He is known for his spontaneity, wit, incomparable style, and commanding presence. He doesn’t tip-toe around rhythms and he doesn’t waste beats. “I like to get a musical sound out of the drums,” he once said, “I want to make them sing.” Given the nickname “Snap Crackle” for his distinctive style and musical vocabulary, Roy Haynes’ career spanned eight decades; he was a pioneer of jazz drumming and one the most recorded musicians in jazz.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Roy Haynes was produced in 1997 by Njemile C. Jones and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson. 

The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library. In a partnership with Tim and UNTML, we’ve picked a handful of noteworthy shows to share with you. You can find more “Jazz Profiles” shows at the UNT Music Library’s Jazz Syndicate (www.library.unt.edu/jazzsyndicate), and learn more about 32 Bar Blues' clothing collection and commitment to the arts at 32barblues.com