5 - New York City, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Cabaret, and Recording

Career Phase Two (1964-1982)

I loved NYC. It took me about 6 months to get my head organized about acquisition of percussion equipment, where to store it, and my name established enough for people to call me for free-lance work. These calls eventually led to Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and cabaret work with some of the most established and also up and coming “stars” of screen and stage.

NYC, (see CV for details) was about an 18-year marvelous experience of orchestral work, show work, learning about medieval and renaissance performance & frame drumming, African music, establishing the professional Empire Percussion Quartet, Tapestry, and Mott St. Gang ensembles, and performing in numerous schools in the metropolitan NYC and Hudson Valley areas. There were still gender obstacles such as being turned away from regular participation with the Goldman Band (I was invited to join by the Associate Conductor) because there were no bathrooms for females at the Central Park bandstand area where the band performed. Humorously, I could substitute in; it was never discussed what I would do for bathroom facilities on those evenings.

See Phase Two Media Materials >>