Connie Kays Copper Teardrops the inspiration for the HiLite Exclusive

[Frank Godiva]

Kay was an early endorser starting in the late 50s.

At some point in the 60s, he received a one of kind Teardrop black sparkle with copper plated hardware. This was one of the first truly all custom kits the was the blueprint for the HiLite Exclusive as well as the Designer and SQ2 lines, which featured fully customizable build to order drum sets.

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[Frank Godiva]

[Frank Godiva]

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[Frank Godiva]

Here is Kenny Clarke on Kay’s Copper Drops at an MJQ reunion show

[Frank Godiva]

Part of the kit resides somewhere in New York with this gentleman

[Frank Godiva]

Kay on the Tonight Show playing a HiLite Exclusive kit