a company of drummers making drums for drummers.
LUKE GARRO
General Manager
Luke is a seasoned entrepreneur, drummer for 25+ years, and the General Manager at Noble & Cooley. Having founded and run two successful boutique marketing agencies beginning in 2000, he now brings his creative and operational experience to the oldest drum manufacturer in America. Luke grew up as a touring and recording drummer for various bands in Connecticut and Massachusetts, which in 2001 led him to his current gig as the drummer for indie rock staple, Piebald.
JOHN KEANE
Owner/Advisor
John joined Noble & Cooley in 2015 to help revitalize the brand and introduce it to the next generation of drummers. As a long-time drummer and Noble & Cooley player, he has used his CD Maple drums in Crawlspace, NOK and Choose Your Power, making him the perfect advocate for the company. A 25+ year veteran of the business and medical device manufacturing worlds, John provides the company with resources, analysis and strategic direction, which has enabled it to expand as well as develop new product lines for drummers everywhere to enjoy.
Lou Scalzo
Manufacturing Manager
Lou is a musician, carpenter and drum builder with 20 years of experience in the industry. He leads all manufacturing at Noble & Cooley and is a key player in our Research & Development efforts. A skilled craftsman, Scalzo began working in carpentry in the late 90’s, honing his creativity over time to become a fine finish carpenter and furniture builder. Prior to that, he worked in the music sales and recording industry, becoming a well-rounded recording and live sound engineer.
Ian haas
Drum Maker & Inventory Management
Ian Haas is a drummer with over 15 years of experience at various levels. He studied jazz drumset performance at UMass and has since performed with notable New Orleans musicians Glen David Andrews and the late Charles Neville, as well as with his own music groups. In addition to his musical pursuits, Ian is also a talented drum maker at Noble & Cooley, where he channels his passion for woodworking and meticulous attention to detail to create top-quality instruments. With a keen eye for design and a commitment to excellence, Ian always strives for perfection in everything he does.
Rob walbourNe
East Coast & International Sales
Rob grew up in Muswell Hill, North London, and started playing drums at the age of 10 before turning professional at 15. He’s lucky to have played with such luminaries as Shane MacGowan, Jason Isbell, St Etienne, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Justin Townes Earle, Richard Thompson and the North Mississippi Allstars. Rob has been with us since 2017 specializing in hardware production before shifting his focus to sales.
RYAN SPELLMAN
West Coast Sales
Hailing from the northeast coast, and later spending many years in Portland, Oregon, Ryan established himself in the music community as the drummer for acclaimed Americana band, Quiet Life, as well as the session drummer on countless recordings. Now in Los Angeles, Ryan engages in a wide array of interests, from recording music, to building surfboards and creating visual art. Ryan brings to Noble & Cooley his enthusiasm for connecting with people from all over the world, his love of craftsmanship and building, and his overall excitement and knowledge of drums, drummers, and music.
NICK JONES
Owner
Nick is the 7th-generation descendant of the Cooley line. Growing up, Nick observed his older brother playing drums, and gravitated to the bass to round out the rhythm section. He has since spent the majority of his life playing in numerous bands. Nick started working for the company as a summer job in high school. After graduating from college in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in audio production, Nick worked in the factory full time making drums. As of 2022, Nick is focusing his efforts on Noble & Cooley Real Estate, looking for opportunities in the 85,000 square foot factory.
JONATHAN (JAY) JONES
Retired
As the 6th-generation descendant of James Cooley, Jay started coming to the factory as a boy in grade school, and grew up around the factory with his father and grandfather as mentors. He learned construction and the craft of running the machine tools for metal and woodworking at an early age. Jay started working full time at Noble & Cooley in 1973 as general manager and purchasing agent for the bustling toy business. Always looking for different products and ways to evolve the company, Jay jumped on the opportunity to make steam-bent, professional drums. What started out as Jay’s innovations have now become industry standards in the custom drum world.
Carol Jones
Retired
Carol married her husband Jay in 1978 and joined the family business part-time in 1985, just as the custom drum division of the company was developing. She quickly transitioned from part time to full time, taking on the office operations for the new custom drum division. For many years, Carol served as the primary point of contact for our valued dealers and drum set artists.