Photo via Boston’s The Lilypad

Drummer Bob Gullotti has died.

Gullotti was a longtime professor at Berklee College of Music and member of beloved Boston jazz trio The Fringe.

Gullotti also served time in Surrender to the Air, the with Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Marc Ribot, Oteil Burbridge, John Medeski and members of Sun Ra Arkestra.

News of Gullotti’s death broke on Jan. 26, as many in the Boston music scene shared their memories of him.

In his life, he studied under prominent percussionist Alan Dawson, and influenced a number of students of his own, including drummer Andrew Barr of The Slip and Barr Brothers.

“Such sad news to learn that Bob Gullotti has left the planet,” Barr wrote. “I dropped out of music college when I was 19 years old to begin what I think of as an apprenticeship with Bob. I studied drumset with him once a week for 3 years, I helped pack up his drums and load them out of clubs for him, I watched just about every performance he gave in Boston for those three years and took in his stories and wisdom like a sponge. He taught me about drumming and about life in the simplest zen like exchange, it often felt like he was my mechanic, tuning up my deepest musical senses using the most practical tools. Anyone who knew Bob knew that he was such a deep deep soul, he expressed himself with so much humility, and in the simplest and clearest ways, always half grin. He said it all with his music, his brilliant drumming spoke volumes of what it is to be committed to a practice, committed to yourself, supportive, bold, risky, to show up for yourself and others, leave it all on the stage and to have gratitude for even having the opportunity to be making music for a living. I never once heard him sound dissatisfied with a performance. He was tapped into the river of music. We will miss you Bob. Thank you for imparting your wisdom, humiliation and your ridiculous stories on me.”

Barr ended his remembrance with his favorite quotes by Gullotti, “When in doubt, turn left.”

Undoubtedly, through his teaching and his music, Gullotti left an influence on a generation of Boston improvers and beyond.

Below, watch the late drummer perform with The Fringe for their 39th anniversary.