for Whitty and his staff.

“What I just heard is phenomenal, literally a professional,” Whitty said of Julian’s performance. “He’s one of the most talented youngsters I’ve ever met.”

But whether he is playing the drum accompaniment for Led Zeppelin’s Good Times Bad Times or improvising full songs on his 22-piece set, Julian said his music always comes “from my heart and soul.”

And when he’s not at his drum set practicing or touring the world, he’s playing Wii games or, like any older brother, finding new ways to annoy his little sister, Annalisa, 5.

Fast Facts

  • Safety First – In both practice and performance, Julian wears headphones or earplugs to protect his hearing. 
  • CDs – Julian is currently working on his second CD with Michael J. Powell, a four-time Grammy-award-winning producer.
  • Teachers – He has been taught by George Dunn (drums), Dom Famularo (drums), Dennis Sheridan (percussion), William Winfield III (percussion) and Francesco Cavallini (vocals, guitar)
  • The Brand – Julian will soon premiere his own healthy snack, Julian's Go Bar, all all-fruit snack bar that is fat-free, gluten-free, high in fiber and has no added sugars.


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