I love it when I happen to stumble upon something special that stops me in my tracks. That’s what happened today, I was browsing through youtube as you do, and I came across “The Real Drumline Drummers”. That title may not mean anything to you, but if i mention the film Drumline does that ring any bells. Ok it was a while ago, let me jog your memory with an image;

I enjoyed the film Drumline but it is also great to know where the Drumline originally came from. Thanks to the guy at youtube, I now have learnt that it all started with 4 young black men Pernell Briggs, Gerald Tharrington, Timothy Bryant, and Daryl Spellman who where based in Amercia in 1982. They actually attended the same Hillside High school which was featured in the film. The 4 guys joined the marching band in 1984 or 1985, they shared their techniques with the Drumline (Cold Steel) and learned new techniques as well. These techniques laid the foundation for all Black Highschool and Black College Drumlines across America. The footage below was filmed in 1982 in Greensboro, NC where these 4 young men placed 2nd in an all white Talent Show. These 4 men started the drumming techniques seen in the Block Buster Hit Movie Drumline, at the high schools and colleges they attended. Some would even argue that the Movie was clearly inspired by and was perhaps even based on one or all of these individuals. Check out ptrol06 other youtube vids here.

Below is the Drumline Battle from the film

The click below is not of the drumline it’s of the party, where they do their funky step dancing, had to put it in love this part of the film: