Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Dinkins III.
Hi Samuel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Samuel Dinkins III, and I am original from Brooklyn, NY. I have been a musician all of my life. My Mother and her sister discovered my gift at around 7 years old, and I began taking Private music lessons at 8 years of age. Through grade school, intermediate school, and at Erasmus Hall High School for the Academy of Performing Arts, I played music in all bands, ensembles, and groups. I played my first professional gig at 12 years of age and have never looked back. I had other interest growing up in Brooklyn, NY, among them Sports (I played Pop Warner and High School Football), Collecting (A Coin collection, Comic book collection, and Records/Cassettes & CDs), Entrepreneurship, History, and Religion. But Music was always the constant. After High School, I attended Howard University in Washington, DC where I studied Business Management and played in The Marching Band & several other University Bands. While at Howard University, I became a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc. After completing my studies, which included a brief career Managing several Record Stores for Transworld Music Corporation, I moved to Houston, Texas in the Summer of 1988. I got married, pursued job opportunities in several industries in the Houston area, and then my love for music reminded me of my purpose. I began working with the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra, became a part of the Holman Street Baptist Church Music Ministry, Pastor Manson Johnson, Warren Sam, Minister of Music, and the Drummer for Kim Wade & Friends. But it was my experience taking Private Music Lessons that led to me creating the Dinky Drum Company School of Drums & Percussion at the Community Music Center of Houston (CMCH) in February of 1989 in the Historic Third-ward Community. Dinky Drum Company School of Drums & Percussion business model grew over the 6 & 1/2 years that it resided at CMCH. We moved our business to a Music store in the Montross area of Houston and added Piano Lessons. The business model further developed by writing grants, working Part-time in HISD, doing summer workshops & programs, and developing seasonal School Performances. The Dinky Drum Company School of Music became the Dinky Drum Company, LLC (DDC), and the music lesson program became the Dinky Drum Company School of Music. We moved to a new location after 6 & 1/2 years at the Band Instrument Exchange, and we leased a property in the Historic Third ward. Dinky Drum Company School of Music added Woodwind lessons, Brass Lessons, a 2nd Drum/Percussion Instructor along with Piano Lessons, and returned to Annual Spring and Winter Recitals (which was a part of the program at CMCH). As our business model changed, we found it beneficial to name the music school “The DDC School of Music” since we were doing more than Drums & Percussion. Dinky Drum Company School of Music led the consumer to associate our company with only drums & percussion. DDC School of Music open the door to our expansion, new vision, new branding, and after seven years, we purchased a building at 2213 Wichita Street, Houston, TX 77004. The new property allowed our company to add Kindermusik classes, String Lessons, Vocal Lessons, and a 2nd Piano Instructor. It also gave DDC more space for a multi-purpose space for Group Lessons, Workshops, and Student Showcases/Recitals. Since April 0f 2011, DDC has been located at 2213 Wichita Street. Founder & President, Samuel Dinkins, III maintained an active performance career as a Drummer and Percussionist. Along the journey, he played with some of the greatest musicians & artist in the Music Industry. Too many to mentioned; we’ll note a few. Among them Rev. James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin, Gene ‘the Duke of Earl’ Chandler, Stephanie Mills, Melba Moore, Lionel Hampton, Joe Sample, and George Duke. Among Mr. Dinkins, professional relationships is the American Federation of Musicians, a Life member of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Black Music Educators, National Association of Music Merchants, City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunities, National Association of the Recording Arts & Sciences, and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. He is an Educational Endorser for Avedis Zildjian Cymbals, REMO, Inc., ProMark Drumsticks & Mallets, and SKB Cases. He is the Father of two (musical) Sons: Samuel IV and Samson Lee.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Dinky Drum Company, LLC has had several challenges in its 34 years of business. From changes to our business location (5 in total), to Music Teachers/Instructors and Administrative Staff to several rebranding’s and marketing plans, the COVID-19 Pandemic was the biggest challenge that we experienced. We closed our location and moved to a virtual music lesson program. We lost 55% of our customers, revenues, and performance jobs. Thanks be to God, grants, loans, and the SBA, we were able to keep our business going. I often say and now know that “You can’t have a testimony without a Test!”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Thanks for this question. Not knowing that it was a part of your questionnaire, many of my answers to this question can be found in my story. But not mentioned in my private story is: I have had the pleasure and honor to perform music on 4 Continents and the Caribbean. My leadership skills have led to my success in business. As early as Intermediate School in Brooklyn, NY, I was Captain of the Football Team (Pop Warner & High School), Drum/Percussion Section Leader, Officer for the Youth Usher Board at Newman Memorial UMC, Youth Officer the Brooklyn Chapter of the Ushers Association of America, Northeast Youth Delegate on the Board of Directors for Black Methodist for Church Renewal, Chapter Secretary and President of the Eta Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity, Inc., Band President of the Howard University Showtime Band, District IX Vice President of KKPsi, District IX/ Northeast District President of KKPsi and Designer of the Fraternity and Sister Organizations Life Membership Pin.
I am known for being a very professional and competent Professional Drummer/Percussionist. I have performed live music in multiple sizes of venues around America and the World. I have recorded sessions for Artist & Groups. I have done Live Recordings for radio, television, and live streams.
I am most proud of being a father. My sons, Samuel Dinkins, IV is 31 yrs. old and his Brother Samson Lee Dinkins is 22 yrs. old. They are both musicians (Alums of HSPVA) and very responsible young men. Samuel lives in Chicago, IL, and is a professional Sound Engineer. He is responsible for all of the Chapels in the City of Chicago for the Salvation Army, and he tours with Taylor Bennett, Chance the Rapper, and the National R-n-B Tour (with the who’s who of R-n-B Artist from the ’90s to the present). Samson is a jazz Guitar major at the University of North Texas. He spent a year at Los Angeles School of Music in Pasadena, CA before the COVID-19 Pandemic brought him back to HTX. Before he began his collegiate career, he was a member of the 2019 High School Texas All-State Jazz Band.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I have a vast personal library of music books, books on History (Black authors & figures), and periodicals.
There are several go to online resources from Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and National Association of Music Merchants that I frequent.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dinkydrum.com
- Instagram: Instagram@samdink3
- Facebook: facebook@dinkydrumco
- Linkedin: linkedin@samueldinkinsiii
- Twitter: twitter@dinkydrumco
- Youtube: youtube@dinkydrumco
- Yelp: yelp@ddcschoolofmusic
