“I was once a camera man and have worked for all three television stations in Mobile. I started at Channel 10 and was an editor but knew I wanted to be a photographer. I liked the creativity and it took me everywhere in Mobile and did crazy and fun stuff like climb a crane at the State Docks but I didn’t like the grind. I moved to Tallahassee and did freelance work and shot for ESPN and Oprah, but six months later realized it still wasn’t for me. I started driving a beer truck and made bank during football season but it was a struggle during other times. I realized I could drive a beer truck in Mobile and moved back home. I have three kids, 16, 11 and 4 with one on the way. I have always been a musician and play drums, but it was second fiddle. I recently started Rhythm Connections, Inc. to bring people together through drum circles in Mobile. It is a group of people playing drums but it is more than that, there is no race, gender, ethnicity. A drum is an instrument that anyone can strike and make a noise from and everyone is drawn to drums. I go to First Baptist in Mobile and the youth minister went on maternity leave and my wife and I stepped in to help. I started playing with a drum circle with the youth and I want to make a drum circle that is part of downtown that plays at Cathedral Square or the church. It is about bringing people together in a way that nothing else matters. It starts with rubbing hands, clapping and experimenting. I let them be free before we get beats or counter beats going for each person. I did a drum circle at Camp Smile and was blown away by what that group did and how drums connected them. There were people who couldn’t communicate, but they could through drums. I always wanted to be a professional musician, but I have a family now and can’t play drums for bands in bars, but this is my calling. I have a day job selling groceries to restaurants and convenience stores. I need to raise $5,000 to get started with incorporating and buying enough drums of different types to take them around and do drum circles for free. I do a drum circle every Monday at the Mulherin home and fortunately, they have enough small drums. You should see the joy on their faces. We are in the groove and in the moment and I have that joy too. I started playing on pots and pans when I was a kid. Playing drums was my release and I played them as soon as I got home from school. My late sister was diagnosed with cancer when I was 14 and she was 18. Playing the drums was how I coped. She survived for 30 years and became a powerful, humble woman who lobbied for education and reached people all over the country. She loved the arts and brought people together and was my inspiration. She died a year ago today. I carry her on through this too.”