HOW DID I EVER START DOING THIS you ask???

People often ask how I ended up playing steel drums professionally across the Midwest. Well, here’s the story.

I was a percussion student at Indiana University, focusing on marimba, drum set, timpani, vibraphone, and drum corps rudimental techniques. But in 1993, during a trip to Walt Disney World where I was instructing a marching band, my perspective on percussion was forever changed. While at the park, I saw "J.P. & the Silver Stars," a steel drum band that had been performing at Disney World since its opening in 1972. Their performance outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride captivated me, and I had to be physically pulled away. From that moment, my life took a new direction.

Though Disney World has since retired this group, I owe them for introducing me to the world of steel drums. I miss the magic they brought to that park, and it’s surreal to think that it was their influence that eventually led me to make a career out of playing steel pans. Inspired, I immediately began collecting steel drum CDs, immersing myself in the music, culture, and island vibe.

In 1996, I witnessed the Britain/Moore Duo, a marimba and steel drum duet. Their performance was incredibly inspiring. The way the steel drum played the lead over the marimba’s background struck me, and I realized that I could combine my skills in marimba and percussion to record the foundational parts myself, and perform the steel drum live over them. This idea became the foundation for my work.

I began arranging and recording songs I loved, figuring out how to balance the instruments and learning each part. Initially, the process was slow, filled with trial and error as I sought the best sound. Over time, my process has become more efficient, thanks to improved technology and my growing understanding of it.

At the time, I was recovering from a painful breakup. I had big plans to escape the harsh winters of Northwest Indiana by performing on a cruise ship, leaving that heartache behind. In the summer of 1998, after a long wait, I received my first steel drum. The same day, I met my future wife. Was it coincidence, or divine intervention? Some years later, after I played my first gig, we discovered we were expecting our first child. Life works in mysterious ways.

Learning to play the steel drum was a long and frustrating journey, and it still continues today. Compared to other instruments I had studied, the steel drum felt foreign and challenging. But I’ve grown, and I feel that my approach to playing this instrument is unique within the world of steel drummers. Unlike most panists, I record my own backup tracks for more authentic-sounding performances. Many others rely on sequencers or computers to create the accompanying parts, but I believe that music, much like the human body, the dunes, or the sea, deserves soul and the ability to breathe.

I’ve now released seven albums, far surpassing my expectations in terms of sales, both in digital downloads on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, and in physical CD sales. I’ve built a successful teaching and recording studio, and I perform regularly across the Midwest. In 2022, I had the honor of appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and in 2021, PBS aired a documentary about my journey.

I primarily perform on cruise ships out of Navy Pier, but I’m content with that. Outside of music, I support my wife with her highly successful bakery, teach privately, write marching drum line shows, and do a lot of recording. I also ride my bike—around 4,000 miles a year! I teach drumlines at Plymouth, LaPorte, and Knox High Schools, both in the summer and winter seasons.

Though I’ve played in many bands throughout my adult life, this is my true passion. I feel incredibly fortunate that steel drums found me, and that I get to do what I love every day. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my amazing wife, Shawn, and my incredible children, Samira and Pierce. They are my reason and my strength, guiding me on this journey of life, by the water’s edge, my favorite place in the world.

Kent

5/28/04-12/22/24and continuing.....