The Beat of a Different Drummer
by Melanie Hemry
The sun tilted its head above the horizon, casting an orange glow to the sky. Brian Jacobs woke to the sound of the tour bus wheels thumping against the pavement. After having played at the Orange Bowl the night before, the other band members were still asleep.
Brian realized he was tapping the rhythm of the bus wheels on his leg. He’d been doing that since the age of 12. That’s when he’d set his heart on becoming a professional drummer. His definition of professional meant getting paid to play. Before his parents had bought him his first set of drums, he’d kept the beat on whatever he touched. Pillows. Trash cans. His desk.
From 13, Brian had played drums with a single-minded focus that belied his age. In high school, he’d been voted “Most Talented.” By then, he was making $1500 a week.
Now, at 19, Brian was living his dream. He played with professional bands, making $4,000 to $5,000 a week. He and his band members worked with the same production company as many of the stars.
BVOV : 17
