Amazing talent from SteelXplosion
 | Faculty Instructor | |
| STEEL PAN - KEYBOARD - PERCUSSION / 1980 - Born in New York City and moved with his parents to Trinidad & Tobago that same year / Received early musical training from his well-known Trinidadian father Freddie Harris Jr., a guitarist for Harry Belafonte, who also toured with Hugh Masekela, Miriam McKeba and Ashford & Simpson / Began playing steel pan at the age of four / At age six moved to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and began playing with The Rising Stars Steel Orchestra / 1990 - returned to the States and continued to develop his musical skills / 1998 - graduated as valedictorian from New York City Repertory Company High School / 1998 - received a scholarship from Something Positive, Inc., to attend Florida Memorial College (FMS) / At FMS he co-arranged under the direction of Dr. Dawn K. Batson, Director of the FMS Steel Orchestra / 2003 - received a B.A. with honors in Music and a concentration in Jazz Studies / 2001 - released his first CD, "The Universal Journey" / Performed in NY City with noted Jazz performer Bill Saxon and world-renowned percussionist, Leopaldo Fleming, and throughout Florida and U.S. with the FMS Ambassadors Chorale / Performed and toured throughout the Caribbean as Ambassador for FMS and particpated in many competitions / 2002 - Won 2nd Place in the Trinidad & Tobago World Steel Orchestra Classics solo competition with his rendition of the jazz/classical composition Misty / Appeared on several Hispanic TV shows in Miami, Florida / Currently employed as the arranger for the Sesame Flyers Int’l (Brooklyn) steel orchestra / 2002 - performed for former-President Bill Clinton at the South Beach, Florida Speech for Youths / 2003 - performed for the NAACP 94th Annual Convention Gospel Extravaganza, opening for Pastor Donnie McClurkin at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts in Miami / 2000-03 - performed for the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival / Freddy plays many musical styles, from R&B, Jazz, Calypso, Soca, Latin and Reggae, to Hip Hop, Gospel, Pop, Blues, Country, Western and Classical / His most recent CDs include "Have a Steel Drum Xmas" and "Salute to the USA", with plans for a new project release in early 2006. | ||
| | Student Artist Profiles coming soon! Check back July 4th weekend
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