Kick Ass Drum (K.A.D) Crew

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Comment by Khira George on April 7, 2009 at 11:15am

What about the Kick Ass Cymbal players!

Comment by Henry Timothy Williams III ( TJ) on March 30, 2009 at 9:31pm

Well, well, well. The K.A.D. Crew's still alive and kickin'. Like Ryan, I too, was a part of the original K.A.D. Crew and I remember the pride we had in the Crew, always stiving to be the best drumline in the state, and even when we didn't get those trophies, we still won because there was never a drum crew that had ever made it as far as we did. Still today, I talk about the K.A.D. crew because it is a part of the very fiber that made me the person I am today, and it brought out the leader in me and leadership style that I continue to use everyday. Larry, I remember those sticks to knuckles too, because I started it and did it to all especially Spencer so he took it out on you. (LOL)
Everytime I go home I drive by the school wishing band practice was going on so I can stop and give some pointers to the drum section. After all these years, I still play more often than my wife would like...you see I have a drum set in my family room and there is no dust on it and I use it as a stress reliever. As we all grow older, we must remember we are all placed in certain places to do certain things and I am glad to know we all were a part of the K.A.D. Crew so we could start the beginning of all of our great lives.
Lealather, you have something to be proud of and I always knew there was something special about you...that's why we recruited you early on.
Larry, you've done well for yourself, too, Mr. first freshman...this is true!

To all the K.A.D. Crew members in the lost and found see if you can find your way to the K.A.D. Crew Group,
Thanks Ryan You did a good thing.

TeeJaye/ Sweet Daddy/ and for all that road the Buses on our band trips that attended the K.A.D. Crew church Rev. Sweet Daddy Williams. WELLL
Class of 1985 "Orange Pride"

Comment by Lealather Mayers III on December 8, 2008 at 7:08pm

Man The K.A.D. Crew brings back memories. I only played in the KAD Crew for two years as i was Drum major my junior and senior year.
When i was in th eighth Grade TJ, Ricky, Mark and those guys were the guys i wanted to play like. Then there was Larry Fulton, and Morris Rhodes, who always pushed me to be better.
Because of these people and that experience I went on to march two years with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle corps, and continue to teach, write, and compose for drumlines all over this country.
I am asked all the time how I got so good and what I do and I tell them when you start with the guys I grew up competing with you had no choice but to play or get left behind.
If I had the chance I would personally thank all those guys for giving me the Foundation to be the percussionist I am today.
I wrote a cadence honoring all those who started me playing percussion Mr. Kenneth Jackson, Rodney Zimmerman,Buddy Dukes, T. J., Ricky, Monique, Terry Gross, Larry Fulton, Morris Rhodes, and last but not least MR. Mac. The name of it is Foundation

Comment by Larry Fulton on September 28, 2008 at 12:51pm

The Kick-Ass Drum ("KAD") Crew -

Ryan, that looks like me on the snare drum line (The first one with the sticks up...) I'm quite sure. I joined the Kad Crew in 1984 - I was the first freshman snare drummer in OW's history (so, Mr. Mac told me). I remember playing on that line shown in the photo and being on the right side, since I was the shortest.

Please email me that photo! I have to have it.

I remember one time during practice. I made a mistake playing something, and Spencer hit my fingers with his sticks. Man did that hurt! I had blood in my nails...but I got it right the next time. I never got the chance to fully thank him for that memory.

I played with "Ruby" (I think that's her name, who played the Tri's - or Quads). That looks like her in the pic. I remember Buddy Dukes - man was he good. Yeah!

Fast forward a few years - I was the section leader my senior year - 1988. We had, what I believe, was a fabulously tight drum line, winning state competitions all over the place in '88. We had Terry Gross, who was a consultant who really helped tune the line. We had all new drums, tuned bass drums, crisp snares, shiny sticks, and state trophies. I believe that we were definitely one of the best lines in OW's history.

Those were the best times in my life.