Australia Arrested Development Tour-photograph taken by Bennelong Boekoudt
OMAR PHILLIP'S
BIOGRAPHY
Who would have known that on a pleasantly warm, Tuesday, in October, 1969, that pure rhythm would be born.
Omar has been “Funky Since Birthâ€, realizing it at the age of 9. Thanks to Quincy Jones & Paulino DeCosta.
He started playing drums in his Aunt’s choir at the age of 10. He lived the life of a true ATlien and fell totally in love with music and the drums. They became a part of his soul. Pure passion is what you get when this Soul Brotha puts his Beat down.
Omar, attended Morris Brown College, and was the 1st Freshman Drum Section Leader of a Black College Marching Band. He laughs and shares his belief in his section…“you didn’t want to come near us†[Believe That!] he states with a straight forward - matter of fact!
From there he met Emory and Jimmy Jackson (Brick), who showed him that he really could “Do This†if he really wanted to. He started gigging, toured the world, living in Japan and Southeast Asia for about 4 years.
He came back to his “roots†and ended up hooking up with his brother, Vic Alexander and Sleepy Brown. From there he figured out that he had a “thang†for playing percussion just as much as the drums. The JOURNEY has only gotten deeper. He has been “officially†adopted into the Organize Noize family which eventually spilled into LaFace and the rest is truly “His Storyâ€!
This BOLD Brotha has been making beats for over a century, and has layed his 2’s and 4’s in perfect sequence for many of the World’s Most Talented Artist [“REAL ONESâ€] he bluntly and truthfully adds.
“The Creator has truly blessed me in ways that I could have never dreamed ofâ€!
His funk has been heard on several gold, platinum and multi platinum LP’s, some of which, have shaped black music for this generation.
“Nothing feels better than having good spirits around meâ€
“Not only are these people my employers, but they are also my friendsâ€.
Omar’s sound takes you back to Afraka and transcends you into the heart of “Country Funkâ€, a name that he has affectionately given the sound of the “vibrations†that he helps create with his drum/percussion expertise.
“I have perfected the Kraft that I have been blessed with, it will heat up the coldest soulâ€.
“I give THANKS to the Ancestors who used the drumâ€. As the late Nigerian percussionist and drumming scholar Babatunde Olatunji once put it:
“We say that rhythm is the soul of life, because the whole universe revolves around rhythm, and when we get out of rhythm, that’s when we get into trouble.â€
The hand drum can be traced back to prehistoric times. Ancient cultures from Africa to Australia to the Americas are known to have used drumming as a means of expression and communion with the Gods.
“I am an Artist, a Music Maker and I take them both VERY seriously and have lived by the ODE of a true artist, mixing Love, Life, and Music to a melody that is Absolutely Divineâ€.
“I’m always looking to “get down†with positive and appreciating artist and producers.
Read more about Omar at Edge Magazine, The official publication of drum workshop 6.0
www.dwdrums.com/info/catalogs/EMv6.pdf