PRE- 2012 NEWS BUT STILL TIMELY:

MEDIA RELEASE        

 THE BIOGRAPHY OF ROBERT M. GARCIA IS PUBLISHED 

Washington, DC - Vee W. Garcia’s biography of a unique American musician of Afro-Cuban descent is published and available online and via brick and mortar book stores.  The book, From Drums to Harp: The Story of Drummer and Harpist Robert M. Garcia, offers highlights in the musician's life and career. A major highlight was his switch in instruments.

During his lifetime (1950 - 2001), Robert M. Garcia was widely known as a master drummer.  Late in his career he switched from the drum set as his instrument of choice to the grand harp. His reasons for the change and how he did it are stated in the biography. 

Also in the book are additional highlights of  Garcia's life, along with a number of photographs plus quotes from musicians and music educators.

Some of Robert Garcia’s fellow musicians quoted in the biography provided vignettes about the drummer and harpist in his grade school days; during his college years in the FAMU Marching 100 Band; and after his departure from Florida to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Other musicians offered their opinions about Robert Garcia as a mature man and musician.   

Music educators agree it is unusual and difficult for a drummer to switch from the drum set to playing the grand harp.  Elnora Oxendine, a music instructor and the owner of Oxendine Music Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland, is one of the educators quoted in the book.  Also quoted is Vern C. Falby, Ph.D, who is a Music Theory professor at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland.  In the book, Ms. Oxendine and Dr. Falby state why it is technically difficult to switch from the drums to playing the harp. Dr. Falby also mentions the significance of that kind of switch as it relates to Robert Garcia’s talent.

Robert Garcia was a chosen musician born in Tampa, Florida, and introduced to the drums when he was 3 years old. In grade school he learned to play a variety of other instruments.  He played the drum set professionally in cities and towns throughout Florida and in other states from the time he was 17 years-old until his middle-age years and beyond.  Garcia began studying and playing the grand harp relatively late in his career. Nevertheless, the harp was his preferred instrument throughout the last decade of his life.  When he passed away in 2001 his calendar was filled with engagements for the next two years. _________________________________________________________  

Author Vee Williams Garcia can be contacted via email:  jazzeight3@aol.com  or by phone at 202-329-9331.