Detroit-born John Yarling has taught at the Frost School of Music for more than 20 years. As a lecturer in Studio Music and Jazz he coaches combos and big bands, mentors the Stamps Jazz Quintet and prepares drummers for college auditions. He studied classical percussion at Florida State University and jazz performance and drum set at UM, taught at North Broward Preparatory Schools, and founded the percussion program at the Florida Youth Conservatory.
John has long been the drummer of choice for South Florida bandleaders. His regular bands have included Ira Sullivan’s Inter-Outer Continental Quintet, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, the Shelly Berg Trio, Mitch Woods, Diane Ward, the Nicole Yarling 4-Tet and the Shack Daddys. He has performed with Mose Allison, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Lou Donaldson, Mark Murphy, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell and Dave Liebman, and with Rolling Stones veterans Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins and Bobby Keys. He has toured with Curtis Fuller, Kevin Mahogany and Josh Smith, and recorded with Ira Sullivan, Pepper Adams, Joe Williams, Ernest Ranglin and Pink, on her album Funhouse. In July 2025 he led an open jam session at Miami jazz station WDNA.