To our extended Mapex Family,
We lost one of our own today. Artist Relations Manager and our dear friend Joe Hibbs passed away suddenly this morning. For all those who knew him... this hurts. He was one-of-a-kind and made everyone around him smile and laugh. He had a gift of making people feel great about themselves... what better talent in the world is there than that? We'll miss you Hibber... every day.

- Mapex USA

Through the 1970s, Joe worked in music retail in Houston, Texas, and played drums professionally. In the early '80s, he joined Pro Mark Drumsticks in Houston as artist manager and sales manager. He worked with many of his drum heroes, Billy Cobham, Simon Phillips, even hand-selecting drumsticks for Buddy Rich.

From Houston-based Pro Mark, Hibbs moved to Philadelphia and joined Hoshino USA (Tama) as artist relations manager. He expanded the artist roster to bring in many of the future drum heroes of today, including Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and Dave Grohl (Nirvana), while once again working with such legends as Elvin Jones, Neil Peart (Rush), Frank Beard (ZZ Top) and hundreds of others.

Joe Hibbs also began devoting time to Tama marketing and product development. While at Tama, he opened the Los Angeles Artist Relations and Product Development Center, where he managed all international artists along with product development for Star Classic Drums and Iron Cobra pedals.

He then moved to Premier Percussion, based in New Jersey, and continued his work with artist and product development. This gave him the opportunity to live in England and further develop a heightened sense of international business and world demand for music and artists.

He was finally recruited by KHS Musical Instruments/Mapex drums in 2003 to manage artist and product development and assist in the rebranding of Mapex drums.

"The drumming community lost one of it's pillars today. Joseph Hibbs was the first one from this industry to believe in me. He gave me my first chance with Mapex USA, and through thick and thin stuck by my side. He listened when I needed his ear, he instructed when I needed a mentor, and taught me all about humility. We had tons of jokes, tons of plans, and we accomplished a lot together. He's the reason I have a snare drum called "The Wraith" with Mapex Drums.

Phone calls with Hibbs always started and ended with him asking about my family, my life, my band and everything else he knew that was important to me. He was always at the office on holidays, cared for everyone he ever met, and was the hardest working person I knew in any industry. He loved his work, he loved people, he loved his artists, and he loved drums.

Thank you for teaching me so much about this business, and thank you for always being real with me. I will certainly miss you, and I'll always love ya, Hibbs. It's been an honor to know you. You were truly one of a kind."

- Matt Halpern on Facebook

"I am so very heartbroken that our friend and brother Joe Hibbs passed this weekend.....He was an amazing spirit who gave and gave and went out doing what he loved to do....promoting drummers ....drumming and Mapex.... You will be missed by many and and while you are no longer here you will be with us forever....

He called me one of the last of the mohicans it was YOU that was the last of a rare breed....Life well lived ...Gone too soon...."

- Ralph Peterson Jr on Facebook