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I received my first snare drum at ten years old, learning various instruments including cello, tuba, trumpet, marching drums, piano and acoustic guitar. I liked working with synthesizers and electronics but fell in love with drums the most. Throughout my school years I played as much as I could with many musicians and all styles of music.

One day I heard about a guy named Tracy Burroughs (called "Super Solo") who lived in a town nearby. He was awarded the Guinness Book of World Records Endurance Drumming record of 505 hours. I told my brother-in-law about the record and he told me “You couldn’t do that”. This inspired me to set a new record. Preparation took almost a year. I never looked back until I broke Tracy’s record and brought the event up to 720 hours (30 days).

After years of down time I wanted more than just drums. This brought me back to learning synthesizers and piano. I performed in small bands playing cover music, wrote and recorded about 150 songs and produced music for TV commercials and soundtracks.

My current musical direction is writing and recording my 5th CD, this will be a Progressive Rock project with Drums, Synths, Chapman Stick and Lead Guitar.

Bands and Artists that influenced me:

Jan Hammer, Yanni, Patrick O'Hearn, Toto, Ah-Ha, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Seal, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Gentle Giant, Howard Jones and Vangelis.

Instruments I play now:

Drums, Piano, Synthesizers, Bass Guitar, Rhythm Stick, Chapman Stick and Vocals

My Guinness Book of World Records entry:

(see book picture in photo gallery)

Set Endurance Drumming Record for 720 hours (or 30 days) --- 30 days in a front window of a bar 24/7 !!!!

My Record was broken years later by Boo McAfee.

Boo is presently running "The Worlds Fastest Drummer" competition - called WFD.

Drumming Records - published in the Guinness Books:

738 hours, Boo McAfee in 1983, 1984 books

720 hours, Clifford Marshall Van Buren in 1980, 1981, 1982 books

505 hours, Tracy Burroughs in 1978 book

270 hours, Jim Moore  in 1977 book

218 hours, Tracy Burroughs in 1975 book

I hope you enjoy my story and my music.

Cliff