#155 Sports Drumline Roundtable
The Professional Sports Music Association (PSMA) was founded in 2013 with the advent of the inaugural symposium in Seattle, hosted by the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline. The goals of the PSMA are:
1. To ensure that music ensembles that are affiliated with professional sports are delivering the highest quality entertainment for the fans of our respective franchises. We collaborate at the annual symposium to share ideas and coach each other to avoid similar pitfalls and achieve excellence in all aspects of our craft.
2. To recognize hard working members and ensembles via annual, publicized groups: NFL "All-Pro" and NBA "All-Star" Drumlines; an "Ensemble of the Year"; and a PSMA "All-Star Band" will be added in 2017.
3. Be a resource network for connecting music group directors, team representatives, current and future members, corporate partners, and equipment vendors.
Happy Birthday Marcos!
Hear about where Marcos celebrated his birthday and how Damon missed the party because of “practice”.
RIP Emil Richards
Click for more on Emil Richards
Born Emilio Joseph Radocchia in Hartford, CT, in 1932, Richards began playing the xylophone at age six. In high school, he performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He later studied with Al Lepak at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, before graduating in 1952. After being drafted, he belonged to an Army band in Japan and played with Toshiko Akiyoshi.
As a sought-after session musician, Richards often recorded for movies and television. His credits include playing bongos on the theme song for the television program Mission Impossible, as well as numerous film scores including Close Encounters, Jaws, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Jurassic Park.
Gig Alerts
On Dec. 20th Damon will playing at the 10th annual Christmas Jam at The Vault Music Hall & Pub at Greasy Luck in New Bedford, MA. If you can’t make that date the same show will be performing the next day, Dec. 21st, at The Grog in Newburyport, MA.
Morgan James just released some preliminary tour dates for her band Memphis Magnetic and Damon will be a special guest on Friday Feb. 28th at the Fairfield Theatre Company Stage 1
Dec. 28th DJ Kilo will be returning to Bridgeport Connecticut’s oldest bar Murphy’s Law with Karibe Mambo featuring Manolo Mairena!
Educational Spotlight
You can Join the official Pasic Marimba Orchestra under the artistic direction of Gordon Stout the internationally acclaimed performer, composer, and pedagogue. Members selected to perform will receive a Pasic attendee badge for the 2020 convention. To apply you must be at least 18 years of age and an active PAS member.
If you are looking to attend the NAMM Show it’s Jan. 16th-19th 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center. “The NAMM Show is the global crossroads of the music, sound and entertainment technology products industries with more than 115,000 registrants from 139 countries and regions commanding $11+ billion in buying power.”
CD Baby’s DYI Musician Conference released their dates, It’’s August 28th-30th, 2020. They’re having an early bird tickets starting at $129. “If you’re serious about your music career, this is the weekend for you. The DIY Musician Conference is the only event focused exclusively on YOUR needs right now as an independent artist.”
Product Review
During the Product review Damon and Marcos announce the article they are working on for Modern Drummer which includes some videos recorded at congahead which will be coming out in the April issue 2020. The article will be a crash course for any drumset player on essential percussion grooves. The first part will cover the bigger percussion instruments like congas, bongos, and timbales and the second part will cover smaller instruments like tambourines, shakers, cowbells, and more!
The product reviewed for this episode is the Snareweight! It is the fastest way to get your snare drum sounding its best. Made of solid brass, a strong neodymium magnet (to removably secure to your rim), and interchangeable leather inserts that help shape your sound- it will be the most loyal little buddy in your ever changing stick bag.
Iconic Recording
This week is featuring “Sleigh Ride” by the Caribbean Jazz Project. Marcos mentions how killing Dafnis Prieto’s playing is in this more “typical” latin jazz setting.
There is no direct credit for this Album so Marcos and Damon pieced this line up from albums that the Caribbean Jazz Project released that same year. Roberto Quintero (Congas), Rubén Rodríguez (Bass), Dafnis Prieto (Drums), Dave Samuels (Vibraphone), Dave Valentin (Flute), and Romero Lubambo (Guitar)
Also don’t forget to check out Discussion in Percussion’s Christmas Playlist “Christmas Classics (and other great holiday versions)”
Music News
Vote In The 2020 Modern Drummer Readers Poll - Article
U.S. Government Preparing To Take Legal Action Against Live Nation - Colin Cohen - Article
Warner Music Nashville Joins the Party on Standardized, Complete Music Credits - Ashley King - Article
Wish Come True: Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Hits No. 1 on Hot 100 After 25-Year Wait - Gary Trust - Article
Everything to know about Diddy's star-studded 50th birthday party - Gibson Johns - Article
The Song leading into the interview is “Heavy Action” the Theme from Monday Night Football
Sports Drumline Roundtable
This week’s interview is with The Professional Sports Music Association board Adam Hill (Chicago Bulls Stampede), Brandon Estes (Chicago Bears Drumline), Keith Rousu (Chairman - Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline and Seattle Sounders FC Sound Wave Band), Vincent Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers Steeline), and friend of the show Andy Moffatt (Drummer for the Eagles Drumline (NFL))
The interview starts with Keith Rousu sharing how the PSMA started as an idea to connect all the heads in order to share a collaborative nature which is a key component of their success. The Professional Sports Music Association has an annual symposium for music ensemble directors, team entertainment representatives, select vendors, and those parties seeking information on how to effectively launch a music group with a professional sports franchise. Topics for discussion are presented by the PSMA Board, qualified industry personnel, and vendors.
Keith gives a quick summary on how this all began with the George Preston Marshall the first owner of the Washington Redskins and his philosophy to entertain people from the moment they walked into the building until the moment they left. This identified the need of a band to help fill some of the dead time during game days. The Washington Redskins Band was born (1930s) because of this and became the flagship for the music ensembles in the NFL.
John "Z" Ziemann receiving the lifetime achievement award from Keith Rousu
Keith Mentions Honoring John "Z" Ziemann for a lifetime achievement award to recognize his 53 (and counting) years of service to the Baltimore Colts and Ravens bands.
Damon asks roundtable about their audition process and they all had something different to share. It ranged from having yearly auditions to keep everyone in the band fresh and in the top of their game to an “as need basis”.
The roundtable talk about what they’ve been doing musically is so progressive that there are no wrong answer. They’re constantly sharing and borrowing from each other to be able to find the happy medium where the drummers enjoy what they’re playing and are connecting to the audience.
Damon talks about helping out with Madonna’s Superbowl performance and with her tour right afterwards where they used a marching drumline.
The roundtable talks about how dancing has become such a big part of the performance and entertainment aspect of their shows. They even bring choreographers to help them improve their steps
Damon mentions Jay-Z’s new partnership with the NFL. You can read more about it here. The Roundtable discusses how this is going to affect them.
The roundtable discuss incentives for joining the band which includes being an employee of the team. For Example, Keith Rousu shares about how both the drumlines he works for the players are employees of the team. They get paid an hourly wage, including rehearsals, game days, and gigs. For gigs they get paid a 3-hour minimum even if the gig lasts only 15 mins!
The roundtable talks about their approach to their repertoire, what kind of arrangements and grooves they use, we even get a sneak peek on some exciting news from the Steeline!
The roundtable sponsors include Vic Firth, Remo, Mapex, Yamaha, Zildjian, Sabian, Innovative Percussion, Volkwein's Music, Evans, Promark and more!
Song Leading out of the interview is the NBC Sunday Night Football Theme
