RIVER CITY DRUM CORP

CD production, teaching, and advising – Meet the Composer Louisville “New Residency”

The remarkable River City Drum Corp consists of an ever-changing group of about 15 children from ages 3 to 18 who have been trained in African drumming techniques and materials. The Drum Corps was founded and is led by Ed White, an extraordinary man of exceptionally positive influence in the lives of these children. Ed White is a gifted composer, drummer, motivator, fund raiser, and mentor to all associated with the River City Drum Corp. 

During the Meet The Composer partnership (1995-98), resident composer Steve Rouse worked regularly with Ed White and the group. While the level of musical sophistication is extremely high among the members, many expressed a desire to acquire more knowledge of music notation, so Steve held sessions teaching music notation in church parking lots using sidewalk chalk and poster boards.

Steve advised Ed and the group's leadership on copyright law, performing rights organizations, mechanical rights, and other related issues. This allowed the group to begin to protect its intellectual property and realize profits, which, in turn, allowed the group more influence in the lives of youth.

The high point of the Louisville Residency’s association with the River City Drum Corp was the facilitation and supervision of production of the group’s first professional CD recording of the group’s original compositions. In the fall of 1997, Steve Rouse, with help from New Performing Arts’ Steve Wogaman, coordinated, recorded, edited, mixed, and generally produced and promoted the first River City Drum Corp CD. The initial 1000 CDs and 500 cassettes sold well at performances by the group and at record stores throughout the metropolitan area.

The Meet The Composer Louisville Residency made this CD possible. The CD took the River City Drum Corp to an entirely new level of professional development and sophistication, and it signaled a new period of achievement and influence for this extraordinary group.   

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