#278 Crystal Vargas- Percussionist, Athlete, Educator and More!
Percussionist Crystal Vargas is no stranger to the stage. Whether she’s performing in the hottest clubs or playing for world-renowned artists, Crystal's showmanship has made her one of the most sought after percussionists in the industry.
As a four-year old, she was captivated by her father's (Glen Vargas) Salsa band. His keyboardist, Juan "Pops" Santos, gave her a partly broke güiro and it was then her musical journey began. By the age of 5, Crystal suddenly had the Salsa rhythm down on congas and by age 6 she became a featured performer on both Sabado Gigante and El Show de Medio Dia. Over the next 10 years, Crystal continued performing with her father and her own band, No Limit. After graduating from Marist High School (Bayonne, NJ) where she was a 3-sport athlete, Crystal enrolled at Rutgers University on scholarship to play softball.
During her senior year in 2005, a chance meeting with Robert Aaron (keyboardist/saxophonist) led to an impromptu performance with Grammy Award artist, Wyclef Jean at a Rutgers concert! A mentorship was quickly born as Aaron chose Crystal to join his band backing artist, Kat Deluna.
Crystal has showcased her talents on shows such as “Live! With Regis And Kelly”, BET's Black Girls Rock Awards Show, and Rihanna's music video "What's My Name?". She has performed alongside Paul Simon, Bernie Williams, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, and Sheila E., to name a few. This recognition led to endorsement deals with Toca Percussion and Gibraltar Hardware.
As an independent percussionist, Crystal currently performs alongside radio DJs from Hot 97, Power 105, and La Mega 97.9. While playing percussion is her first passion, Crystal's versatility in the entertainment industry has led her to MC'ing, DJ'ing, and musical production.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to Dr. Brian Zator! Brian is the Director of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce and Immediate Past-President of the Percussive Arts Society. At A&M-Commerce, he coordinates all percussion activities including Percussion Ensemble I, II, & III, Drumline, "Panimation" and Pan2 Steel Drum Bands, “Samba LeÁ£o” Brazilian Ensemble, undergraduate and graduate applied lessons, and the percussion methods and literature courses. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University, Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. He is also a student of world-renowned marimba artist, Keiko Abe, having performed and studied with her in Japan.
As a marimba/percussion soloist or ensemble director, Dr. Zator has performed at seven Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC), the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the College Band Directors National Association Convention, the North Texas Keyboard Percussion Symposium, as well as abroad in China, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Argentina and Luxembourg. He has been a soloist with groups such as the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, the Baylor Woodwind Quintet, the A&M-Commerce Wind Bands, the Conroe and The Woodlands Symphonies, and with college and high school percussion ensembles around the country. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the A&M-Commerce Wind Ensemble in the spring of 2012.
Dr. Zator and the A&M-Commerce percussion ensemble were one of the three winners of the 2010 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition and performed a showcase concert at PASIC 2010. In 2012 they released “Epic Proportions,” featuring music from their showcase concert. The ensemble also presented a concert at PASIC 2006 featuring works of Minoru Miki and in 2007, released a CD entitled “Sohmon III: New and Unknown Percussion Works of Minoru Miki.”
Dr. Zator has two solo CD's released on Equilibrium Records: “Zamiki: Music for Solo Marimba” and a chamber-works CD entitled, “Zoomorphs”. He is the author of the method book, "Keyboard Fundamentals with Play-Along Tracks", published by Innovative Percussion. He is also the author and performer on several iBook publications providing detailed video instructions and full-length performances for popular marimba solos including Yellow After the Rain, Rain Dance, Sea Refractions, and The Tempest. He was a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and taught the University of Michigan drumline. Active within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), he currently serves as Immediate Past-President on the Executive Committee and Keyboard Editor for Percussive Notes. He has also served on the PAS Board of Directors, the Keyboard and Percussion Ensemble Committees, written reviews for Percussive Notes, and has adjudicated the PAS International Percussion Ensemble, Composition, and Solo Marimba competitions. Dr. Zator is proud to be a performing artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Evans, Sabian, and Black Swamp.
Gig Alerts
YouTube is live streaming the country music festival Stagecoach for the first time ever.
The Stagecoach live stream will be hosted by BRELAND, Reyna Roberts and Hailey Whitters. YouTube says the stream will bring viewers front and center, but will also offer candid artist interviews and YouTube Premium pre-parties throughout the festival, April 29 – May 1.
Bob Dylan has announced 14 more U.S. tour dates, primarily on the West Coast.
The new tour dates appeared on Dylan’s website this morning. The first of them begins on May 28, just four days after Dylan’s 81st birthday. Dylan’s most recent concert appearance in Los Angeles was in June 2016 at the Shrine. All of the west coast dates will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 22. Pre-sale opportunities for those with promo codes will be available on Thursday.
Educational Spotlight
The Percussive Arts Society will be having two more Day of Percussion events on April 29th and 30th. The Central Regional in Lincoln, NE and the West Regional in Fresno, CA. You can get more details HERE.
The deadline is this week to apply for PAS Scholarships and Competitions including: International Percussion Ensemble Competition, Neil Peart Drum Set Scholarship, Jim Chapin Memorial Teacher Scholarship, PASIC International Scholarship, and more. Learn more and apply for scholarships and grants.
Give back to the drum and percussion community this year by applying for a Percussive Arts Society Committee by April 30. PAS has 16 standing committees that address specific areas of percussion performance, research, education, pedagogy and the percussion community. PAS committees play an essential role in advancing percussion through the development and dissemination of the latest information, research and initiatives. You must be an active PAS member to apply. Learn more and apply to be on a PAS Committee.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week is P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson.
Written, composed and arranged by James Ingram and Quincy Jones
Produced by Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals
Greg Phillinganes – synthesizer, synthesizer programming
Michael Boddicker – Roland VP-330 vocoder, E-mu Emulator
James Ingram – Portasound keyboard
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
Louis Johnson – electric bass
N'dugu Chancler – drums
Michael Jackson, Louis Johnson, Greg Phillinganes, James Ingram, Steven Ray – handclaps
P.Y.T.'s:
Janet Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Becky Lopez
Bunny Hull
Mindy Cohn[20]
Additional background vocals:
James Ingram
Howard Hewett
Product Review
LP is very excited to announce the latest gear to join the Santana Collection. From congas to bongos, even collectible minis… these Santana inspired instruments are truly unique. Carlos Santana has been a sonic pioneer for decades, integrating a variety of musical styles to create his signature multi-cultural sound. LP has been a part of this, every step of the way. Over the years, we’ve always been very honored to be a key component within Santana's sound. Check out the latest from the collection.
Alex González and his band Maná created a revolución in music by becoming the most successful Latin-American band of all time. The LP Ridge Rider Cowbell has been an integral part of his drumming from the get go. LP is honored to work with Alex developing his signature cowbell that features a striking rose graphic familiar to fans the world over. The bell is loud and rock-ready. The high-impact ridge offers up just the right overtones, making it perfect for both stage and studio. The patented LP Vise-Clamp tightly grips up to ½-inch diameter arms making it the go-to bell for the heaviest hitters. And the eye-catching album artwork provides a signature touch.
Music News
Universal Music Group has announced its support for California’s ballot initiative to increase funding in public schools for arts and music education.
The statewide ballot initiative in California is being proposed by Californians for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools. “UMG is proud to support this essential initiative,” says UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge. “Music education supports all education – it fosters reasoning and skills that are the building block for learning other subjects.”
“This measure is critical not only for education and learning, but also to mental well-being and even the state’s economic health,” Grainge adds. “Companies like ours that moved to California to be at the nexus of entertainment and technology, rely on a skilled workforce to fill the high-quality jobs we create here. If enacted, this initiative will ensure a future job-ready workforce and secure California’s position as the global epicenter of music and the arts.” -Article
Crystal Vargas Interview
The song leading into the interview is: Ibiza Mix by Crystal Vargas.
Crystal was introduced to Damon and the podcast by (friend of the show) Bobby Allende. Damon, Bobby and Crystal were all watching (friend of the show) Weedie Braimah at the Blue Note.
Crystal’s father had a salsa band and members of that band introduced Crystal to playing instruments. Specifically playing the guiro.
Everyone in Crystal’s family had some connection with music.
Crystal attended Rutgers University for sports. She played softball, baseball and soccer.
Some of the musicians Crystal grew up/hung with were Orlando Vega, Erik Piza, and Christian Rivera.
Crystal talks about an injury she had playing sports.
Crystal talks about playing with Wyclef in college. She played the song “Guantanamera”. Shout-out to Robert Aaron.
The connection with Robert Aaron led Crystal to play with Kat Deluna.
By age 6 she became a featured performer on both Sabado Gigante and El Show de Medio Dia.
Through work with a bucket drummer named CHOCLATT, Crystal got to play with Rihanna.
Crystal is a teacher as well as a coach. She taught at her alma mater, Marist High School. She now teaches in Fort Lee, NJ.
Crystal talks about how she teaches, and some of the advantages of technology as well as some of the issues she had to deal with through the pandemic.
Crystal talks about how she approaches playing with a DJ.
Crystal talks about how she got into playing with a DJ. Shout-out to Partners in Sound as well. She also talks about playing with DJs she knows vs ones she doesn’t know.
Damon talks about Travis Barker and DJ AM and the Zildjian Underground Series.
Crystal talks about standing on different things to play and other situations.
Damon talks about the video content that Crystal puts up. She uses the app, Videoshop.
Crystal talks about the videos she put up during the pandemic and how it got her better at creating content, inspired by her friend DJ Reese.
Crystal was in the house band for the Black Girls Rock show. Previous to Crystal, friend of the show, Marcie Chapa played percussion in it.
Crystal picks the iconic recording for the week, P.Y.T.
Then she mentions playing along to it on her Tik Tok page.
Crystal uses Toca Percussion and Gibraltar Hardware.
Shout-out to Orlando Vega.
You can follow Crystal on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
