Gospel chops have a history in churches all over the United States. My history in gospel church started around age four, and I began drumming in church around thirteen or fourteen years old. Our music department was phenomenal. The church itself was known for their music, and people from all over visited just for the music. So I was very fortunate, and lucky to have learned from a gospel music environment.
Perfectionist is the way to describe our music director. Not only did his wife play the piano while he direct the choir, but he was also a monster drummer. I took six months of lessons from him, and learned to read music, and control the sticks. Once he thought I had this down, I became the third-string drummer. At age fourteen I was offered a paying job with a traveling evangelist and I did two weeks on the road. By age sixteen I was playing almost every week in church, and of course all the school bands. I played mostly swing in the high school jazz band, but at home, grooved to Hip-Hop & New Jack Swing of the 90’s.
