Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerome Gillespie.
Hi Jerome , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born 12/15/1997 to Sandra and Jerome Gillespie, Sr. My parents weren’t musicians, but they surely have a good taste and appreciation for good music. I grew up listening to jazz, gospel, and R&B music. My desire to play music began as early as I can remember. I’m a preachers kid, so therefore I grew up going to Greater St. Matthew’s Baptist Church every Sunday. This particular church was home to one of the most important gospel composers in the world, Theola Booker, who was a pianist who composed for the late Rev. James Cleveland and served as the church’s 1st minister of music. Every Sunday I have always enjoyed listening and watching the band play. I feel that my parents saw that I had musical interest at an early age, so at the age of 4, my parents signed me up to take piano lessons, then at the age of 5 I began playing the violin, and somewhere between 5 and 6 I took up percussion.
When I was 11 years old I began attending Johnston Middle School (now Meyerland Middle School), where I studied under Craig A. Green, a well respected educator who has had a hand in the success of many Houston musicians, such as Chris Dave, Eric Harland, Mark Simmons, just to name a few. It was at that time when I decided that I wanted to be a professional musician when I grow up. At the age of 12 I began learning how to play the drum set from Craig Green who later on, encouraged me to begin playing at my own church so that I will continuously develop my skills. Along with studying with Craig Green, I began studying with Joel Fulgham who helped prepared me for my audition for my high school alma mater High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA).
I became a student at HSPVA in 2012 and graduated in 2016. During my time there, I began studying with the late Sebastian Whittaker who was my biggest influence when it came to my sound on the drums and a great role model. I made the TMEA All-Region and All-State Jazz Bands for 3 years in a row (2013-2016), and I have also had the honor and privilege to been selected to be apart of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly known as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) All-Star tour, where I had the opportunity to perform with my peers from all over the country, and perform alongside world-renowned musicians Dayna Stephens and Antonio Hart. I got to travel and perform in places like The White House, Savannah, Georgia, South Carolina, and I even had the opportunity to record at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder’s Studio with the late Rudy Van Gelder himself.
Once I graduated HSPVA I moved to NYC to pursue my bachelors degree and a career performing jazz music. I spent my first 2 years of undergrad at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and my last 2 years at Manhattan School of Music. During my time in New York, I had the honor and privilege to work with many legendary musicians such as Valery Ponomarev, Reginald Workman, Frank Lacy, Mark Gross, Marc Cary, Curtis Lundy, and so many others. After Graduating I went back to my hometown, Houston and I recorded my EP, which will be coming out soon. So far I have released my single “The Gift of Brotherhood” onto all streaming platforms. I’m currently in NYC preparing for my debut gig as a leader at the historic Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem while also performing with various artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say that my journey has been somewhat of a windy road. There’s a religious joke amongst Christians that says “if you want to make God laugh… make plans.” If this is true then the past four years of my life have been somewhat of a comedy show. I moved to NYC thinking that when I get there my “Houston family”, would help me obtain a stable music career and I would play with all these musicians whom I checked out, and all will be just well. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen like this or in a way that I could’ve imagined. One thing I had to deal with a lot was rejection, whether it was among peers, people who at one time I looked up to and aspired to be like, etc. The second “struggle” I have to deal with is people who would seek to hamper me in my pursuit of a career, weather people would want to tarnish my reputation or block me from be apart of a “group” or “circle”. Above all the biggest struggle for me is to firmly stand upon what I believe in. Malcolm X once said that “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”. I feel like we live in a time where people love to follow the crowd and participate in a bunch of trends no matter how ridiculous they may be. In this day and age, if you say something slightly against the grain, you’re immediately shut down. In my short 23 years on this Earth I learned that it is far easier to pretend to be something else or to believe in a fantasy than to actually learn who you are as a person and believe in reality.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now I’m known mostly as a sideman to various legendary artist. One of the things that I’m most proud of was being able to play at the Houston Jazz Festival with Frank Lacy’s Septet. For this performance, we were paying tribute to the late, legendary drummer and bandleader, Art Blakey. What made this show special for me was playing with not one, but four musicians who have been apart of one of the most important jazz bands in history, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, which made it a huge honor for me to be in the drum chair for this occasion.
What sets me apart from everyone else is energy I give and the time and effort I take to learn my craft and to learn the music of colleague’s when I’m called to play with them.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If anyone wants to work with me, collaborate, support, you can reach me on my website (www.jeromegillespie.com). You can be able to contact me from there via email. Also be sure to follow me on FaceBook (Jerome Gillespie II) and Instagram (jeromegillespie_jr) and go check out my debut single the “Gift of Brotherhood” out on all streaming music platforms
Contact Info:
- Email: gillespiejerome@gmail.com
- Website: www.jeromegillespie.com
- Instagram: @jeromegillespie_jr
- Facebook: Jerome Gillespie
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-RH8r–CqHebpw7PTkAQSw
Image Credits
Dawn Brooks and Jim Funk
