Editing Boomwhacker (section)

== History ==
Boomwhackers evolved at a time when junk bands and performers using instruments made from [[found object (music)|recycled materials]] were popular. Bands often used gas pipes or various cast-offs from plumbers that were cut to length to produce different pitches when struck on an open end. Schools, meanwhile, created their own junk bands as a cheap way to simultaneously promote creativity and encourage recycling. However, creating a custom kit was labor-intensive, leaving a niche for Boomwhackers, which are premade and mass-produced.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.x8drums.com/blog/boomwhackers/|title = Boomwhackers!|publisher = X8 Drumes|date = 28 October 2014}}</ref>

American Craig Ramsell reportedly came up with the idea for his Boomwhackers in 1994 while at home recovering from radiation therapy. While cutting cardboard tubes into shorter lengths for recycling, he noticed the different pitches resulting from the different lengths and decided to investigate their creative potential.  He experimented with various plastics before settling on plastic mailing tubes.<ref name=greenberg>{{cite book|last=Greenberg|first=Steve|title=Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention|year=2008|publisher=Sterling|pages=[https://archive.org/details/gadgetnationjour0000gree/page/56 56]–59|isbn=9781402736865 |url=https://archive.org/details/gadgetnationjour0000gree|url-access=registration}}</ref>  He and his wife, Monnie Ramsell, formed DrumSpirit as a sole [[proprietorship]] to market the tubes. The original plastic Boomwhackers were first produced in 1995.  The current, more durable version was released in 1997.

Craig Ramsell then started Whacky Music, Inc. in 1998, marketing a wider variety of Boomwhacker sets and materials. Boomwhackers are now available to span 3½ chromatic octaves. (The addition of the Octavator Tube Caps in 1999 allowed for the third lower octave.)

In July 2009, the [[Sedona, Arizona]]-based Whacky Music, Inc., sold its interests to Rhythm Band Instruments LLC of [[Fort Worth, Texas]], through an [[asset purchase agreement]]. Rhythm Band now distributes and owns the trademark to Boomwhackers.