Today we’d like to introduce you to Andreas Jones.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
It all started at the age of 5 when I began to bang on my mom’s old pots and pans. My mom didn’t think much of my interest at first until I started attending W.E. Rodgers Elementary located in North Wood Manor and she had to come out to the school every day. The teachers always complained how I was disrupting the class flow due to me beating on my desk and making beats in my head. More and more she began to notice that I actually had an itch for drumming, my cousins and I use to play church back home every day after school when we were younger; and of course I was the drummer. My passion for being a drummer began to grow immensely. I began to pay close attention to Keith Sanders who was the drummer at my home church, New Community Baptist Church. Being that I was too young to play Pastor Phyllis Kennedy, the music director at the time suggested that I play the Congos until I got older. I’m sure you could imagine my excitement! Progressing to my teenage years my mom bought me my first drum set for my 13th birthday and Pastor Phyllis Kennedy introduced me to Robert Martinez (keyboard) and Joey Riggons (mentor) (drummer). Robert gave me first drumstick bag and sticks and showed me how to be colorful with music, also taught how to approach different sections, learn and know the music with the appropriate groove/ feel. Joey taught me the fundamentals of playing drums and about staying in the Pocket, how to place the right drum fills in the music and how to read drum sheet music. One might think that’s since I had a love for music, that I took interest in band; that was not the case, I actually played football in middle school and in high school. I was however known for dropping “DBeat”! Everyone called me drummer boy aka timberland on “DBeat”. Whenever they had flow sessions during lunch period, I was the one they looked for to drop “DBeat”. Freshman year of high school I met James Brown (drummer), little does he know, he helped me perfect my craft by having shed sessions everyday after school till we graduated . As much as giving people a reason to nod their head to the beat at school gave me thrill and joy, it wasn’t enough. So having the opportunity to play for my home church during my high school years gave me the satisfaction I wanted. I then attended Jarvis Christian College, Majored in Music and Minored in Business Management. Here in college is where I started to perfect my craft, I was in gospel choir s/o to Jason Lockhart and Larry McCord (keyboardist) takin me under their wing. I was in jazz band, concert band, concert choir and started the Jarvis Drumline as well (Dog House). In college the nickname “drummer boy” stuck with me , and as years went by people started shortening it and started calling me “ DB”, With people calling me DB it’s sounded so much like “Dbeat “ and that’s when the brand started. Of course I didn’t let my passion for music die after college, I then began working as a substitute teacher for Sheldon ISD and at Key Middle School building the drum line. It was like God started opening doors for me, introducing me to the right people and placing me in the right path. I met Ronnie Coleman Jr (all around musician) he gave me my first jazz gig at Sullivan Steak House. This was the hardest gig ever! He pushed me to my limits, it’s kinda embarrassing when the keyboard player is showing you what to play on drums while he’s playing piano. It was a learning experience and I didn’t give up, (Dbeat had to go on) I went home and practiced everyday thank you Ronnie Coleman Jr. During that time Felix Deleon (keyboardist / trumpet) also introduced me to Christian Contemporary Music. Few years later I ran across Michael Hobdy (keyboardist) he put me on (J Dilla and real bro soul hip hop music) and my first smooth jazz gig with Chris Mitchell, which led to my first live DVD recording. More and more opportunities started to flow in, I did live album recording with Pastor Phyllis Kennedy, Ronnie Coleman Jr, Gerald Davis, Drathovan and Ziel. Where and what’s going on with me now? I’m still doing music full time, playing around in the city of Houston. I realized that there are plenty kids out there that was just like me … with an itch to be a drummer, so I now give drum lessons. I’m a husband and father, recently got married March 9th 2018 to the Beautiful Mrs. “everything” Terri Jones!! She (we) have one talented, smart daughter that’s 12, they have made a huge impact on my life, I love them so much! There are a lot drummers that has really influenced me in so many ways. Local Houston drummers Joey Riggons Gary Mayes James brown Cory Cox John Fotnot Larry grant Joey Oscar Ken Chatman Leon kittrell David Hudson Marvin mcquitty Dave weckl Vinne colaiuta John Blackwell Chris Dave Calvin Rodgers Nate Smith Tony Royster Jojo Mayer
Please tell us about your art.
My art is base around building a great relationship with anyone I meet on the music scene or off, keeping a good heart and also staying in the pocket, that’s another reason for (Dbeat). Anybody can sit down on drums and chop all day and all night but can you discipline yourself to learn and spend time with the music and be a team player by playing your part by laying the groove and making it feel good. My meaning behind Dbeat is: (D) dedication (B) believe (E) evolve (A) achieve (T) triumph
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
My advice to artists/musicians get out and network with others, build a solid relationships and support others.
Contact Info:
- Website: AndreasDbeat.com
- Email: andreasdbeat@gmail.com
- Instagram: Dbeat_441
- Facebook: Andreasjdb
Image Credit:
Moriah Studios
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