Robinson Bridgeforth: Drums and Dreams
River City Rising
I sat down recently with Memphis native Robinson Bridgeforth who has been touring the world as a drummer with the Jeff Jensen Band. He is also an original member of, and drummer for, the band REACH, which two weeks ago released their first album Genesis to critical acclaim and airplay on Memphis jazz station 91.7 FM. I thought I was meeting with Robinson to talk about his career and global experiences as a young entertainer. Instead I found myself listening to a young man whose path was never linear but instead a labyrinth of circumstances that would guide him to this precise place at which he was meant to be.
"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." –Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Robinson’s parents saw his musical inclinations at an early age and by eight years old he was playing the guitar. Desiring more exposure and education, they took him to Stax Music Academy. As he remembers it, they were scheduled to meet with the guitar instructor but somehow ended up in a room with drum instructor Jahleel Eli. “I don’t know how. Still don’t know how that happened.” Robinson put down his guitar and picked up a pair of drumsticks. He mastered so much so quickly under Eli (who composed the famous drum cadence “X-factor” performed in the movie Drumline) that by the time he arrived in middle school his name, with both peers and staff, had become synonymous with playing drums. He was named band captain in 8th grade.
"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." –Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Robinson’s parents saw his musical inclinations at an early age and by eight years old he was playing the guitar. Desiring more exposure and education, they took him to Stax Music Academy. As he remembers it, they were scheduled to meet with the guitar instructor but somehow ended up in a room with drum instructor Jahleel Eli. “I don’t know how. Still don’t know how that happened.” Robinson put down his guitar and picked up a pair of drumsticks. He mastered so much so quickly under Eli (who composed the famous drum cadence “X-factor” performed in the movie Drumline) that by the time he arrived in middle school his name, with both peers and staff, had become synonymous with playing drums. He was named band captain in 8th grade.
The beginning of his high school career was met with a surprisingly, perhaps divinely, unexpected turn in band tradition. Freshmen are customarily assigned to play cymbals. However, for the first time that anyone could recall, the band director allowed some of the incoming students to choose their instrument. Robinson chose the drums. Shortly thereafter an abrupt change in leadership led to lessons beyond the scope of musical symbols and instruments. He says it was his new band director, Justin Johnson, who taught him there was more to being a musician than music. He learned that success was not attained by coasting on already-existent talent; it was achieved by always striving to be better and pushing past self-imposed limitations.
Robinson’s acceptance to world-renowned Berklee College of Music was one of the high points in his life, followed quickly by a disappointingly low. After crunching the numbers it was financially undoable for him and his family. This could have been the end of the journey for him but,
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Robinson tapped into the Keep-Moving-Forward gene he says he inherited from his parents, enrolled at Visible Music College here in Memphis, met several young men with whom he formed both a brotherhood and a band, and is at the place he was meant to be.
Robinson’s acceptance to world-renowned Berklee College of Music was one of the high points in his life, followed quickly by a disappointingly low. After crunching the numbers it was financially undoable for him and his family. This could have been the end of the journey for him but,
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Robinson tapped into the Keep-Moving-Forward gene he says he inherited from his parents, enrolled at Visible Music College here in Memphis, met several young men with whom he formed both a brotherhood and a band, and is at the place he was meant to be.