Keith Necessary, 64, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2020 after a long illness.

He shared his incredible talents as a drummer, musician, producer, salesman and his love of music as a teacher with many students, family, and friends. Born on January 27, 1956 in Alexandria VA, Keith started playing drums at a very young age, and as a teenager, would travel by train to New Jersey every 2 weeks to study with the great drummer Joe Morello. By the time he graduated from Groveton High School in 1974 he was already playing professionally in the greater Washington D.C. area. His first experience in a recording studio came by chance on a HS field trip to a session for Leonard Bernstein's "Mass"; short one musician to cover a handful of small percussion parts, Keith was pressed into service when the producer asked his teacher "who's your best reader?".

After studying at Eastman School of Music he decided to stay "up north" to continue his studies with the likes of Joe Morello, Roy Burns, and Gary Chester and to perform all styles and genres of music with many bands. He resided in Prospect Park, Irvington, and Butler NJ, and for many years in East Stroudsburg PA. A highly skilled studio musician, he performed on over 500 radio and TV ads, 70 soundtracks and toured with international artists, notably Glen Campbell; he also co-authored articles with Joe Morello and transcribed music for Modern Drummer Magazine.

Keith taught drums for more than 30 years and was a percussion salesman for many music stores, including Ritchie's Music Center – Rockaway NJ, Star Music - Morristown NJ, Rosewood Music and Drum Shop – Emmaus PA, Dave Phillips Sound and Music – Allentown PA, and Village Music Centers – Butler, Parsippany and Ledgewood NJ and Stroudsburg PA.

Keith was the son of Anna F. (Stringer) and the late Warren L.C. Necessary. He is survived by aunts, uncles and cousins in the Barr, Dubler, Necessary, Stringer and Widener families in Virginia, long time friends Anne Simon, Dave Eggleston and Lynn Lance, and many friends in NY, NJ, PA, CA and VA, as well as his dog Phedd. Burial will be private with the family in Virginia.

"We skipped the light fandango….."