· Over 20 years experience of performing and
touring

· 15 years studio experience

· 10 years experience of teaching

· Musical Director of 4 steeldrum bands

· Manager of 4 bands

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Professional Experience

Tracy has been performing, touring, and recording with various bands since he was 15 years old, performing many different styles of music and playing many different instruments. He started on the drum kit and played with hard rock groups including” Soul Society” and the critically acclaimed “Toxic Popsickle” with former members of Ben Folds Five, toured all over the states with the nationally renowned hard core ska group “Otis Reem”, performed with “Trinidad North”, a reggae/calypso group, played djembe and djun djun in “ Rhythms of Life” a West African Djembe drum core headed by World renowned drum master Khalid Saleem. He was the founder, leader, musical director, manager and lead tenor pannist of the critically acclaimed calypso/jazz group “Been Caught Steelin’”. He was also the founder of the nation’s most exciting steeldrum band “Sons of Steel” where he was the musical director, teacher, tenor pannist, percussionist, manager, mentor, bus driver etc…

Instruments Played

Tenor Steelpan, drum kit, djembe, congas, timbales, bongos, guitar and any type of percussion

Recordings

2000 Sons of Steel “Carpe Diem” steelpan/percussion/producer/musical director

1999 Sons of Steel “Outta the Blue” steelpan/percussion/producer/musical director

1998 Been Caught Steelin “Steel and Brass” steelpan/percussion/producer/musical director

1999 Otis Reem “The Prophet” drum kit

1998 Charles Greene Group “Good to See You Forever” Steelpan

1998 “Bag Of Nickels” steelpan

1996 “Been Caught Steelin’” steelpan/drum kit/percussion/producer/musical director

1994 “Tracy Thornton’s Steelin’ Christmas” steelpan/drum kit/producer/musical director

1994 Healing Force “Celebrate Kwanza” steelpan

1993 “Steeldrums and Then Some” steelpan/percussion/drum kit/musical director/producer

1993 Bitter Sweet “Spell Singer” drum kit

1992 Toxic Popsickle “Friends of Zid” percussion/steelpan

1992 Toxic Popsickle “Listening to Kim” single Percussion/steelpan

1991 Toxic Popsickle “Something to Suck On” percussion/steelpan

1990 Soul Society “Here We All” drum kit/percussion/co-producer

1989 Tipper Ghore “Down and Dirty” drum kit

Training

1972-2001 Self taught drummer

1992-2001 Studied African drumming and percussion with African Drum Master Khalid Saleem

1995-2002 Studied steelpan in Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. and performs annually in the world’s largest steelband competition “Panorama” during the island’s carnival season

Teaching Experience

1992-1999 Taught African percussion and steelpan at Caldcleugh Multi-Cultural Center ages 4-14

1990-1992 facilitated the Greensboro Drum Group (African Percussion)

1996-1999 Taught African percussion at Greensboro Day School

1990-2001 Tours schools K-12 and universities Nationally to educate about the steelpan, the art form and it’s culture

1998-2002 Musical Director for the “Sons of Steel” steeldrum band

1999-Musical Director for the “Bahamma Mammas” steeldrum band

Tracy is an exceptional musician, teacher and performer. He doesn’t read music and teaches by ear and by rote. “Drill and Kill to skill” style of training. With his infectious and highly energetic personality and never ending enthusiasm towards music, he has built a strong name for himself in the world-wide steelpan community and seems to reach kids and people of all ages easily to teach them the magical world of music.

The type of work Tracy has been doing for years

Festival and event planning with emphasis on Ethnic Music and Cultures

Practitioner of cognitive teaching with particular focus on the concepts of repetition and drill and kill to skill.

Implementation of peer teaching model concentrated on grades k-8 and all ages

Designed comprehensive school-aged music workshops with an emphasis on curriculum connections

Coordinated music programs for non-traditional arts facilities and high-risk communities

Supervised and coordinated music programs for undeserved children and young adults

Supervised and coordinated music programs for mentally, physically and visually impaired adults

So whether on tour, in the studio, or in a class situation, Tracy is definitely in high demand and at the tender young age of 32 it seems that he is only just getting started!