This extremely young drumline amazed audiences on the Main Street Mall during the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival. African-American drumming and drilling is an integral part of Memphis’ inner-city culture, and it is cool to see it preserved by a squad of young children who sound better than many high school drumlines.
drummers
Mitchell vs. Manassas @ BTW, Memphis, 2011
Last night was a great night for football, with the weather cool and pleasant, and I headed down to historic Booker T. Washington Stadium for the Mitchell vs. Manassas game. Unfortunately, there was no band battle, because only Manassas brought their band, but Manassas looks as if they may be on the way to rebuilding their band program. We also had to contend with annoying, dive-bombing insects of some sort that would drop out of the sky on us or at least near us. But I still had fun.
Westwood vs. Mitchell at Whitehaven 2011
Memphis’ high-school football (and band) season got underway in earnest this weekend, with Saturday’s Whitehaven Classic offering a marathon three high-school games at Whitehaven Stadium. The first game, between Westwood and Mitchell, was delayed somewhat due to the heat, but as the day progressed and temperatures cooled, the crowds increased. Both Westwood and Mitchell have truly tiny bands this year compared to what I recall from the 1980’s and 1990’s. I suppose their enrollments are down as people have relocated to Hickory Hill, Cordova, Southaven and Olive Branch.
Moonwalking With The Klondike Dance, Drum and Bugle Corps Back in 1970
Anyone who has ever been to a majorette jamboree knows that majorettes and drummers are a big part of Memphis culture. So I was really interested when I came across this July 4, 1970 article from the Commercial Appeal about the Klondike Dance, Drum and Bugle Corps, which for one thing proves that the roots of drumming and drilling in Memphis go back at least that far (legendary drummer Willie Hall claims back to 1969). Also of interest is the reference to the dancers doing the “moon walk”, so that dance is clearly older than Michael Jackson, and might have come from Memphis!
On Thursday May 12, there was a musicians’ jam session and drum battle at Optimum Memphis, a recording studio on North Parkway in North Memphis. A lot of musicians and drummers came out to have fun playing, and the event will be held monthly.
10/31/09: Grambling Homecoming 2009
I woke up later than I had intended to, and had to rush to get ready for the homecoming parade in Grambling. Although I was …
8/15/09: Ya Heard Me Conference Day 2 in Jackson MS/Kevin Powell’s Keynote Speech
Breakfast at Primo’s in Ridgeland (always good), and then I headed out to the flea market in Pearl to look for old records and Jackson …