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As a South Carolina native I can truly say I have always felt music in my soul. To me, it is the rhythm for life. As a very young child I was inspired by many of the legendary gospel groups such as “The Mighty Clouds of Joy,” “The Five Blind Boys” and the “Soul Stirrers” which performed at Clarke Baptist Church and Saint Paul Baptist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
In 1962 I moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where I was educated in the Philadelphia school system later earning my Associate Degree in Business Management and Paralegal Studies and majoring in Corporate Law. Currently I am studying for my Masters of Arts degree in biblical studies through the theological seminary at Atlantic Coast College in Daytona Beach Florida. In 1969 I moved to West Philadelphia where I became interested in African and Latin drum rhythms taking lessons from Kirk Keys, Dave Bivins, Bobby “BaBa” Crowder and Richard “Mutt” Barber at the Lee Culture Center. I had learned the rudiments of drum rhythms while in high school in South Carolina and continued that education when I moved north. On weekends, fellow percussionists and I would meet at The Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park to play our drums and share techniques and rhythms with one another.
From 1972 to 1980 I met the “Honey And The Bees” (who in part later became “The Richie Family”) and became their driver and assistant working closely with Jimmy Bishop Sr. It was during their engagements at the Uptown Theater that I had the privilege to study the business of music and stage production by watching two of the greats, Leon Mitchell and Walt Reed of Philadelphia.
During the 1980’s Kenny Gamble started the International Black Music Association as a means to educate aspiring artists worldwide about the music industry. As a result, different Chapters were formed across the country. The Greater Philadelphia Chapter was formed and founded by Marty Coverdale and Jowharah Shabazz also known as Dr. Jacqueline Swift. As one of the grass roots founders of the Philadelphia Chapter of the BMA, I participated in the production of the James Brown, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Linda Creed, Norman Harris and Jack the Rapper Tributes held in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, DC. under the supervision of Chapter heads, Jonathan Black, Al Richardson and Warren Hamilton. It was through this participation that I gained my expertise of the business of music.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to perform at various locations throughout the country including the Monterey Blues Festival, (California), The Academy of Music, The Robin Hood Dell East, (Philadelphia), The Cotton Club (New York City). For him, it has been, and continues to be an honor and pleasure to be personally or professionally associated with such notables as James Cleveland, Solomon Burke, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Lee Hooker, Fred Wesley, Norman Harris, George Clinton, Donald Byrd, The Delfonics, The Intruders, The Vibrations, Bootsie Collins, Clarence Clemons, Henry “Lightening” Neal, Buddy Dee, Bluesman Willie Phillips, T Conway and the Revelations, Larry Richardson and Warren Haskins as well as Victory Call Ensemble and the Philadelphia Mass Choir.
As one of the Black Music Ambassadors to the Sound of Philadelphia, I've worked closely with Alfie Pollitt and “The Philly All Star Band” and I'm one of the co-founders of the “Black Entertainment Music Association”.
Currently I attend Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold New Jersey under the shepherding of Bishop David G. Evans and I'm an active member of the tenor section of the “Voices of Praise” choir. I continue to study various voice and breathing techniques under the direction of Pastor Lonnie V. Hunter III, who for 23 years has been the Minister of Music for St Mark Missionary Baptist Church located in Chicago Illinois and now serves as Bethany Baptist’s Worship Minister. As my musical vision and artistry are broad, I have a strong passion for performing, collaborating, teaching and even promoting artists of various genres. This enables me to combine my talents with that of others and perpetuate the music I love.
My music career continues to unfold, through frequent performances and untiring efforts to bring the gift of music to the world. Regardless of the music genre, I'm equally at home and can humbly say and without ego that I am a rare breed of percussionists, balancing sensitivity and control with creativity and raw energy.
Performing, composing, arranging, recording, producing. Highly skilled at playing a variety of percussion instruments, I have worked across a wide range of musical styles from sizzling Cuban/Latin Soul, R&B, Funk and Contemporary styles to the soulful sounds of the Blues and the strong rhythms and elaborate refrains of Gospel music.
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