The meeting with Drum Workshop was very exciting. This was my first visit with Drum Workshop.
Through my 50 years of experience with drums and as a performer, I notice Drum Workshop right off in the early seventies when they first appeared on the scene. They impressed me with their equipment. Especially, their pedals.
I had traveled to a NAMM show in Nashville Tennessee where I first met Bernard
Purdie and we became good friends. Bernard in my book is the best handler of
the drumstick. The drumstick must have bounce he would say. Bernard Purdie and
I had many things in common especially the way we both setup our drums. After a
few years of going to the NAMM shows I notice out of all the products there
were none like mine that I have been using for over twenty years. I focused on
my new revolutionary drum pedal to the point I wanted to share what I had
invented with the world. 
When at one NAMM show I had the pleasure to meet John Good of DW (Drum Workshop) and he gave me his personal card. He is one of the owners of DW. It was years before I decided to do something with my new invention.
Since Bernard Purdie is my friend. I asked him "if I had something that was a very kewl product would he want to appear in Modern Drummer magazine with him in a picture with it?" Bernard is such a kind man and a very fine gentleman. He said that "yes I would do this for you".
I invited Bernard Purdie to take a look at my new invention at Eike Mueller’s home in the Ozark Mountains in northeast Arkansas. I called Bernard and asked him "if I pay your way here would you come and see something that I would like you to see?" Bernard Purdie did fly to Memphis Tennessee and I picked him up at the Memphis airport.
When he got into the car he was hungry and asked me to take him to get something to eat. I took him to Beale Street where we dined at B. B. Kings Restaurant. If you were anybody that performed music you done so on Beale Street. I know I have lots. We both had BBQ ribs and men are they good. We finished our meal and left out across the Mississippi River into Arkansas. It was not long we were there.
As the day became night that evening was very kewl. 
After
a few phone calls I took Bernard into the studio and set him in front of a
vintage set of 1971 Ludwig vistalite drum set with a 1935 7.5" Radio King snare
solid maple. I also had a 1928 pair of "K" Zildjian sock cymbals just beautiful
and two Paiste crash rides that will make any true drummer’s mouth water. I
then asked Bernard "could he see any thing different with this set of drums"?
He looked for a bit and he said "that is a beautiful snare you have". I then asked him "is there anything else about the kit"? "No" he said.
So I asked him to go and sit behind them and play them. So he got up and did so. It did not take him long at all to see a major difference in this set of drums.
Bernard Purdie said "Oh my god, you’ve done it!".
Bernard played for maybe less then a minute. He put his hands on his face and said "oh my god you’ve done it".
He
kept saying this until he left until I dropped him off back at the Memphis
airport.
Bernard played with my new invention every day till he left. He told "there have been many that tried to do what I have done but noone has ever made it work". Bernard explained how my new invention is so natural feeling and he called it and I quote "the ultimate drum pedal". He also added that my pedal would change the way music is played, as we know it today.
Once a man like Bernard Purdie said and reacts this way I knew that he like it
like I did. So when I produced a working prototype to Don Lombardi
and John Good of the Drum Workshop Company in Oxnard
California 
I knew they would love it too. And they did.
John Good said "this invention is leaps and bounds better then any other pedal of it’s kind on earth". This of coarse made me very happy, that not only was I proud of what I had produced. So by the way Don Lombardi and John Good, the men that builds drums for a world of famous drummers, Drum Workshop were too. Which is the best when it comes to pedals, they were to proud that Drum Workshop wants it on their production line and in their catalogue, that Don Lombardi said it comes out every two years. As for my opinion the workers at DW really need a product such as mine too.
Just think the ability to perform with a pedal that makes it effortless, easy and extremely incredibly fast. And virtually not changing the way a drummer plays in any way naturally. With my idea and Don Lombardi and John Good of Drum Workshop whom explained that they would give me anything to help me make it possible there are no problems in producing the world’s first ultimate drum pedal, as Bernard Purdie would call it. I found Don Lombardi to be a kind and having a good business head on his shoulders completely thoroughly.
And John Good having a good grip on selecting what it takes for the day’s
drummer’s needs. Plus both are happy to help me 
with
anything to make this happen for them. Including at the first meeting Don
Lombardi spoke up and made this statement on wanting to help with anything
including me getting any hardware including any pedals from them freely. I just
found them to be a very good company and men you can trust.
So far Drum Workshop has sent me pedals for this marvelous project. I am as anxious as a little schoolboy to see what I have invented in every musicstore in America and throughout the world. And to know that my invention will change the way music is played, as we know it today. Also, at the first meeting when Don Lombardi and John Good left for a moment from the meeting room where they first seen what I wanted them to produce.
The first thing out of the mouth of Rich Sitka, DW’s engineer was “Great”
and "I wish I had thought of it and it could of never came at a better time".
On the second meeting at Oxnard California
On the second meeting at Oxnard California, John Good told Rich Sitka to give me his card and to keep in touch with me. On the second meeting Rich Sitka was able to see my invention the actual proto-type on a drum set, that was set-up in a show room filled with all their drum kit models.
I asked him how did he like my invention and how did he like how it worked and
he replied "your pedal works great, very kewl". See this is what was discussed 
on the first meeting whereas Don Lombardi and John Good wanting
to see a working prototype before Drum Workshop and I could start negotiations
on a license agreement.
With today’s competition something like what I have invented and I have had for over twenty years is a sure must for any drummer and certainly needs to be in their personal arsenal. I have played with many great drummers and musicians for 50 years and if there was anyone that knew about drums and what drummers demand is I know all about it.
Being that I have lived in Memphis Tennessee all my life I had rubbed shoulders with them all From Elvis Presley to Jimi Hendrix.
If anyone knows about guitarist they know a man, that I encouraged to perform
many years ago 
named Shawn Lane. Shawn and I were very close good
friends. I took him to a plateau and history tells the rest. Getting a
recording contract with Warner Brothers was a very good sign for Shawn Lane.
Guitarist like Steve Vai got on their knees at NAMM shows and bowed before
Shawn Lane. The reason I am telling you about men like Shawn Lane is men like
this are men that worked with me. Since his passing I miss him very much. Maybe
before I die there might, just might be a guitarist like him again. So I can
finish our work we had started.