After the beating stops

Fred Armisen’s journey from drum kit to skits on “Saturday Night Live” is far from typical, but he’s following others who have moved out from behind the drums to shine in other ways. Here are some of them:

Desi Arnaz gained fame as foil to his wife on “I Love Lucy.” Before that, though, he was a conga drum player and bandleader. The marriage failed, but Arnaz found wealth and success as a producer.

Before they were pop sensations, Karen Carpenter and her brother, Richard, were in a jazz trio good enough to win a mid-’60s battle of the bands at the Hollywood Bowl — without her singing a note.

Bing Crosby was a jazz drummer in 1926 when he and a pal, Al Rinker, decided to set out for LA. Within a couple of months, bandleader Paul Whiteman had hired them as vocalists after catching their vaudeville act.

John Stamos is best known for his role as Jesse on the situation comedy “Full House” and for “General Hospital” before that. But for 20 years, he has sporadically toured with the Beach Boys as their drummer.

Dana Carvey once said his perfect day would include an hour of drumming. He played in “Wayne’s World,” and one of his “Saturday Night Live” characters, the Church Lady, once showed her chops in a skit.

SOURCES: Sunday Advertiser, Australia; Buffalo News; Dallas Morning News; Newsday; Orange County Register; Globe archives
Globe Staff Graphic/Michael Prager