Hi, I’m Radley. I started playing the drums at age 11, had my first professional performance and also taught my first lesson at age 15. I participated in marching band, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, church band, All-State, yadda yadda yadda. I got to play Tympani in the 2000 Superbowl Halftime Show. That was awesome and crazy. Later on I studied percussion performance on scholarship at Furman University and Jazz Studies at Georgia State University.

I’ve performed live and/or recorded with many artists and bands such as Col. Bruce Hampton, Lee Fields, Jimmy Hall, Dionne Farris, The Difference Machine, Newberry Jam, Heavy Chevy, Samadha, The Ruination, Donna Hopkins, Ralph Roddenberry, and many more. I love living in Atlanta as a center for cultural arts and have been fortunate to participate at many residencies over the years as house drummer, including Kevin Scott’s famed Tuesday Jam Sessions at the Five Spot and Apache Cafe’s Tuesday Hip Hop Open mic Sessions.

In addition to teaching privately for 24 years, I’ve also enjoyed working with groups of drummers and percussionists, including percussion ensembles, drumlines, and concert band percussion sections. I have had students audition and be selected for Regional and All-State Honor Bands, college scholarships, and Drum Corps International drumlines.

All things considered, I will always be a student of the drums. There are always new things to learn, different angles to consider, and new perspectives to gain. I am blessed to have studied under several great teachers, whom I would like to use this opportunity to thank for their guidance:

Doug Ponier, Jeff Kershner, Dr. John Beckford, Ron Schwartz, Dr. Stuart Gerber, Billy Degnatts, and Kinah Boto Ayah.