Todd Remley Birthplace: Manhattan, NY D.O.B. 01-10-72
Status: Happily married with a 3 year old son! I am a full timehusband/father and musician, my hobbies are collecting live music and memorabellia, long walks to the refrigerator, cooking, taking naps, and trying to enjoy life!
Instrument: Congas, Djembe, JunJun, Ashiko, other percussive instruments & guitar.
Condensed Insight: Music became an integral part of my life early, when I found my fathers stash of Lp's consisting of Frank Sinatra, Chicago, The Beatles, and Paint your Wagon soundtrack among others. I loved it, all of it! From the shape of the record, to carefully placing the stylus ... and then...oh yes... the musical reward.
My fascination with West African traditional lead percussion grew, so I traveled to the Omega Institute in Reinbeck, NY (Upstate). The Djembe, the Djun Djun, and the Ashiko called, together with a wonderful group of Louisville, KY musicians I headed for my first week-long seminar led by my teacher / mentor Babatunde Olatunji. Affectionately known as "Baba", this was the catalyst that threw me into the lifelong love of the percussive sound and music in all forms.
This introduction to Olatunji's philosophy of the rhythm of life also led me to the teachings of Sanga Francis "of the Valley." Trinidad and Tobago-born, Sanga has played lead Djembe with Olatunji on numerous CDs, live performances and as a teacher/player in Olatunjis drum Clinics. Sanga continues to be a wonderful percussion teacher in NYC. Bob Bloom, another gifted percussive soul teaching out of NYC, allowed me the opportunity to spend several weeks gleaning some of his philosophy and technique as well.
While following another fascination with food and wine, I was blessed to jam with several World Music students and teachers from Naropa Liberal Arts University located in Boulder, CO. Now located back in the Mid-West, I'm gigin' part-time with friends in Evansville IN. and I play in Louisville KYas well. Being asked to take part in the Honey Roy Family and playing on several tracks on the album and to play with such a great group of musicians and wonderful people is an honor and a privilege.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present. - Babatunde Olatunji