John Wooton

Professor of Music
Director of Percussion Studies

D.M.A., University of Iowa
M.M., University of North Texas
B.M., University of Southwest Louisiana

E-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 601.549.3775

Dr. John Wooton is the director of percussion studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. A native of Lafayette, La., he has received degrees from the University of Iowa, the University of North Texas and the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Dr. Wooton plays drum set for the USM Jazz Quintet and leads his professional steel band “Kaiso!”

From 1988 to 1992, he served as percussion coordinator/pep band director for the University of Iowa bands. As an instructor and performer, Dr. Wooton has been associated with five P.A.S.I.C. Marching Percussion Forum champions. He marched snare drum for four years with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Ill. (1981-84).

During those years, Dr. Wooton held the Drum Corps Midwest Individual Snare Drum title, the Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum Individual title, and placed in the top ten D.C.I. Snare Drum Individuals for three consecutive years. From 1987 to 1989, he served as the percussion caption head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. In 1990, Dr. Wooton was their percussion consultant. For the 1990-91 drum corps seasons, he served as program coordinator/percussion arranger for “Nite Express” Drum and Bugle Corps of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Since joining the faculty at Southern Miss, Dr. Wooton, along with establishing a strong percussion studio, has introduced the USM Steel Band, Pop Percussion Ensemble, Samba Band and Salsa Band. He is serving as the president of the Percussion Arts Society, Mississippi Chapter, as a member of the Percussive Arts Society Marching Committee, and he also is a clinician for Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks.

Dr. Wooton is the author of “The Drummer’s Rudimental Reference Book”—“Perhaps the most definitive rudimental technique book of our time” - Thomas L. Davis. The book and several of Dr. Wooton’s other compositions and videos are published by Row Loff Productions at www.rowloff.com.