Bopa King Carre is metaphorically driven!!!!!

(SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR ALL THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS!!) THE STORY. Bopa King Carre is a deeply spiritual and intuitive creator with much more life experience than his age would imply. He is an extremely versatile and eclectic drummer, master percussionist, composer, arranger, actor, teacher and always a student.
THE ADJECTIVES. He is among the most explosive and energetic live performers anywhere. Bopa exhibits visionary musicality, deep listening, formidable technique, a strong sense of time, great stamina and immense stage presence.
THE PRACTICE THE GIFT. His constant exploration of the music and rhythms from his life-study, world travel, tremendous performance history, extensive Dance club experience and endless Inner-space-born mystical channeling, keep Bopa King Carre naturally sensitive to the dynamics and attitudes of almost any musical situation. He is one of the very best and most tenacious you’ll ever see or hear.
PRECIPITATING INCIDENT. Bopa was born very close to a full moon in New York City’s Lower East Side. His parents of diverse Socio-cultural backgrounds, raised him on the exotic sounds of, early 1970’s A.M. radio, Afro/Cuban, Brazilian, Calypso, Classical, Greek, “Fiddler on the roof,” Johnny Cash, Mambo, Mario Lanza, Miles Davis, Mohammed El Bakkar, Motown, Nina Simone, Opera, Ray Charles, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone and other various influences.
ACT 1 Bopa King Carre first played the trombone in the third grade. In fifth grade Bopa picked up the guitar. When he encountered the percussion in school he was not so attracted to the study because he felt that, “they would be too easy to play.” He decided not to pursue any more music in place of a brief fling with the Visual Arts. It should be noted that during this time he had a strong aversion to Disco.
SUB-CULTURAL IDENTITIES. During the early Eighties, Bopa accompanied his many, “rapping,” classmates by pounding on tables with his fists and hands or with his vocalized, ‘beat-box,’ renditions. He also spat rhymes, ‘battled,’ through Break Dance and frequently attended what at that time were very obscure Underground Heavy Metal concerts. (N.W.O.B.H.M and the earliest Power and Thrash Metal)
EARLY OBSESSIONS. By his sophomore year of high school, Bopa was obsessed with all Rock, Funk, Rap, Afro/Cuban, Post-Bop, Free, Fusion Jazz and Minimalism. He had been exposed to The Lower East Side Noise and San Francisco Art-Rock Scenes, as well as other AProgressive-Experimental sounds first heard on W.K.C.R. 89.9 FM’s Transfigured Night, each weeknight from midnight till five a.m.
A (RE) DISCOVERY? All of this, no doubt, influenced Bopa’s (nervous) and often inappropriate tapping which one-day had him removed from class and sent to the school’s music instructor. That day, Bopa found his Voice and discovered his Drums.
FIRST GIG. His first, (real) gig was playing drum set at, THE BITTER END (NYC), for Power pop band, EM ZALE on November 3rd 1986.
FORMAL INSTRUCTION. He attended private drum lessons with Cliff Hackford, the late Al Miller and less formal studies with his close friend Phil Weiss.
PLOT POINT 1. After many attempts at original Rock, Metal and Cover bands, Bopa lost interest in playing commercial music.
EXPERIMENTATION. FRONTAL LAMBADA was a Greenwich Village-based Improvisational, Noise-Jazz/Rock – Spoken Word - performance art trio. Here Bopa, Experimented with live drums, percussion, abstract sounds, pre-recorded media and visual effects.
BOOT CAMP. Under the instruction of Jim Drost and Mark Hollub, Bopa marched /played and developed the beginnings of his tremendous technique in the SOUND OF LONG ISLAND DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS.
CHARACTER. In “REELIN”, a sitcom pilot written by John Blenn, Bopa was cast as ELTON.
A PUBLICATION. for GOOD TIMES magazine’s ALL THAT JAZZ column, Bopa attended and reviewed live performances of his musical heroes from ’88 –‘89.
WINNERS! Bopa’s Funk-Rock-Pop band ABSOLUT DRAMA took FIRST PLACE out of the 187 bands at the First Annual LONG ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL. From 1991 –1993, they headlined as well as opened for nationals regularly all over New York at venues like, New York’s famous CHINA CLUB, DANCETERIA, ROXY MUSIC HALL, BANK and CAFE WHA? Recorded material produced by RANDY JACKSON, of Zebra. Managed by the late, Yvette Grubman and Powerhouse Entertainment.
CLASSIC PUNK SESSION. He recorded drums with SUMMERS EVE, New York City’s mostly female Punk band on the E.P, “Time for Change.”
CARNEGIE HALL. Bopa accompanied PUTOMAYO records, international recording artist ALEXANDER BERNARD and MANAZART at CARNEGIE HALL airing on National Public Radio’s, “World Cafe, in 1993.”
INFORMAL INSTRUCTION. Bopa studied Afro Cuban rhythms with master Latin percussionists, ARGITO, CARLOS M, and other local greats.
7 NIGHTS A WEEK! With SHOCKSHINE, a Dub, Reggae, Rock and Dance band, Bopa collaborated on the LPs, ‘Worlds Away,’ and, ‘Live at CBGB.’ The approximately five hundred performances from ’94 –’98, included opening for many internationals like, BURNING SPEAR, and, TOOTS THE MAYTALS, all over The Hamptons, and playing two American tours:(Pennsylvania, Vermont, Colorado (1 month), Missouri, Arizona, California)
LATIN JAZZ. In SOL-Y-MAR, a Latin Jazz and Afro Brazilian, quintet Bopa played Drums and percussion throughout the Hamptons and the North Fork.
HOUSE MUSIC. Though Bopa King Carre had attended many of New York’s legendary Dance clubs and earliest Raves, it was from ’94 –‘96 as Bopa attended undergraduate studies at L.I.U - Southampton campus, that he fell in love with House Music and similar Electronica. He danced and studied the vibes each Sunday morning while at The Tunnel in Manhattan as then, Super DJ Junior Vasquez commanded!
STAGE DRAMA. Bopa starred as, “Grez, the Master of flagellants,” in the Southampton Players production of Peter Barnes,’ Red Noses, directed by Jon Frasier.
INTERNATIONAL STUDY. Bopa set out to go deeper into himself and the music, religions and Culture of the Near, Middle and Far East, while in: Japan, Thailand, India, Nepal, Egypt and Israel/Palestine. (1st Comparative Religion and Culture program. Friends World College ’96 /’97)
MOMENTS WITH MASTER. Bopa King Carre studied Mridangum (a traditional South Indian percussion instrument of the Kanada region) under the tutelage of MASTER M. VASUDEVA RAO in Bangalore, India.
TWO NIGHTS IN NEPAL. While in, Nepal, Bopa, played at The Blue Note (Thamel) with, indigenousness funk band, “CADENZA.”Bopa also accompanied a, popular band from Darjeeling at the Roadhouse, (Thamel).
EDUCATOR. back in the states he co-designed an Afro–Cuban percussion learning curriculum with L.I.U Southampton professor Mark Fasanella and substitute taught many subjects from pre-K to tenth grade at, THE HAMPTON DAY SCHOOL, in Bridgehampton N.Y. during, 1998-2000.
SHOPPING LIST N.Y. – DJs. Bopa’s live appearances in N.Y. include accompanying DJs: DANNY TENAGLIA, JONATHAN PETERS, ALEX A LOT (Tantra), ANTHONY ROSSI, ASH (Latin), ASTRO and GLYDE, CHRISTIAN SCOTT, CLEVELAND, The CLEVELAND SKYERS, CUT SUPREME (trimixx show w.u.s.b.fm) DAN BARNES, DON Q (Latin) DUSKO REMY JUSTIC, FRANKIE C, FABIAN ALSULTANY (Putomayo), HADJ (Freak Factory), ISRAEL, J SEVEN, JASON JINX ZAMBITO, JASON OJIEDA, JEROME FARLEY, JIMMY B (Deep Fried), JOE VELEZ, JUSTIN MICHAELS, JUSTIN TIME, LEON CORONOS, LOBO (La Mega), MANIC, MARK LEVENTHAL (Miami), MIKE NEGRON, MIKEY RAVE, MIKE SARKUS, MIMIC, MOTOMO, PAUL NICE, PETE LOPEZ, PETE RIBAU, RAZOR, ROB JAMES, SEAN NASH (Deep Fried), SEVEN, SHARAD (Bangra/Hip hop) SOUL STAR, STEVE NOLFI, TERRY FRANCIS (Fabric), TOM LAROC (Miami), TONY DRAPER, THEO (Neptunes - Party 105), Hungary’s top DJs: TOMMY BOY, RANDALL, GABOR CANDYMAN, Ireland’s DJ BUDDY and more. SHOPPING LIST N.Y. – BANDS. He also performed with ROBBIE from UB40, ABBEY CAHN, AKIM FUNK BUDDHA, ALAN SEMERDJIAN, ARI GOLD, BAD APPLE, BODY TEMPLE, COBY KHOEL, CREEK, DANIEL CARTER (Free Jazz), DAVID WYNNE, DELIBERATE CREATION CIRCLE, DIET KONG, DOLLAMAN, the late, DOUG STEGMEYER (Billy Joel), DR. DAVID JUBB, EARTH EATZ DOG, EUROPA, FRAIDY CAT, N.S. Stick player - GARY JIBILLIAN, GUITAR CENTER ALL STARS BLUES BAND, HANNES DE KASSIAN, HATE THE RACE, MC JAMALSKI (Columbia records), JAN PAXTON, JIM KOHLER, KARMA DOG, KOLLAGE, LAURIE JO CHAPMAN, LOTUS 9, MANHATTAN SAMBA, MARK MENDOZA (Twisted Sister), MC/DJ MIKE-E-GO GO, MILQUETOAST, MOTHER FREEDOM, MYSTEREOSO, ONE DROP, PAUL WEISS BAND, PARAMITA SOUND SYSTEM, RABID CONVULTIONS, RUEBEN JAMES, Chapman Stick and Bass player-THOM ‘SASQUATCH’ KARCHER, THREAD, SAZON, SOILENT GREEN, STEVE BOOKE, SUCK IT EASY, THE OTHERS, TOMMY ANTON, TROOP 47, U.F.F, WINSTON IRIE, and many more.
SHOPPING LIST N.Y. - (some) LIVE ARTFUL DODGER (LI), ASSETERIA @ SHOW & ARENA (NYC), AVALON ‘Limelight’ (NYC), SPIRIT ’Twilo’ (NYC), C.P.I. (Hampton Bays), STEPHEN TALKHOUSE (Amagansett), SOUND FACTORY (NYC), EXIT (NYC), BRIDGEVIEW (Island Park), CHINA CLUB ‘both locations’ (NYC), DANCETERIA (NYC and Hamptons), IRVING PLAZA (NYC), LEOPARD LOUNGE (NYC), LIMELIGHT (NYC), W Hotel (NYC) WEBSTER HALL (NYC), HISTORIC LIGHTSHIP FRYING PAN (NYC), HK LOUNGE (NYC), KNITTING FACTORY (NYC), HANSOME HOUSE (South Hampton), JET LOUNGE (NYC and Hamptons), LA SUPERICA (Sag Harbor), MUNCHABA LOUNGE (L.I.), NV (Easthampton), NEPTUNES BEACH CLUB (Hampton bays), NUBLU (NYC), ORAGIN (L.I.), PINK ELEPHANT (Hamptons), PLUSH (L.I.), RIVERHEAD BLUES FESTIVAL (Riverhead), ROSELAND BALLROOM (NYC), SULLIVAN ROOM (NYC), RITUAL @ CLUB 2686 (Levittown), COMBUSTIVE ARTS (or the infamous 718 SESSIONS LOFT PARTY, (BKLYN), SAVANNAHS LOUNGE (east meadow), SPLASH (nyc), and so many other establishments, most now defunct.
TOMMY BOY RECORDS. Bopa was featured on TOMMYBOY RECORDS PAUL OAKENFOLD presents AFRIKA BAMBAATAA The Soulsonic Force “PLANET ROCK” remixes: Litman Cox Club Mix and Tribal Infusion Dub produced by CHRIS COX of THUNDERPUSS and KEITH LITMAN.
DEEPER REKORDS. He recorded percussion for DEEPER REKORDS on, JON SECADA’S single, “STOP,” remixed by JONATHAN PETERS.
KINKI MALINKI RECORDINGS (London). As a member of the soul-house production group SOULAJA, Bopa recorded all of the percussion and collaborated with FRANKIE C, on the (still charting as of ‘05) composition, “LOVE IS BETTER.” Released on KINKI MALINKI records (London).
DEF MIX RECORDS. Bopa King Carre recorded congas for DEF MIX RECORDS on FRANKIE C’s remix of BOBBY D’ AMBROSISO’s “OPTIMISTIC,” charting in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.
WEDDINGS-BAR MITZVAHS-CORPORATE-ETHNIC. Since 1993 Bopa has rocked private functions with New York’s best entertainment companies like, ABSOLUTE ENTERTAINMENT, CHEZZAM, DJU, EJ THE DJ, ENTERTAINMENT TONITE, FANTASY, HART 2 HART, M.M.E, PARTY HARTY, RICHIE HART ENTERPRISES, STEVEN SCOTT ORCHESTRAS, TOMMY’S TUNES, and most others.
WINTER MUSIC CONFRENCE 2003. Bopa King Carre “blew it up,” all over the 2003 WINTER MUSIC CONFRENCE in So-Be, Miami FL. Sometimes armed only with bongos or Caxixi (traditional Brazilian wicker shakers) with DJs, CLEVELAND, IVANO BELLINI, JAMES AYALON, MIKE DIREKT, PRIDE, SHAWN INK and SHELDON ROMERO, at BILLBOARD-LIVE, THE CLEVELANDER, ORCHID LOUNGE, THE SHELBORNE and more.
PHILADELPHIA LIVE. Bopa King Carre accompanies DJ ROB LEE at CLUB DECCO and elsewhere including the now legendary, Cinco De Mayo, party of 2003. Bopa, DJ PAULIE DAY, DJ TOMMYBOY (Philly), DJ JASON E, DJ MIKE ALBA, and New York’s DJ MAC GUIVER, share killer sets at the TOP DOG and LOFT BAR in Philly.
AYLER RECORDS SWITZERLAND Bopa recording two Free Jazz releases as a sideman with Jeffery Hayden Shurdut. New Text and the later Birth.
FREE JAZZ LEDGENDS. Bopa performs, ‘way-Out-there,’ with LUTHER THOMAS (Human Arts Ensemble), ON DAVIS (Sun Ra’s Arkestra, Don Ayler, Vernon Reid), multi-instrumentalist, NICK GIANNI in, COUP RULE and THE FAMOUS ORIGINAL DJUKE MUSIC PLAYERS and other Free Jazz projects.
RAINBOW GATHERING SCENE. Bopa King Carre recorded drums on international, New Age, guitar virtuoso, SCOTT HUCKABAY’s, ‘Temple of Dendara,’ CD featuring FREEDOM and MARTIN HOLLAND.
PERU Bopa recorded and performed in Ollayantaytambo, Cuzco and Lima, Peru with SHIMSHAI, CIRCO TRIBAL, AMARU PUMAC QUNTUR, (The Roots Crew), and others. He also co-formed WATASKA and the WOVEN MEDIA GROUP. One of these performances was the first of three MUSOQ PACHA MASSIVE, benefit for Casa de Milagros, children's community in Peru.
RAINBOW GATHERING SCENE. MUSOQ PACHA 2 was in L.A. with SHIMSHAI, B.K.P. and TONY KHALIFE.
Bopa King Carre performed and recorded with Guinea, West African Band BAGA BAE featuring AMADOU CAMARA and M.C. AKIM FUNK BUDDHA in San Francisco with the Mystic Family Circus for MUSOQ PACHA 3 at 111 Minna Street.
SAN FRANSISCO DANCE SESSIONS. Bopa King Carre also performed epic dance sets with DJs SOUL SALAAM and Ds SIMBA!
SOUNDTRACK. Bopa recorded drums on B.K.P’s ‘LET THE PLANTS GROW,’ for the WOVEN MEDIA documentary, UNCOOKED the MOVIE.
Bopa accompanied SHIMSHAI and TINA MALINA on they’re N.Y. 2005 tour.
LAW and ORDER. Bopa King Carre and members of LOTUS 9 appeared on, ‘Gov Love,’ the 333rd episode of T.V. drama, ‘LAW ORDER.’
WORKS IN PROGRESS. Bopa is composing music for, PEACE PROCESS, his Eastern, Tribal, Trance, and Metal vision.
He collaborates on Sludge and Grind-Core-Punk band, SAUDIAMERICA.
PUBLICATION. Bopa King Carre writes, ‘THE RAW PERCUSSIONIST’ an occasional drum column discussing metaphysical principals and all other things percussion for the, INSIDE CONNECTION magazine.
Bopa plays drums and percussion for, DIVA ROACH, a classic styled Neo Soul, Tribal House Music - LIVE BAND!
Live percussion/House Music performances accompanying DJs internationally.
Bopa is the musical director and an illustrated character in an upcoming animated series t.b.a
teaches several private students on Long Island N.Y.
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