I’ve been called many by names: Soul Brother #2, The Great I Ain’t, The 6th Beetle, Pat Stayblack, The Hardest Working Man in YO Business, Donald Thump…and a few others that I shouldn’t repeat in front of children. Truth be told, I’m just Reggie from a small nondescript country town called Los Angeles, California. I play multiple instruments, but drums have always been my first love. My first gig was on my bed, flanked by a dubious assortment of seemingly unrelated items: album covers, pots, pillows and an oscillating fan. This was my first drum kit and I raised complete HELL on this thing! I moved on to a Muppets kit that my folks bought from the grocery store, then on to an old Royce kit given to me by my church.
I started playing in the kids’ choir at church and eventually moved on to actually be a part of my dad’s gospel group at the age of 9. That was my first paying gig and I thought I had made it! From there, I began playing with several groups around L.A. – mostly gospel and usually in small churches where the old ladies would always say: “Baby, ya good but ya just too loud…” Miffed, I developed a softer touch that I rely on heavily to this day, while laying down the steady groove required by quartet gospel. Eventually I ventured beyond church engagements to pursue other forms of music and found myself in a myriad of musical situations with a variety of artists that have gone on to do great things.
Those experiences prepared me for life in cover bands, where you basically play everything for everybody every night in every key and every time signature…twice. This versatility requires not only the skill and stamina to get the job done, but also the right equipment. For this, I can appreciate Dallas Drum for properly outfitting me to do my job here in DFW and can vouch for its high quality of materials, workmanship and professional guidance.
I plan to play until I keel over, so keep listening and keep dancing. It just provides me with more reasons to visit Dallas Drum.
