The pair opened their business, San Jose Pro Drum, in the space previously occupied by Lemmon Percussion on the corner of Bird Avenue and Willow Street on March 3.

"There's no affiliation between us and the previous business," Batres says. "We really wanted to set up shop in Willow Glen. We like the community atmosphere and the general vibe of the area. It's just coincidence that this space was available at the time we wanted it."

DeGrasso and Batres, both professional drummers, have know each other for 10 years. Initially meeting as local musicians, they continued to find common ground among other interests, including the San Jose Sharks.

"Jimmy used to come into the shop I managed, and I was always trying to get him to do drum clinics for us," Batres says. "He initially wasn't sure, but I [supplied] him with tickets to Sharks games, and he eventually agreed. In time, we got to know each other and stayed in touch over the years."

DeGrasso and Batres view the opening of San Jose Pro Drum as the culmination of a longtime dream.

"I wanted to open a shop with Paul years ago, but I was traveling so much it was not possible," says DeGrasso, who has spent the past 12 years touring with bands and conducting drum clinics all over the world. "Recently, I started getting more into teaching and traveling less, but I wanted to wait until Paul was available. After managing a local drum shop for 13 years, Paul felt it was time to move on. The timing was right for both of us, so we went into business together."

For Batres, opening San Jose Pro Drum was simply the next step in his career.

"I've been playing drums since I was five," he says. "I've played in local bands and been on the retail end for years. I have never known anything else."

Batres credits DeGrasso with supplying the initiative for San Jose Pro Drum.

"Jimmy was the driving force in putting everything together," Batres says. "I know how to run a business, how to order product, display it for sale and handle the accounting end, but Jimmy really got the ball rolling by handling all the legal aspects of establishing a business and dealing with the physical construction of the space."

The men are well-known in the drum community and are confident that their reputations will further the success of their business. "We are professional drummers, so we can advise people on which direction to go when purchasing equipment," DeGrasso says.

San Jose Pro Drum carries a full selection of drums and accessories, including conventional sets ranging in price from $400 to $20,000, Latin percussion instruments, orchestral and marching percussion, symbols and hardware.

In addition to equipment, San Jose Pro Drum offers maintenance, repair and restoration services as well as in-house lessons.

"It is very important to us that we have a high-caliber teaching staff," Batres says.

Because of DeGrasso's connections within the drumming community, San Jose Pro Drum will be able to offer drum clinics with a variety of famous drummers. In the works is a series of summer drum clinics with drummers from famous bands like KISS coming to participate.

"The caliber of people we have participating is outstanding," DeGrasso says. "Most people can't even get a chance to meet these players, let alone take lessons from them."

San Jose Pro Drum is located at 820 Willow St., Suite 200. For more information or to sign up for clinics, call 408.298. 1999 or visit the website www.sanjoseprodrum.com.