In Memory Of Drummer "Big Jim" Tonak aka Cheeseadiddle
These are some of the photos of Jim Playing, and doing his thing at some of our drum circles.
He was a gift to music, and to all of us who loved drumming with him. His sharp sense of humor
always caught me off guard, and had a knack for cracking a good zinger. He will be sorely missed.
This is one of my favorite photos of Jim playing (on the left side next to Ron) at the drum circle.
I mentioned the sad news that Jim Tonak passed away at home this November. He was a very good friend of mine
and to many others in our drumming community. He will be badly missed by many of us who enjoyed drumming with
him. He was affectionately known as Big Jim by many of us who enjoyed his solid drumming and loyal friendship.
The loss of such a young man in his prime of life is hard for me to express in mere words.
A life is not measured by what we have, but rather what we have given. And Big Jim was a giver not a taker.
He was a little hard to get to know for some people, but once you did, you realized what a caring and giving
man, and good friend he was. He brought a lot of joy to many of us, and I will always cherish the many times
we drummed together, or just sat around talking.
He was there 3 years ago back when I started the dunedin brewery drum circle. He was a regular there almost every
Tuesday. He'd show up at 6pm to meet me, and offer to help me do the set up and prep for the drum circle to start
at 8pm. We shared many a meal together after setup, and then we'd go out on the brewery's front porch and hang out
chatting as people would show up, and welcome them together.
When the drumming started, he was about as solid a drummer as you could imagine. A true joy to drum with. He was
a huge help to me, and always there with his friendship and supportive attitude. When the brewery started to go
south for me, he was there wanting to know if he could do anything to help, and always letting me know he was my
friend regardless of what happened.
I met Jim for the first time back when I taught an intro to drum circles workshop at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center.
He was a drum set drummer who played with various top level bands. He took an immediate love to the djembe drum,
and was excited so much that he ran right out and bought one so he had one for the Dunedin drum circle Tuesdays.
He took to it like a professional. Not a banger, or a showboater, but a true ensemble player who wanted to enjoy
drum circle musicality at it's highest level. And that's exactly what he did. Even when he played the two big bass
drums with mallets, he understood that it wasn't how loud you could play over everyone else, or how many notes you
could cram in a measure of music, but rather that it was the space left in between the notes that was so important.
That's what mattered. he helped hold the support beat that allowed the creation of beautiful spontainous music.
Many new drummers learned a lot watching Jim play. In fact, I think that is the best way to for someone new to
drum circles to learn how to grow as a drummer. Just watch what the pros do. Jim was a pro.
Jim was also there at many of our other area drum circles. The Earth Day Drum circle at Honeymoon Island, The Mardi
Gras, The Halloweens, Christmas Drum Circles, The Dunedin Causeway, Treasure Island, Coconuts Comedy Club, and many
others. He will really be missed. I spoke with his girlfriend recently, and she asked that we play a rhythm or two
in memory of him. We did that at the brewery, the Dunedin Causeway Friday, and at Coconuts Comedy Club. Sadly, that
was the last place he attended a drum circle with us. There is only a few photos to remember him by. If you have
any, please email it to me so I can add it to this page.
Sincerely,
Shannon
drumcircles.net
Jim on the left side playing some Clave at the Earth Day Drum Circle
Sean, Dave, Jim, and I at the Earth Day Drum Circle
More with Jim, and Sean The Djembe Dad with his 2 sons next to him
Another view with Jim at the Earth Day Drum Circle
Jim slappin' out the support rhythm at the Earth Day Drum Circle
Jim at the Mardi Gras drum circle in Dunedin. (barely see him, just to my right)
What a party! 5 hours of drumming. He had a smile on his face all night long.
Jim in the center wearing one of his signature Fedora hats
Jim playing his new Meinl fiberglass blue djembe, stage left. He loved that new drum.
Jim at the Coconuts Comedy Club drum circle playing the bass drums holding it down.
He loved playing for Kimara, Chandra & the belly dancers. (Don't we all!)
More of Jim in the groove, doing his thing. This was Jim to me, right here.
Jim and I in a 2 shot playing Beledi. We'll miss you a lot Big Jim, and think of you always.
Thanks to Janie for this additional photo of Jim.
Some emails sent to me from some of Jim's many online friends.
He was always there with info to help others along. His nic was "cheeseadiddle":
I never Met Jim in person. I got to know him online through a couple Drum Forum communities, including
the one he ran for a year or so, Tightheads.net. For a small and tight-knit group of drummers all across
the states and the world, Tightheads was home. And we all loved Cheeseadiddle.
He was a great guy, knowledgeable and happy to share what he knew. His sense of humor was all his own,
and I loved that.
We only rarely got a glimpse into his personal life, he was rather private online. I was one of few who
even knew his real name. Your tribute page was the first place I ever saw a photo of him where his face
wasn't strategically hidden by a drum or cymbal.
So thanks for putting that page up. I know the loss is felt most acutely there in his hometown, and my
condolences go to his girlfriend and loved ones. Just know that the circle of folks who admired and
respected Jim is quite a bit wider than you might have suspected. We miss him out here in internetland too.
Tim H.
It is much sadness that I am saying hello to you...
I just found out about Jim, and wanted to wish my sympathies. It's funny, because I never knew his name
was Jim. We knew him as "Cheeseadiddle" in some online drum forums, one even that he created and maintained
for quite some time. He sure was a funny sumbitch, and a virtual encycolpedia of drumming knowledge, history,
you name it. Yes, it did take a bit getting used to his blunt ways, but the guy never once faultered from
what he believed in. He was always willing to give sound advice to those searching, and a rashing of $hit
to those who deserved it.
We knew that he wasn't in the best of health, but had no idea how bad it really was. I hope that you are all
able to send him off proudly out there in Florida, we will miss him on the internet.
Sincerely,
Mike P.
Big Jim...Aka...Cheeseadiddle.
Please pass on my condolences to Jim's girlfriend and his loved ones. They may or may not know how much
of an influence he had on everybody in the drum forums that he was a part of. From Harmony Central to his
famed Tightheads, he touched many lives. At some point or another we all took from his vast knowledge of
all things related to drums. And at some point we all had a laugh from his endless wit. He will be sorely
missed by all of us at Harmony Central's drum forum.
John R, aka...Watchdog.
Shannon, You should check out these threads that got started on the forums.
hacapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2164238
ghostnote.net/vbforum/showthread.php?t=28289
Please let us know how we can help. There are many interested in doing anything they can, especially in a
way that would help Eliska or any of your groups. A few of us are going to try to resurrect his old website,
but it's going to take some work getting off the ground. If we are successful in getting it going,
we will let you know.
Mike
Hello,
My name is Glen and like some of my other "Virtual" friends have wrote, I too was one of Jim's online friends.
Although we were "Virtual" friends, that doesn't change the fact that Jim's Life and Passing has effected me
is a very real way. His core group of TIGHTHEADS.ORG friends have banded together in hopes of bringing TIGHTHEADS
back online again in Honor of Jim's life and his passion for the drum community, both in real life and online.
I know it's only a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but I also know Jim loved that site. I think in
many ways it allowed him to be himself and not be "judged", yet still keep a semblance of the privacy that Jim
required. I think the Lives that Jim touched may be more wide spread than his close friends may realize.
At an appropriate time, I'd like to have a close friend or relative contact me (or contact info) so that we may
discuss the possibility of getting TIGHTHEADS up and running again. We will do all the work and take care of any
finical obligation associated with this task, but we would like blessing of those close to him and provide us
with any insight they feel would be appropriate. My sincere condolences to Jim's friends, girlfriend, and family
... I'm sorry for your loss.
Glen R -
A cheese drum set made up by some of Jim's online friends. A nice dedication to Big Jim.
He's another one from the group, with Jim on one of his favorite drum sets.
Big Jim
Drum Circle Dedicated to Jim 11/26/08 at Coconuts Comedy Club
I just had to say that was a totaly rightious drum circle the other night we dedicated to Jim. We played lots of his
favorites, and a lot of his friends were there. Lots of heavy funk beats, bellydaning rhythms, some clave, and some
hard driving rock like Tool & Nails. That's what he loved to play, so that's what we did. Thanks to all who added
their drumming, dancing, hooping, and fire! There was so much going on, that over 3 hours went by like it was one.
It was fitting that one of our most exciting nights was in Jim's honor. It was the best way we could think of to say
goodbye to a friend and fellow musician. We grooved out, rocked the place, spun it around a few times, and then lit
it up. (twice) Watch the 2 short videos K-Sue shot during the bellydancing burns. (below - the sound quality is like
a 2, but the video is a 9!) Kimara at beledibay.com is the best. And the bellydancing with a sword can't be easy on
your head, or dancing around with it on your hips. She makes it look so easy, sensual, & terrifying all at once. LoL
We had a hulahooping exibition by some real pros in the center of the circle three or four times during the night as
well. It was dazzling drumming to this kind of stuff. Jim loved drumming to dancers, fire, or motion. Just like the
rest of us. There was Native American Wood flutes, Brazilian cuicas, and all kinds of other cool stuff going on.
So we played most all his favorite rhythms in a night dedicated to him. It was a night he would have enjoyed.
We sent a big poster of Jim that was signed by everyone at the end of the night to his girlfriend.
Thanks again everybody,
Shannon
drumcircles.net
Kimara Fire Dance at the drum circle video #1
Kimara Fire Dancing at the drum circle video #2
Flying Hands at the drum circle video #3 (Dave gets down!)
(More videos will be added soon. We have one with Jim in it somewhere. Please send any photos, or stories of Jim
you have so I can add them so everyone can remember the memories of the fun drum circles we had with him.)
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