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Hubert Tyler "Herb" Drury

FUNERAL HOME

Bopp Chapel

10610 Manchester Rd.

Kirkwood, Missouri

Hubert Drury Obituary

Drury, Hubert Tyler "Herb"

92, on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Beloved husband of 68 years to Nancy A. Drury (nee McLean). Dear father of Janet (Richard) Hellwege, Anne (Todd) Matheis, and Jill (Scott) Gundy. Dear Herbie to Emily, Alex, and Cole. Dear brother of Betty (Tom) Duffy. Dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

Herb started his jazz piano career at 15. He graduated from the St. Louis Institute of Music with a Masters Degree in Performance. Herb went on to make his mark on the St. Louis jazz music scene with his trio and later as a duo. He taught piano as well, which allowed him to guide and mentor many . His wisdom and love of music, life and family was contagious and will be incredibly missed by all whose lives he touched.

No services at this time. A Celebration of Life may be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Jazz St. Louis or the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. www.boppchapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Dec. 6, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Hubert Drury

20 Entries

Karen Clark

November 30, 2022

Herb was my piano teacher of 25 years and my mentor. I learned so much from him. He opened up the world of jazz for me, but he also shared much of his wisdom. I always left my lessons feeling like I was on top of the world, and I hope that I can do that with my own students. He taught me a lot about teaching. So few true jazz artists can teach jazz. He was a true gem!

Ed Levy

November 30, 2022

Herb was one of my childhood heroes! My brother and I took lessons from 2nd grade through high school, and he was just the "coolest " guy I knew. The way he talked and played-smooth as silk! He was always patient and supportive. Great memories!

Wanda Kuntz

November 30, 2022

To Jan, your dad will always be an inspiration to our family! He was not only a talented musician - he was a kind friend and mentor to my brothers and to me. Let´s continue to connect!

Rich Moore

February 14, 2021

It was with great sadness this morning to read of Herb's passing. I followed his career thru the years from the 1950's and he was gracious enough to permit me to sit in with his groups from time to time; much appreciated by me. My sympathies to you and your family in this time. He will be sadly missed by many musicians.

Gordon Krainen

December 16, 2020

I had the pleasure of studying with Herb for a few years while living in St. Louis. It was a special time in my life to have learned from him. It was almost 40 years ago but I recall his lessons so well and I still play many of the songs we worked on. Blessings to his family and may your memories be a treasure for you to cherish.

Michael Szwargulski

December 12, 2020

Goin to miss our talks and hearing you tickle those ivories Herb. It was a pleasure hearing you early in the day. You raised a wonderful family and were blessed with an amazing wife. Anytime I hear Linus and Lucy, I`ll think of you.

Lizzy Kemp Elze

December 10, 2020

My deepest condolences to the Drury family. What a treasure, such a great teacher, and musician. The world is different with his passing, but there´s a great jazz musician in heaven. I am forever grateful for the twelve years I had the privilege of taking lessons. Our entire family sought his sage instruction to improve our playing of music.

I learned the language of music in weekly practice from "Mr. Drury", "Herb" to Mom and Dad, breaking "tunes" down in manageable sections, slowing difficult timing or fingering of passages until mastered, seeing his guided notations of fingering or chords, steadfast tapping of his pencil to correct erroneous timing, or metronomed Hanon, chromatic parallel and opposing scales, arpeggios, inversion studies to strengthen my fingers and mind.

I wasn´t a prodigy or exceptionally talented, just loved music and playing. I still take on new pieces, or refresh old pieces following the same techniques since those lessons. There was no greater satisfaction than when Mr Drury gave his acknowledgment and approval of my proficiency for a given work passing his muster and no longer requiring further instruction. On the flip side, there was no worse feeling than when I had not practiced, then, penitent I´d practice as much as I could to redeem his faith in me. After the technical mastery, I could lose myself in the dynamic voicing of the crescendos, fortes, and dolce of the movements within.

When my Dad, a jazz piano player and friend of Herb Drury, was brought home on hospice, and lay dying, I played every classical piece of Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven I could to ease him and myself. Playing between tears and Dads eyebrow raising and foot tapping acknowledging his awareness of the music thru the morphine, I offered Dad what comfort I could from the piano tunes I had shared with Dad throughout my life. That gift was only possible because of Mr. Drury.

I am indebted to Mr Drury for so much joy in playing, and even the sorrow.

A patient and kind taskmaster who brought me ever more capable with my humble performance of the great masters works. His legacy is alive in each and every time I play knowing, that if I had played well enough for Mr. Drury, I could play well enough for just about anyone else. Rest In Peace dear friend.

Terry Schieler

December 9, 2020

Our condolences to Herb's friends and family. He had many. As a youngster, my Dad would take the family and me to Gaslight Square to hear Herb's trio play. He was a very talented performer and a wonderful friend.

Janice Cronin

December 9, 2020

My husband and I spent many pleasant evenings enjoying Herb Drury and Jerry Cherry.
What a treat it was!

John Brophy

December 8, 2020

Herbie is one of three great influences on my musical career. A true friend of the entire Brophy family. I am so sad to read of his passing...wonderful player, my teacher at age 16 on piano and one of the most kind and gentle people I have ever met. Words can not express my feeling of loss. Playing with Herb and Jerry was like a dream come true. I'm really spending a sad day today. So glad I got to see him in person back in Sept. Miss you and love you Herbie!!!! So sorry to hear Nancy.

Sarah and Dan Bock

December 7, 2020

We were saddened by the news of Herb's passing. Thinking of the family during this difficult time.

Richard Daugherty

December 6, 2020

Herb was not only a fine musician but also a wonderful and exceptional person. I've known Herb since the 1950's and even then he was an inspiration to those of us aspiring pianists who were fortunate enough to have known and heard him. His unfailing good humor and kindness to all will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Herb.

Jody L Serkes

December 6, 2020

When I was a little Serkes, my parents would take us to any nightclub where he was. He was so terrific, and such a giver to other muses.

Rabbi Stephen Chicurel-Stein

December 6, 2020

I grew up in St. Louis, and my musical education was forever enhanced by learning/listening to THE Herb Drury Trio at Le Chateau, where I worked in the restaurant. Rest In Peace and you will be remembered.

Wanda Kuntz

December 6, 2020

My brothers and I considered Herb not only a wonderful friend, but someone who mentored us as we were fortunate enough to carve out careers as full-time musicians. His musical guidance was always encouraging (like an older brother) and we will always consider him an honor to know.

Karen Clark

December 6, 2020

He was my piano teacher and mentor for 25 years. I wrote this poem in tribute to him in 2000.
The Music Teacher
He´s not just a teacher . . .
He´s the spirit, soul and essence of music and wisdom.

An observer of life, he contemplates and ponders,
sharing his thoughts, but never imposing.
Questioning, but never judging.

Spiritual, but not pious,
giving credit to the Master Creator
for the magic that flows through his fingers
as they caress the keyboard.

Inspiring, generous, always wanting the best for his students.

It´s my favorite hour of the week,
and I always learn.
Even though I´ll never be a great musician,
I have studied with the best,
and have learned as much about life as I have about music.

My deepest condolences to the family.

Sympathy gifts were selected in loving memory of Hubert Tyler "Herb" Drury. To send a gift visit our online store.

Ed Levy

Sent Sympathy Gifts including Flowers

Jeanne (Theriac) Holder

December 6, 2020

My heart goes out to the Drury family and we will all miss Herb. He was my piano teacher for several years many years ago and I am forever grateful he called St. Louis home. He was a very gifted player and could have played the top tier anywhere but I mostly remember him as a compassionate, wonderful human being and teacher. He will be missed.

Sheri Steininger

December 6, 2020

What a wonderful man! Not only was he a sweet and fun-loving guy, but Herb also has been a role model for many of us trying to live a life full of art, music, and self-expression.
Nancy was key to this, obviously, with her devotion, executive skill, and amused tolerance. Together they were able to nurture Herb's dreams of jazz performance while also raising a beautiful, loving family. His daughters adored him, and the feeling was mutual.
As a teacher, myself, I think it's significant that his teaching might have been a simple paycheck, yet Herb used his talents to mentor promising younger musicians with a generosity that helped ensure his art would live on into the future.
I remember that when I was a kid and learned the word "self-actualized," Mr. Drury's example helped me understand what it meant. Herb lived his best life because he was, at heart, a philosopher, living every day with intention. He would ask the most startling questions sometimes, and really listen and think about your answers. Doesn't every teenager admire an adult who looks at them and really sees?
Thirty and forty years later, I found him to be much the same, a happy philosopher. No wonder his family, friends, and students held him dear.

Jay and Pam Hellwege

December 6, 2020

Hugs and love to the whole family...esp. Nancy, Ann and Jill.

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