It wouldn’t have been a fitting tribute to the founder of Remo, Inc. if there hadn’t been a little group drumming. The 2014 Silver Spur Award for Community Service was presented to Remo and Ami Belli by the College of the Canyons Foundation at an event that included music and drumming as well as tributes and fundraising.

COC Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook (left) presents the 2014 Silver Spur Award for Community Service to Remo and Ami Belli. Photos: Michele E. Buttelman.

Remo Belli is the CEO and founder of Remo, Inc. Remo manufactures drumheads, drum sets and world percussion. It was founded by Belli in 1957. Belli, from Mishawaka, Ind., started drumming at age 12. After a stint in the Navy during WWII Belli moved to Los Angeles and became a professional drummer. He pioneered the use of Mylar, a synthetic polyester film for drumheads, and Remo, Inc. was born.

After moving to Los Angeles Belli met his wife Ami, a holistic health practitioner. Their dynamic partnership is dedicated to promoting the many positive benefits that music, education, healthy living and a sense of community can have on the human condition, said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook.

“Remo and Ami have touched thousands of lives through music. Whether inspiring students and enabling them to express their creativity through sound, or healing minds and bodies with the therapeutic power of drumming, their dedication to improving the human condition has been felt around the world,” Van Hook said. “The spirit of possibility and creativity inherent in music is embodied in the Silver Spur Award, so it makes the Bellis particularly worthy of this honor.”

More than 250 guests to the 24th annual Silver Spur Celebration, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, were greeted by the world rhythms music of the Electrico Carnaval Band. After attendees arrived at the fifth floor Grand Salon, they were entertained by the Jeff Hamilton Trio.

Remo Belli, second from left, participates in the drum circle led by Christine Stevens, right.

Mitzi and Randy Moberg chaired the 2014 Silver Spur Celebration.

“It has been fabulous working with Remo and Ami,” said Mitzi Moberg. “They are all about music, entertainment, education and wellness,” she said. “We have really enjoyed the experience.”

Drums were the theme of the evening as Remo Belli played a large drum as part of drum circle led by Christine Stevens, MSW, MT-BC, a speaker, author and music therapist. Each guest at the dinner was able to participate in the drum circle with a small handheld percussion disc.

After a live auction that raised more than $21,000 for the College of the Canyons Foundation, a special Fund-A-Need appeal raised nearly $12,000 to benefit the K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program.

The program, through College of the Canyons and the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, was launched in 2008 and includes school assemblies, bus-in programs and classroom visits dedicated to the arts.

The Bellis have been dedicated supporters of the program.

The life stories of Remo and Ami Belli were told through an on screen multi-media presentation.

Van Hook then took the podium and presented the Bellis with the Silver Spur award plaque.

From left: Jacquie and Harold Petersen and Lois Bauccio participate in the drum circle at the 2014 Silver Spur Celebration.

“I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to bestow this special award on Remo and Ami in recognition of their selfless service to others, their spirit and their long friendship with College of the Canyons,” Van Hook said. “The Silver Spur Award is presented to a select group of men and women who do the right things for the right reasons.”

Van Hook lauded the Bellis for being an “inspiration.”

“They serve as an example for all of us, showing all of us what you can accomplish when you match your own vision with courage and commitment, passion, and unwavering tenacity and resilience,” she said.

After Van Hook’s tribute the audience rose in a standing ovation as the Bellis came to the stage and accepted the award.

COC Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook with Randy and Mitzi Moberg.

“We are very grateful to all of you who have come (tonight),” said Ami Belli. “We share a common cause, College of the Canyons.”

Remo Belli thanked “our dear friends that have come to hang out with us tonight.” “I want you to take something home with you,” he said. “The use of music in general and drumming specifically, as wellness tools, can now be substantiated. We spent 22 years in research and study and there is no question about it. You are hard-wired into music and rhythm. The first thing you hear is rhythm.”

He then demonstrated to the audience the sound of a human heartbeat.

Among the previous Silver Spur honorees are: Frank and Charlotte Kleeman, Harold and Jacquie Petersen, Wayne Crawford, Myrna and Gary Condie, Gary and Diana Cusumano, Richard and Marian Sandnes and Barry and Pati Gump.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Foundation and the K-12 Arts Education Outreach program visit www.canyons.edu or www3.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/CanyonsPAC/k12arts.html.