For Immediate Release: January 13, 2005

Percussive Arts Museum Hosts Free Steel Drum Band Concert
Performance will feature the tropical sounds of Apocalypso Now

The public is invited to a free concert featuring the tropical sounds of Caribbean-inspired steel drum music at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 17, at the Percussive Arts Museum, 701 N.W. Ferris Ave., Lawton. This special performance of the Texas Tech University steel drum band, "Apocalypso Now," is part of the Percussive Arts Society Concert Series.

The band performs music ranging from a calypso style to pop hits under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rogers. Apocalypso Now recently performed at the 2004 Organization of American Kodaly Educators Conference and the 2004 Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference.   Other celebrated performances include playing on Norwegian Cruise Line's Leeward Ship and opening for The Beach Boys at Branson's Mel Tillis Theatre in May 2000. Most band members are percussion majors in the TTU School of Music.

This is the band's third performance in Lawton. In 2003, the band performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Headquarters and Museum re-dedication ceremony. The group also performed at the museum in 1998.

The April 17 concert will feature:
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin/arr. by Julie Hill
"California Girls" by Brian Wilson/arr. by Bonnye Kath
"Jamaica Farewell" by Irving Burgie/arr. by A. Smith
"Bien Sabroso" by Pancho Sanchez/arr. by Julie Hill
"Takin' It to the Streets" by Michael McDonald/arr. by Mike Myers
"Everything She Do Do Do Is Magic" by Sting/arr. by Jeff Smith
"Dust In the Wind" by Kerry Livgren/arr. by Jeff Smith
"Bamboleo" by Baliardo, Bouchikhi & Reyes/arr. by Jeff Smith

This event is co-sponsored by the City of Lawton and the Lawton Arts & Humanities Council, and supported by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact the Percussive Arts Society at 317.974.4488 or e-mail percarts@pas.org .

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The steel drum band originated in the 1930s on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where drums were crafted from garbage cans, storage tins and other metallic containers to play in Carnival parades after British authorities banned traditional African drums and improvised instruments. Over time, musicians began making steel drums (also called "pan drums" or "pans") from large oil drums, hammering the flat end into a concave surface that is further shaped to produce pitches. The steel drum is the only acoustic (non-electric) instrument invented during the twentieth century.

Modern steel bands have several different drums producing a vast tonal range. The four basic types of pans are tenor, double seconds, cellos and bass. The number of notes on a pan varies depending on its size - the lower instruments having fewest notes. These modern instruments are professionally made, no longer crafted from discarded oil drums.

About The Percussive Arts Society

Headquartered in Lawton, Okla., the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is the largest percussion organization in the world with over 8,000 members and is considered the central source for information and networking for percussionists and drummers of all ages and skill levels. The society was established in 1961 and is dedicated to promoting percussion education, research, performance and appreciation throughout the world. PAS is home to the Percussive Arts Museum and Library, which contain rare and unusual percussion instruments and scores.   For more information about PAS, visit www.pas.org .