Cleve Pozar (1941–2019) was an American percussionist and composer renowned for his versatility across genres such as jazz, free improvisation, classical, avant-garde, funk, and Afro-Cuban music. Born Robert F. Pozar, he began his musical journey in dance orchestras during his youth, later studying at the University of Michigan, where he collaborated with avant-garde composers like Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma. Pozar's notable recordings include Bob James' "Bold Conceptions" and "Explosions," as well as Bill Dixon's "Intents and Purposes." His solo work, "Cleve Solo Percussion," showcases his innovative approach to percussion. Beyond performance, Pozar contributed to music education, authoring books on Batá rhythms and developing the "1 E and A System" for rhythm notation. ([allaboutjazz.com](https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/cleve-pozar/?utm_source=openai))