Bobby Chouinard, who began banging on boxes at his home in Brockton, Mass., at the age of 12 and grew up to tour the world as drummer for the Billy Squier Band and other rock groups, died on Saturday in New York City, apparently of a heart attack. He was 43.
Robert G. Chouinard was born in Brockton. On Tuesday, his brother Roger said he never had a formal music lesson. "He was a natural," he said. "He just had a feel for it."
As a young man, his brother remembered bringing home a friend who brought along a drum set. "Bobby asked if he could play. The friend said, 'Why not?' Bobby played and was better than the drummer ... and it was the first time he'd played on a set."
He began his professional career at 14, touring locally with Duke and the Classics. He also played with Utopia and other local groups.
Mr. Chouinard toured nationally as a member of Orphan and with Duke and the Drivers, with whom he recorded two albums. He then toured and recorded two albums with the rock group Pierce-Arrow before becoming a member of Robert Gordon's rockabilly band.
When Mr. Chouinard wasn't touring, he did studio work for a number of musicians, including Cher, with whom he recorded an album. He also performed or recorded with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, James Montgomery and Peter Wolf.
In addition to his brother, who lives in Wareham, Mass., he leaves his mother, Myrtle (Bettle) of Brockton; and two sisters, Yvonne Devine of Brockton and Lisa Garibaldi of Montana.
Robert G. Chouinard was born in Brockton. On Tuesday, his brother Roger said he never had a formal music lesson. "He was a natural," he said. "He just had a feel for it."
As a young man, his brother remembered bringing home a friend who brought along a drum set. "Bobby asked if he could play. The friend said, 'Why not?' Bobby played and was better than the drummer ... and it was the first time he'd played on a set."
He began his professional career at 14, touring locally with Duke and the Classics. He also played with Utopia and other local groups.
Mr. Chouinard toured nationally as a member of Orphan and with Duke and the Drivers, with whom he recorded two albums. He then toured and recorded two albums with the rock group Pierce-Arrow before becoming a member of Robert Gordon's rockabilly band.
When Mr. Chouinard wasn't touring, he did studio work for a number of musicians, including Cher, with whom he recorded an album. He also performed or recorded with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, James Montgomery and Peter Wolf.
In addition to his brother, who lives in Wareham, Mass., he leaves his mother, Myrtle (Bettle) of Brockton; and two sisters, Yvonne Devine of Brockton and Lisa Garibaldi of Montana.
Bobby Chouinard, who began banging on boxes at his home in Brockton, Mass., at the age of 12 and grew up to tour the world as drummer for the Billy Squier Band and other rock groups, died on Saturday in New York City, apparently of a heart attack. He was 43.
Robert G. Chouinard was born in Brockton. On Tuesday, his brother Roger said he never had a formal music lesson. "He was a natural," he said. "He just had a feel for it."
As a young man, his brother remembered bringing home a friend who brought along a drum set. "Bobby asked if he could play. The friend said, 'Why not?' Bobby played and was better than the drummer ... and it was the first time he'd played on a set."
He began his professional career at 14, touring locally with Duke and the Classics. He also played with Utopia and other local groups.
Mr. Chouinard toured nationally as a member of Orphan and with Duke and the Drivers, with whom he recorded two albums. He then toured and recorded two albums with the rock group Pierce-Arrow before becoming a member of Robert Gordon's rockabilly band.
When Mr. Chouinard wasn't touring, he did studio work for a number of musicians, including Cher, with whom he recorded an album. He also performed or recorded with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, James Montgomery and Peter Wolf.
In addition to his brother, who lives in Wareham, Mass., he leaves his mother, Myrtle (Bettle) of Brockton; and two sisters, Yvonne Devine of Brockton and Lisa Garibaldi of Montana.
Robert G. Chouinard was born in Brockton. On Tuesday, his brother Roger said he never had a formal music lesson. "He was a natural," he said. "He just had a feel for it."
As a young man, his brother remembered bringing home a friend who brought along a drum set. "Bobby asked if he could play. The friend said, 'Why not?' Bobby played and was better than the drummer ... and it was the first time he'd played on a set."
He began his professional career at 14, touring locally with Duke and the Classics. He also played with Utopia and other local groups.
Mr. Chouinard toured nationally as a member of Orphan and with Duke and the Drivers, with whom he recorded two albums. He then toured and recorded two albums with the rock group Pierce-Arrow before becoming a member of Robert Gordon's rockabilly band.
When Mr. Chouinard wasn't touring, he did studio work for a number of musicians, including Cher, with whom he recorded an album. He also performed or recorded with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, James Montgomery and Peter Wolf.
In addition to his brother, who lives in Wareham, Mass., he leaves his mother, Myrtle (Bettle) of Brockton; and two sisters, Yvonne Devine of Brockton and Lisa Garibaldi of Montana.
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