I am originally from Alabama. And I have loved music, specifically drums and percussion, since very early in boyhood. I received tremendous support and encouragement from family members. My grandmother, specifically, would provide commentary that I was “destroying” her furniture with my sticks. However, her furniture made the best beats ever. I could gain the tenor, snare, and quad drums off her sofa, loveseat, and rocking chair. I began playing the drums at the age of 9, in my local church.
I began my formal instruction in middle and junior high school band. My skills quickly advanced, and I earned the opportunity to practice with the local high school marching drumline under the direction of John Bradley. Mr. Bradley immediately became a great mentor to me. After graduating from the 8th grade, I moved to Tuscaloosa, AL for my high-school years. I attended Central High School of Tuscaloosa, AL. In high school, I performed with the jazz, symphonic, and concert bands as well. During the years of 1988 – 1992, I competed in the Alabama All State High-School Band drum-off that was held state wide in Montgomery, AL. In 1989 I ranked honorable mention (3rd place), 1990 – 1991 I ranked 2nd place, and in 1992 I won 1st place in the Alabama All State drumming competitions.
As a high school senior in 1992, I was visited by the percussion directors for both Alabama A&M and Alabama State Universities so that I could audition for band scholarships at their universities. I was awarded a full band scholarship in percussion to both Alabama State and Alabama A&M Universities. However, I accepted the scholarship for Alabama A&M University. I also had the opportunity to be a member of the AAMU jazz, symphonic, and pep band. I had the pleasure of continuing my formal percussion education under the direction of the Director of Bands, Arthur B. Wesley, who was a percussionist as well. I became a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Inc (ΦΜΑ) with a focus on marching band. I still cherish my days of being in the renown Marching Maroon and White Band (MMW).
After attending Alabama A&M University, I enlisted in the United States Air Force. In basic training, I joined the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corp in which I continued to persue my style of snaring drumming. After AF basic training, I still was associated with the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corp at my permanent duty location in Panama City, FL.
Since leaving the Air Force and relocating to Chicago, I have continuously worked as a professional musician with five separate ensembles. I am also an instructor with the Musical Arts Institute, here in Chicago. With my passion for percussion, specifically in the area of drumline, my goal is to build a community-based venture in which I provide instruction to highly motivated and talented youths in my local community. This opportunity would yield hope, inspiration, and academia that could change lives within the youth of our community.
My current goal and personal passion is to pass on my knowledge of percussion and rudimental functionality as it relates to drumline to the younger generation in hopes that they will find the joy and their own niche as I did. I also want to pass along my own personal style of drumming and cadences that I created to marching band students. The ultimate goal is to help motivated and capable youth inside the community to pursue constructive extracurricular activities that could result in scholarship opportunities for college. Also, I want to mentor and encourage youths to become future professional musicians as well as music instructors. Overall, I want to inspire the youth by giving them my love of the art of drumming through drumline, allowing them to create avenues to be recognized in the community as a positive
influence and asset.