How it all began

I believe everything happens for a reason. One such event helped shape my musical career and influences that I look for in every aspect of music today.
My family moved out to South Africa in the early 70s. We only stayed there for a little over 2yrs but what an experience it was. We would go see the tribes that would perform in the gold mines. These tribes would come from all over and perform for the locals and tourists alike. The local tribe to where we stayed was the Bantu tribe. These performances would go on all night long and you couldn't help but get into the whole beat, that feeling of joy would overcome you and before you knew it everyone around you was feeling it. It was magical. When I returned back home to Scotland I still had those beats swirling around my head just waiting to come out.
This was my first influence and without me knowing actually guided me to drums. These rhythms stay with me and every time you hear these beats you feel warm, that smile appears and you just can't help but feel good.
I managed to find some of these tribes on youtube with some of the same sounds that I once heard.
Zulu war dance and Zulu dance are just two such rhythms. African music has influenced many of what we listen to today The African influence on pop and jazz musicians It is truly amazing what influences we are completely unaware of in todays society. Africa rhythms was my first influence. Stay tuned or go phlat ........