Every musical instrument has a “superstar” artist for the Cello, people like Yo Yo Ma, for the TRumpet; Wynton Marsalis, etc. But I haven’t heard of any such artists for the Glockenspiel, or Tuba. I was really impressed when Ma had about 0 cellists playing togetherI wonder what n 0 Glockenspiels would sound like?
For tuba, you have Øystein Baadsvik who has had several works written for him.
As far as glockenspiel is concerned, I suppose that it’s an instrument that is going going to be played by a percussionist in an orchestra setting and there are some “big” stars in classical percussions. Evelyn Glennie and Colin Currie come to mind.
Dunno about glockenspiel, but tuba? You bet.
Jon Sass
James Self (plays just about any tuba solo in Hollywood soundtracks, including the Jabba The Hutt solo and the mother ship in Close Encounters
Howard Johnson
Harvey Phillips
Bill Bell
Sam Pilafian
Roger Bobo
R. Winston Morris
That’s just off the top of my head. Can you tell that I play tuba?
Jack Ashford is considered a master of the tambourine, most famously on hundreds of Motown tracks as part of the Funk Brothers studio crew.
Let’s not forget George Zampir, Master of the Pan Flute.
And certainly everyone remembers Gene Frenkle, Master of the Cow Bell.
glockenspiel: I would think any proficient mallet player. Lionel Hampton? Ruth Underwood?
How about a superstar on the CARILLON. I’ve seen and heard carillonneur Frank DellaPenna in concert, and he absolutely amazing!
I was gonna say Lionel Hampton. He would have been a demon on glockenspiel.
I suspect that 0 glockenspiels will sound surprisingly similar to the sound of 0 cellists.
I have 0 Cellos playing together right now. Not that impressive. 
For pop/rock use of the glockenspiel, I always think of “Little” Steve Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul’s 1982 not-quite-hit “Forever”. The video and song epitomize early '80s outer-borough New York street life! But it’s hardly a virtuoso part – I can play it on my toddler’s classic color-coded toy glockenspiel.
Gary Burton maybe. Cal Tjader.
Benjamin Franklin enjoyed playing on the Water Glasses — an Irish innovation — and indeed made a semi-mechanized version partially worked by a treadle. Since virtually no other famous person has performed on them it is safe to say he was their Superstar, even had he not been very good on them.
Mozart, however, did write for the instrument (the glass (h)armonica).
Can’t you just envisage old Ben, playing his little heart out, severely discomforted by charming young 18th century groupies removing their underwear — very slowly — and throwing it at him ?
“Fie, Madam, for shame ! For very shame !”
That’s why he invented the bifocals.
Did you know that Clara Rockmore was the theremin superstar?
If you’re interested in marimba, Starbuck’s, “Moonlight Feels Right,” (from 1976) has a kick-ass marimba solo in the middle by co-founder Bo Wagner.
Lisa Simpson: “You have to listen to the notes he doesn’t play.”
Audience member: “I can do that at home.”
I’ve heard him many times at Faires, and remain impressed. Of course, being the only player of the only existing instrument of its type for most of your career kind of helps make you the superstar of it.