questions

what calls you to street bucket drumming?
I stumbled upon bucket drumming during a visit to St. Augustine, FL. A man, who has since become a dear friend, was playing buckets on the street. At the time, I was struggling to find a way to make a living as a musician, and witnessing that performance changed everything for me.

While traditional drums are fantastic, the packing and unpacking process is cumbersome and time-consuming. Playing in a band has its perks, but it also comes with challenges: preparing for gigs, splitting the earnings (if there are any), and navigating the potential drama of various personalities. Plus, finding a venue can be a hassle.

Bucket drumming eliminates these obstacles, allowing me to play whenever I want with minimal fuss. Of course, choosing the right locations is essential, and there’s always the risk of being asked to leave. However, as they say, it's often better to ask for forgiveness than permission!

we know your faith is important to you, how does it relate to your music?
I believe we all have gifts and abilities that God gives us and it is up to us to nurture them. With the training I received in percussion along with the discovery of bucket drums, I have become an entertainer and I find that I inspire a lot of children with my abilities! Having a part in the experience of the next generation is important.

we need to hear more about your cat, is she your muse?
I could talk all day about my cat. His name is Snips because I found him at a barber shop around May of 2012. He’s a black and white tuxedo cat and was 4 months old at the time. The owner had taken him in temporarily that day and fed him some tuna. I would have never ran into that cat had the previous barber not been booked up for the day! He is quite the personality. Loves being around people. Super kind and many have said he’s the best cat they know of. I can’t say what buckets and cats have in common but I can say that the title “BucKitty Beats” works well and exemplifies the simple fact that I’ve loved cats since before I had a memory!

how much of what you do out there is improvised vs. planned? How far out can you take it?
A lot of what I play are basic patterns that I’ve learned that sound musical. I mostly mix and match grooves and every once in a while find myself playing something original to me that just happens with no rhyme or reason. In some ways you could say it’s planned because they are all mainly just hand and feet patterns I’ve done countless times. It gets a little repetitive to me but I have to remember that many people are only hearing me for the first time! I feel that I’ve mostly exhausted my current set up and while I could add things or move them around, I have to consider mobility/transportation in the equation. I don’t want to have to carry a lot of I don’t have to. I plan to add elements like backing tracks more consistantly soon!

ok so who are the drummers you admire most?
I really like the famous YouTube drummer named Estepario Siberiano. His ability and strength behind the drum kit is unlike any I’ve ever seen! Him along with all-time greats like Dennis Chambers and Steve Gadd!