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PASIC 05 Presents a Tribute to the Musical Journey of Babatunde Olatunji PASIC is celebrating its 30th anniversary by presenting some of the most momentous and inspiring headliner concerts in the convention’s history. On Nov. 4, PASIC is reuniting the members of The Drums of Passion for "Ajido...New York...The World" - A Tribute to the Musical Journey of Babatunde Olatunji. The concert takes place at 9 p.m. at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Olatunji, hailed as the father of African drumming in the United States, was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2001. He was born in 1927 in Ajido, Nigeria. In 1950 he and his cousin Akinsola Akiwowo came to America to attend college. He soon became an unofficial ambassador of African cultural heritage, presenting drum and dance performances at local schools and later performing on popular television shows and at the 1964 New York World Fair. His groundbreaking 1959 recording, “Drums of Passion,” sold millions of copies and is still in print. For more than 40 years, Olatunji traveled the world teaching percussion workshops, spreading his love of drums and African culture, and inspiring countless musicians. He died on April 6, 2003, in Salinas, California. This is the first time that members of Olatunji’s ensemble have performed together since the 2003 memorial concerts. Artists are flying in from all corners of the U.S. for this historic performance. The concert will feature songs and dances from across the creative spectrum of Olatunji’s career performed on traditional percussion instruments. According to band member Gordy Ryan, “The show will be HOT!” Olatunji’s cousin, now Dr. Akinsola Akiwowo, a distinguished anthropologist, will be an honored guest elder at the concert. Performers will include Olatunji’s grandchildren Ayodele Olatunji, Monisola Olatunji and Tebokozza Babumba, who continue his legacy. Also performing are Bob Bloom, who was a faculty assistant to Olatunji at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and long-time touring ensemble members Sikiru Adepoju, Ayo Adeyemi, Anthony Francis, Dreamer Frederick, Mawuena Kodjovi and Gordy Ryan. PASIC 05 takes place Nov. 2-5. Other headliner concerts include Grammy-nominated jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris with Blackout on Nov. 3 and a tribute to drumset legend Buddy Rich featuring Steve Gadd with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and Steve Smith with Buddy's Buddies on Nov. 5. The PASIC line-up also includes more than 150 clinics, master classes, concerts and events on drumset, orchestral percussion, keyboard, world percussion, marching, plus the International Drum & Percussion Expo, and more. For more details and registration information, log-on to www.pasic.org or call Adventure Travel at 800-540-9030. For more information about Babatunde Olatunji:
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