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Rhythmicity is a percussion group that taps the vibrant and dynamic rhythms of multiple cultures to celebrate, connect and unify. We are a performance ensemble that grew from the Raleigh Drum Circle, a community-based group which draws dozens of drummers to their weekly gathering. Rhythmicity's members each bring their love of music and a unique background to the mix as they spread the joys of rhythm... and invite the audience along for the ride.
(L to R) Susan, Keith, Caroline, Ronnie, Tom, Karen, Brian
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Karen Casey |
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A love of all kinds of music and a desire to play some type of percussion inspired Karen to buy her first djembe and lug it home on a plane almost ten years ago. As her appreciation for West African music and culture grew so did her desire to take classes with and learn from African masters such as Mamady Keita, Fode Moussa Camara, Mohamed DaCosta, and Aly Camara. And of course her need for more drums also grew to include learning and playing the Dununs including percussive dance style and ballet style. She has also been particularly inspired by her local teachers Beverly Botsford, Khalid Saleem, RJ Perz-Edwards and Bountourabi Leftwich and thanks them for their gifts and love of the music. Karen also is a member of River Rhythms in Durham. She lives in Durham with her husband and also works as a speech language pathologist specializing in helping young children use assistive technology and has a growing fused glass business. |
Tom Everly |
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Tom is a long-time transplant to North Carolina from Indiana. He grew up in a musical family and took piano, drum, marimba, and guitar lessons. In grade school and high school he played a wide variety of percussion instruments in the school band. After taking a break for 30+ years (other than dashboard drumming), Tom starting playing the drum set again a couple of years ago and most recently has found hand drumming to be a great way to expand his percussion interests. He resides in Cary with his lovely wife and two beautiful daughters. |
Brian Lane |
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After hearing the incredibly powerful and dynamic sounds of West African drumming for the first time in 1994, Brian caught the "drum bug," and has never looked back. He has Played for dance classes at Duke University and the Durham Arts Council. Performed at events ranging from the American Dance Festival to African Weddings. And has trained with African Masters like Mamady Keita, Mohamed DeCosta, Fode Camara, and Aly Camara. As well as other greats like Beverly Botsford, Khalid Saleem, and Bradley Simmons. In addition to Rhythmicity, he has played and performed with River Rhythms in Durham, NC for over 6 years. His long obsession with drumming stems from the therapeutic release drumming offers to balance an otherwise hectic life, and the gift of music that brings a smile to the people that hear him play. |
Caroline McLester |
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Caroline is fairly new to drumming, though she’s been in love with rhythm her whole life – as a musician, singer, dancer, and choreographer. After hearing Rhythmicity perform at her church in late 2007, she began classes with Ronnie Pulley. She also enjoyed several intense days of classes at the 2008 West African Drum and Dance Camp, and has studied with such talented teachers as Kevin Munro, Bountourabi Leftwich, Aly Camara, Mohamed DaCosta, Fode Moussa Camara, Khalid Saleem, Bill Nathan, and Marietou Cisse. She frequently sits in at Drumming in the Village, as well as the Raleigh Hoop Jam in Pullen Park. She’s enjoying every minute of learning and performing with the djembé and dunun, and so far hasn’t met a percussion instrument (or percussion player) she doesn’t like! She lives happily – and loudly – in Raleigh with her wonderfully supportive husband, Ralph, and two rhythmically-enthusiastic sons, Grayson and Kel. |
Susan Petrie |
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Susan is a native of Florida and has lived in Raleigh for the last 22 years. She played around with flute and guitar a bit but always loved to drum. Her brother is a drummer so there was always a drum set in the house, so when she first took a hand drumming class with Greg Whitt (www.oakcitydrums.com) in the summer of 2007 she knew this would change her life. She has continued learning from Ronnie Pulley (www.drumsonfire.com), and is currently studying under Bill Sheidt (www.livingrhythms.org), a professor of Mamady Keita school of the djembe (http://www.ttmusa.org/). She recently attended the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild Workshop and is interested in working with a wide variety of special groups to bring the gift of community drumming to them. She also drums with River Rhythms, RDC (www.raleighdrumcircle.org) and helps teach classes. She performs with Ronnie for yoga classes, and other events around town. She has two sons, Jack and Brad, and currently lives in North Raleigh. |
Ronnie Pulley |
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After visiting a large fire circle at the LEAF festival back in 2002, Ronnie became instantly hooked on African drumming. Since then Ronnie has studied at The West African Drum and Dance Camp 3 times, The WahWah festival in Atlanta, and has taken lessons under a number of African Masters including Mamady Keita, Mohamed DeCosta, Fode Camara, and Aly Camara. He has also trained with Beverly Botsford, Khalid Saleem, Michael Spiro, and Bradley Simmons. In addition to playing with Rhythmicity, Ronnie enjoys playing with River Rhythms in Durham, NC and frequents the Raleigh Drum Circle in Raleigh, NC. Ronnie resides in Cary, NC with his dogs Foxy and Zipper. |
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© 2004-2009, Rhythmicity, All Rights Reserved.
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