Focus

I did not think of myself as an artist, I just wanted drums to play with my friends. It wasn't until people called me a true artist that I was on to something bigger than me. When I saw what the drums had to offer as a teacher, with no words, I wanted to share this personalized spirituality with people. And with the art of it I've been getting modern people. I have found they love a drum made just for them; The sound they want, color of wood and rope. All this plays a part in the custom drum-making role. I love it.

History of Busto Drums

As a teenager I became in the habit of hiking in the forest with my friends. We would often come across college students playing drums. This was my first introduction to the world of drums and at this time I was just a watcher.

In the early 90s, I moved to Portland, Oregon. Here I started going to the Saturday market and played on Mt. Tabor during full moon. There was a short period of time during which I traveled with the Grateful Dead. This was an exceptionally powerful trip. Throughout all these experiences I was too poor to buy my own drum. Over time, I managed to whittle one out of a log. My father was willing to help me with this and African Rhythm Traders helped me skin it up.

By the time I moved to Flagstaff in 1998, I had about 5 drums. Some of these were drums I had made and others were ones I traded for or was given. Some of those drums were broken and I had to fix them. Later on I met Zed from the Rainbow Gatherings and we talked and played. He was the one who gave me the pioneering idea for my jig, which has revolutionized my drum making.

While in Flagstaff, I met a girl named Amy on the internet. She lived in Walla Walla, Washington. In 1999 I moved up there and she soon became my wife. I started building drums through trial and error after I moved there. Amy was very instrumental in this process and supportive throughout everything. This is where it all began to happen. I traded and sold the drums I was making to my friends, organized drum circles, went to shows and sold my work and taught my friends how to build their own drums. I spent time with the troubled youth of Walla Walla putting on some jams and taught the kids there how to build their own drums. Beyond building drums, my passion is teaching rhythms and using patterns as a tool for life.