David "Tula" Gilmore

Dearest David I will always love you always, forever and a day! You were fun all the way and such a great man. I miss you each day. We'll see each other you on the heavenly freeway. RIP

David Gilmore was a valued member of the Jazz community in New York. When not performing, he dedicated himself to teaching percussion and sharing the art of the "Paddle and Roll" style of Tap dance (made famous by Lon Chaney, Bunny Briggs, and Slide Hampton) with the younger generation of Jazz musicians and Artists. David Gilmore will be missed.

We hung out almost every week for some eight years in-and outside Showmans in Harlem. He used to call me his shadow. It was so much fun to follow him around. He was not a conventional role model, but was just so human: out-going, kindhearted, playful, curious, sometimes moody, not too proud but not overmodest, full of interesting stories to tell, and seriously passionate. I miss him dearly.

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.