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Bruce Royal's Page
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Profile
- About Me:
- I was born & raised in NW DC(22 Jan 63), and started playing drums at 17 in the youth group at a Mennonite Church. Later, I attended Montgomery Jr. College, Rockville, Md in '82( Chuck Redd I think left when I came in, and Chuck Underwood and Bill Foster were there), and started studying music in '83, and workin' in the DC Metro area.
In '87, I started working with the reggae group Black Sheep that consisted of Isa Abullah(keyboards), Moatta Kenyatta(bass), Baron Tymas(guitar), Dontez Harris(sax), and Abasi Johnson(perc.), and in '88 recieved a scholarship in Jazz Studies at UDC, and played in the Big Band with Marc Cary, Bruce Williams, DuPour Georges, Joe Chisolm, Gerry Gillespe(Eric Valentine was there also). While working with Black Sheep('87-'92), got to share the stage with Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Bad Brains, Fishbone, Aswad, Steel Pulse, Third World, Maxi Priest, and many others, and worked with reggae artist Gold when he collabarated with Black Sheep. I was honored when I recieved two Wammie(Wash. Area Music Assoc.) Awards with Black Sheep, and was voted best live carribean entertainment in Washingtonian Magazine. Got the chance to sit in on jam sessions with the Graingers, Scott Ambush, Terrell Stafford, Gorden Campbell( I remember those days bruh!), Lenny Robinson, Harold Summey, Steve Williams, Paul Bollenbeck, and many others.
In '92, I enlisted in the Navy Fleet Band, and first duty station was Guam(My ol' buddy Mike Bogart was there with me), where I played in various band units and toured Micronesia, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Australia, and was noted as one of the top drummers in the fleet at that time. I played locally on Guam with a number of groups and artists such as Mackey Fery of Calapana, and Aaron Blackman(Zapp), and shared the stage there with Big Mountain, Steel Pulse, T.O.P, Eddie Money, and many others. I ran into Big Chris there on the Island, and Poogie, Derek Organ, and Jeffrey Suttles when they toured through that way.
I then transferred to Navy Band Southeast(Jacksnoville, Fla) in '96, and was privileged to play the Jax Jazz Fest, a live radio concert at WJCT Radio station in Jax, and a live tv performance on Harris live at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla.
I got out in '97, and in '98, been peforming, recording throughout the Southeast and west. Performances include:
Legendary jazz/blues guitarist/educator Calvin Newborn(www.myspace.com/newbornblues), jazz vocalist Toscha Comeaux(www.zenithrecords.com), world renowned vocalist Fred Johnson(www.fredjohnson.com), Susan Thomsen Clark Band(www.stclark.com), virtuoso guitarists Tony Smotherman(www.tonysmotherman.com) and Rob Balducci(www.robbalducci.com), blues guitarist Greg Baril(www.gregbaril.com), Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, guitarist Tony Scozarro(www.tonyscozarro.com), Jazz legends Kenny Drew, Jr., Willerm Delisfort, and Doug Carne, trombonist Vincent Gardner, bassist Anthony Chatman(Billy Pierce, Kenny Drew, Jr., Johnny O'Neil), bassist Barry Dunaway(Yngvie Malmstein, Dokken), Contemporary Christian artist Bryan Duncan, and many others. I've been blessed to record and be on recordings with these people:
Susan Thomsen Clark and her dad, legendary country artist Roy Clark, Stan Lynch(Tom Petty, Don Henley, producer), Steve Brookins(.38 Special), gutiarist Wendell Anderson(Travis Tritt), bassists Jon Reshard and his dad Al, Jimmy Haslip, keyboardist Derek Sherinian(Malmstein, Planet X), bassist Robbie Anderson and b3 organist Jimmy Wallace(Kenny Wayne Sheperd), bassist Tim Lindsey( Molly Hatchet, Rossington Collins), and a host of others. Discography includes:
Tony Smotherman, "The Light Within"(abstract logic.com, cdbaby.com)
Tony Smotherman and Brain Station, "Embracing The Sprit"(cdbaby.com)
Susan Thomsen Clark Band(cdbaby.com)
Reggae artist Ferron Amalachi, "Hypnotic Ghetto Rhythm"(cdbaby.com)
Black Sheep, "Invisible"(cdbaby.com)
I'm thankful that the Most High has allowed me to do something I love and enjoy, and share with family and friends. I like to check out musicians when I get the chance. One Love.
- Website:
- http://www.myspace.com/bruceroyal
- Drums Played
- I use PDP drums, Premier drums, and Roland Studio Custom V electric drums
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I was with my daughter, and he said "Hi Emily, what a beautiful daughter you have." and we exchanged few words and walked away with his sign says "All the best" on back of my name card! Long ago, I was told from my teacher that I shouldn't ask for the autograph and that then you would be just his fan, not a fellow drummer. Well I broke
his motto that day!
Kenji
hope it works out!
b.
Mark
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