A Tribute and Farewell (he’s moving) to one of the Drum Masters of Creative Music Syd Smart

Syd Sonic & Friends “Drum Songs”

 Syd Smart-Drums, Percussion

Shira Moss-Latin Percussion, Stone Montgomery-African Percussion and Steve Tapper-Flute

free parking

MASKS are required for all attendees, distancing, thank you!

Made possible in part by a generous contribution by William Murrell, community supporter, entrepreneur, and creator and developer of BlackBoston.com.

There will be some chairs set up, but encourage you to bring a chair or blanket

BYOB, blanket, food, and definitely carry in/carry out makes everything smooth;

trash receptacles available, clean up, too, thanks.

Be Coronavirus Smart!  Distancing and Masks, plenty of room to succeed!

BIO: Syd Smart’s life has been a path of using music to create community. He began studies in music appreciation as a child in Cleveland from his mother’s vast record collection. Percussion training came from his father and older brother. Other major teachers include: Chief Bey, Milford Graves, Makanda Ken McIntyre, Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, Babatunde Olatunji, Steve Barrios, Ibrahima Camara, Jose Luis Quintana/”Changuito”, Angel Sanchez/”Cepillo” and Deraldo Ferreira.

Syd majored in Music Education at Central State University and in 1973, received a Black Music Fellowship to teach and study at Bennington College in Vermont, where he completed his B. A. Degree. He was the founder of “Friends of Great Black Music”, a Boston based organization established in the early 1970’s to support local artists involved in the music in the African and African-American Diasporas. Syd is co-founder of Boston’s annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert, now in its thirty-sixth year and the world’s oldest living tribute to this master.

Syd has extensive experience composing for dance and with Joan Green, he co-founded the “Children’s Dance Project” which eventually expanded to become the “Cambridge Performance Project”. a city wide performing arts program. With Stan Strickland, Syd annually co-conducted “Sound and Movement in Nature”.

The Creative Music Series is pleased to support these musicians and live music!