New London — The late Dwight Baldwin was many things: husband, father, musician, band-mate and city booster.

But family and friends said the moniker that best encapsulated his personality was one that immediately summed up Baldwin’s passion for mentorship.

He was “The Professor.”

More than 50 of Baldwin’s relatives, friends and admirers gathered on Sunday at a small grassy area near Parade Plaza for the unveiling of a pair of permanent interactive drum sets installed in honor of the world-renowned percussionist who died in December 2021 after a lifetime of performing and teaching.

A city Black Heritage Trail marker at the site was also unveiled and dedicated to Baldwin’s efforts in, as the plaque states, “building cultural awareness, promoting African history and fostering self-esteem.”

“These are his flowers,” said Merle Baldwin, the professor’s former wife, referring to the drums and marker. “We wanted to bring all this to New London, the place he spent his time sharing and teaching.”

The musical additions fronting State Street included a 3-foot tall silver drum near three shorter percussive blocks a short distance from five multicolored drum pillars.

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Even before the late-morning ceremony began, several visitors attending the final day of Sailfest paused to bang palms or knuckles on the new drum sets. And that’s just how the professor would have wanted it, said eldest daughter Phire Baldwin.

“Dad wanted interaction, he wanted to invite people to join in,” she said. “He made you believe in yourself and he didn’t believe in the word ‘can’t.’”

While Dwight Baldwin, a Pittsburgh native who called New London home, was an internationally lauded professional drummer ― he toured with several bands during his long career ― he was best known locally for leading impromptu drum circles in the city and for his generosity in sharing his love of drumming with young students though his ABCs of Drumming program.

State Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, said he relied on the musician’s connections and advice when he was just starting his career with the city’s police department.

“He helped connect me with the youth in the city,” Nolan said. “You’d see him out there downtown, just drumming by himself and suddenly people joined him with their own bongos, drums or flutes.”

The journey to Sunday’s ceremony began almost exactly a year ago at last year’s Sailfest, when Phire Baldwin sought out city officials and business owners for help in honoring her father.

“Everyone said yes and it all happened so fast,” she said.

One of the shops Phire Baldwin stopped into for guidance was The Telegraph record store, owned by Rich Martin, president of the New London Cultural District. Martin said Baldwin’s family had already done a lot of heavy lifting, including researching types of interactive drums and contacting City Hall officials.

“That left it to us to figure out how to pay for it,” Martin said.

The district ended up using roughly $14,000 in city American Rescue Plan Act funding for the purchase and installation of the drum sets, additions Martin called the most fitting kind of memorial for a man who spent his life advocating the community-uniting power of music.

City Councilor Akil Peck, who early on joined the push for a permanent city memorial for Baldwin, said despite the musician’s extroverted nature, Dwight Baldwin was modest when it came to self-promotion.

“He would have loved the idea of kids stopping here and playing,” Peck said.

The ceremony, attended by Mayor Michael Passero, City Council President Reona Dyess and other council members, was a joyous mix of intimacy and exuberance as Dwight Baldwin’s former bandmates swapped road stories near knots of attendees dancing to the tattoo of pounding drums.

Jeff Suntup, owner of Bernie’s Service Station on Jefferson Avenue and a longtime friend of the professor, reminded attendees that even icons as talented and beloved as Dwight Baldwin still carry their quirks.

“The only thing the professor loved more than music was Jaguars,” he said referencing the luxury cars. “But I ended up towing more of his cars than you can believe. He loved driving cars that didn’t run right.”

Kimberly Baldwin said it was a comfort to know her late father’s legacy would be permanently enshrined in the city he loved.

“Come and play on the drums,” she urged the crowd. “And in 20 years, bring your kids here.”

j.penney@theday.com