RONMARGEBYSpecial to Newsday

In a career spanning morethan four decades, drum-mer Napoleon Revels-Beyhas pounded many beats,from concert stages with

such legends as ArethaFranklin and Gladys Knight tothe white lights of Broadway.Now, the Hempstead-bornmusician has found his rhythmas an educator.

“I have a mission deepwithin me that drives me, andthat is to help people throughmusic and the arts,” saidRevels-Bey, 70, who now livesin Uniondale. “I have had ablessed career with lots ofmentors and good luck. I de-cided a long time ago to giveback to the community.”

For Revels-Bey, giving backmeant creating a series called21st Century Community En-gagement & DevelopmentOutreach Programs, designed

to teach musical education tostudents in Long Island andNew York City public schools.The programs cover suchdiverse subjects as the Joy ofJazz, which examines thegenre’s history and its signifi-cance in American society, andMusic in the Classroom, adrumming program forpreschoolers to teens. Adven-tures in Music and Aviation isan inspirational multimedia

program that uses 300 imagesand eight original songs tocelebrate the pioneers of aero-space.

“Napoleon always brings ourchildren to the music,” saidKim Lowenborg-Coyne, direc-tor of music and art for theNorth Babylon Union FreeSchool District. “He is notsatisfied with merely present-ing a concert, packing up andleaving a space. He meets with

the kids, works with the teach-ers, plans activities that arebest suited for the kids andteachers and always presentshimself in a polished and pro-fessional manner.”

Revels-Bey creates programsthat weave in the history ofmusic around the world, buttailors them to newcomers.

“I always have to keep inmind that my audiences maynot be musically trained and

that I have to come up withprograms that can catch theirinterest immediately, so at theend of the hour they have anappreciation for music and thearts,” he said.

The reward has been seeingmany of his students makemusic their careers. “I recentlyreceived a message on Face-book from one of my formerdrum students . . . who told mehe just finished his degree inmusic at the Berklee Collegeof Music in Boston and wantedto thank me for preparing himso well as a drummer andpercussionist,” said Revels-Bey.

‘I had to try the drums’When Revels-Bey was a

youngster in Hempstead in the1950s, his first instrument wasthe piano.

“All the families in our neigh-

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Learning to the beatof a devoted

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Napoleon Revels-Bey plays thedrums at his home in Uniondale.] Video: Newsday.com/act2

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borhood had a piano in their house, usedmostly for gospel music,” recalled Revels-Bey, who was recently dressed in hissignature performance outfit: a patternedvest, a white shirt, black pants with whitestripes and a fez as a nod to his Muslimfaith.

His first exposure to the drums didn’tcome until he was 15.

“A few of my friends at HempsteadHigh School played the drums, and theywere having fun playing in bands,” saidRevels-Bey. “I had to try the drums.”

A year later, he was sitting in withbands and performing locally at parties,weddings and local night spots like theStereo Club in Hempstead. “My dad lovedmusic and would bring me to the localclubs,” he said. “He would ask the ownersif I could sit in on a few songs with theband. They often would let me.”

Revels-Bey took formal drum lessonsfrom Charles Perry, who played in manyfamous big bands, including those ofBenny Goodman and Woody Herman.“Charlie taught me the basics of drum-ming and music theory,” Revels-Bey said.“His teaching helped me develop mytechnique and timing.”

His spare time was spent at his father’stelevision and radio repair shop in Hemp-stead. Many of the clientele were localmusicians who worked in New York City.Revels-Bey said he remembers joining hisfather on a house call to repair a televi-sion for a well-known musician. “He wasthe legendary lead trumpeter for ‘The EdSullivan Show,’ Jimmy Nottingham,” Rev-els-Bey said. “He had a large house with apool. For the first time, I saw that musi-cians can do pretty well.”

After a stint in Vietnam as a radar oper-ator on a destroyer, Revels-Bey attendedNassau Community College and thenstudied music at SUNY Old Westbury.Among his teachers was Ronald Gould, aprincipal percussionist with the New YorkCity Ballet Orchestra, and Warren Smith,a percussionist who worked with LenaHorne on Broadway.

“I owe a lot of my successes to my

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Teachingis nowhis beat

Napoleon Revels-Bey gets on the sticks with the tools of his trade.

A longtime drummer, Revels-Bey teaches musical education to students in Long Island and New York City public schools.

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college professors,” Revels-Bey said.“In fact, Warren Smith helped meget my first Broadway play,‘Bubbling Brown Sugar.’ ”

Smith’s nephew, Frank Derrick,was the 1976 musical’s lead drum-mer. “Frank called me in to learn thebook, and I was hired to be on the‘bus and truck’ touring company,” hesaid.

Smith also served as Revel-Bey’smentor, and if Smith couldn’t makea gig, he would call Revels-Bey to sitin.

Of the many legends he has per-formed with, the high point camewhen Revels-Bey played for the“Queen of Soul” herself, ArethaFranklin.

“The gig was at Westbury and theband did a few rehearsals prior tothe show,” Revels-Bey recalled.“Aretha did not attend any of therehearsals. When she came on stageI couldn’t believe I was part of herband that night. I was so excited Iwas able to take a few photos of herfrom my drum set.”

Time on the roadRevels-Bey’s transition from pro-

fessional musician to a music educa-tor and goodwill ambassador beganin the 1980s, when he was ap-proached by John Devol, a fellowBroadway musician who foundedthe Festival of Music communityprograms (renamed Arts Horizon in1995). Devol asked him to join hisnew community arts youth programas a percussionist in the demonstra-tion band.

“John told me that it wouldn’tinterfere with my night gigs and thatI can do the youth community pro-grams during the day and still gig atnight,” Revels-Bey said.

At the time, Revels-Bey was readyto reduce his time on the road andwelcomed employment alternatives.Less travel meant more time withPearl, his wife of 46 years, anddaughters Carmen and Amirah. Healso has four grandchildren and fourgreat-grandchildren.

Devol trained Revels-Bey on thecommunity arts programs andtaught him to write and preparestudy guides, which are essential toworking with school systems andobtaining grants.

Revels-Bey continued to play onBroadway and in other venues whiledeveloping the study guides. Hisfirst programs were with Hemp-stead public schools through grantsfrom BOCES of Long Island andsupport from Tyree Curry, a well-known Hempstead public schooladministrator.

As his program offerings grew, hefounded Revels-Bey Music Inc. in1993 and then the nonprofit NassauPerforming Arts Inc. in 1998 toacquire larger grants and reachmore organizations on Long Islandand in New York City. Revels-Bey ismost proud of receiving the 2017Jubilation Fellow Award for the Artsgrant, which is presented to individu-als who work to help young peoplethrough rhythm as expressed indance, music and poetry. The fellow-ship is for two years and awards$5,000 annually.

Over the years, the benefits ofRevels-Bey’s outreach programshave not been just to the thousandsof children he has instructed.

“I guess I got an extended family Inever thought I would get,” he said.

LIVE SHOWSWhen Napoleon Revels-Bey isn’tteaching, he often can be found onstage with his drums. Here aresome upcoming performances.

NOV. 26Noon, Kitchen 21,3052W. 21st St., BrooklynINFO Free; 718-954-9801,kitchen-21.com

DEC. 205 p.m., Great South Bay YMCA,200W. Main St., Bay ShoreINFO Free; 631-665-4255,ymcali.org

ACT2

Revels-Bey shares his love of music with students at Nassau Performing Arts Inc.

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LONG ISLAND

Uniondale drummer finds harmony teaching kids

the joy of music Napoleon Revels-Bey has gone from the Broadway stage to the classroom

A journey from Gladys Knight to teaching artist

He's played the drums for some big names including Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. Now Napoleon Revels-Bey of Uniondale is a teaching artist

who aims to inspire youth. Uniondale Music and Art Festival; https://vimeo.com/238816735

By Ron Marge Special to Newsday Updated November 16, 2017 8:59 PM

Nov. 8, 2017 (Credit: Newsday / Raychel Brightman https://vimeo.com/243353652

In a career spanning more than four decades, drummer Napoleon Revels-Bey has pounded many beats, from concert stages with such legends as Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight to the white lights of Broadway. Now, the Hempstead-born musician has found his rhythm as an educator. “I have a mission deep within me that drives me, and that is to help people through music and the arts,” says Revels-Bey, 70, who now lives in Uniondale. “I have had a blessed career with lots of mentors and good luck. I decided a long time ago to give back to the community.”

LONG ISLAND

For Revels-Bey, giving back meant creating a series called 21st Century Community Engagement & Development Outreach Programs, www.nassauperformingarts.org https://vimeo.com/95529270 designed to teach musical education to students in Long Island and New York City public schools. The programs cover such diverse subjects as the Joy of Jazz, which examines the genre’s history and its significance in American society, and Music in the Classroom, a drumming program for preschoolers to teens. Adventures in Music and Aviation is an inspirational multimedia program that uses 300 images and eight original songs to celebrate the pioneers of aerospace.

Drummer Napoleon Revel-Beys of Uniondale shares his love of music with his students at the Jubilation Fellow Nassau Performing Arts Inc. Photo Credit: Napoleon Revels-Bey’s collection

“Napoleon always brings our children to the music,” said Kim Lowenborg-Coyne, director of music and art for the North Babylon Union Free School District. “He is not satisfied with merely presenting a concert, packing up and leaving a space. He meets with the kids, works with the teachers, plans activities that are best-suited for the kids and teachers and always presents himself in a polished and professional manner.” https://vimeo.com/89007874 Revels-Bey creates programs that weave in the history of music around the world, but tailors them to newcomers. https://vimeo.com/89008298 “I always have to keep in mind that my audiences may not be musically trained and that I have to come up with programs that can catch their interest immediately, so at the end of the hour they have an appreciation for music and the arts,” he said. https://vimeo.com/81781916 The reward has been seeing many of his students make music their careers. “I recently received a message on Facebook from one of my former drum students . . . who told me he just finished his degree in music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and wanted to thank me for preparing him so well as a drummer and percussionist,” said Revels-Bey.

LONG ISLAND

‘I had to try the drums’

When Revels-Bey was a youngster in Hempstead in the 1950s, his first instrument was the piano. “All the families in our neighborhood had a piano in their house, used mostly for gospel music,” recalled Revels-Bey, who was recently dressed in his signature performance outfit: a paisley vest, a white shirt, black pants with white stripes and a fez as a nod to his Muslim faith.

Drummer Napoleon Revels-Bey has made teaching children about music his passion. Photo Credit: Napoleon Revels-Bey collection

His first exposure to the drums didn’t come until he was 15. “A few of my friends at Hempstead High School played the drums, and they were having fun playing in bands,” said Revels-Bey. “I had to try the drums.” A year later he was sitting in with bands and performing locally at parties, weddings and local night spots like the Stereo Club in Hempstead. “My dad loved music and would bring me to the local clubs,” he said. “He would ask the owners if I could sit in on a few songs with the band. They often would let me.” Revels-Bey took formal drum lessons from Charles Perry, who played in many famous big bands, including those of Benny Goodman and Woody Herman. “Charlie taught me the basics of drumming and music theory,” Revels-Bey said. “His teaching helped me develop my technique and timing.”

Photo Credit: Raychel Brightman

LONG ISLAND

His spare time was spent at his father’s television and radio repair shop in Hempstead. Many of the clientele were local musicians who worked in New York City. Revels-Bey said he remembers joining his father on a house call to repair a television for a well-known musician. “He was the legendary lead trumpeter for ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’ Jimmy Nottingham,” Revels-Bey said. “He had a large house with a pool. For the first time I saw that musicians can do pretty well.” After a stint in Vietnam as a radar operator on a destroyer ship, Revels-Bey attended Nassau Community College and then studied music at SUNY Old Westbury. Among his teachers was Ronald Gould, a principal percussionist with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, and Warren Smith, a percussionist who worked with Lena Horne on Broadway. “I owe a lot of my successes to my college professors,” Revels-Bey said. “In fact, Warren Smith helped me get my first Broadway play, ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar.’ ” Smith’s nephew, Frank Derrick, was the 1976 musical’s lead drummer. “Frank called me in to learn the book, and I was hired to be on the ‘bus and truck’ touring company,” he said.

Napoleon Revels-Bey plays on his drumset inside his Uniondale home. Photo Credit: Raychel Brightman

Smith also served as Revel-Bey’s mentor, and if Smith couldn’t make a gig, he would call Revels-Bey to sit in. Of the many legends he has performed with, the high point came when Revels-Bey played for the “Queen of Soul” herself, Aretha Franklin. “The gig was at Westbury and the band did a few rehearsals prior to the show,”

LONG ISLAND

Revels-Bey recalled. “Aretha did not attend any of the rehearsals. When she came on stage I couldn’t believe I was part of her band that night. I was so excited I was able to take a few photos of her from my drum set. www.revels-bey.com

Time on the road Napoleon Revels-Bey has played drums on Broadway and for big acts, such as Aretha Franklin.

Photo Credit: Raychel Brightman Revels-Bey’s transition from being a professional musician to a music educator and goodwill ambassador began in the 1980s, when he was approached by John Devol, a fellow Broadway musician who founded the Festival of Music community programs (renamed Arts Horizon in 1995). Devol asked him to join his new community arts youth program as a percussionist in the demonstration band. “John told me that it wouldn’t interfere with my night gigs and that I can do the youth community programs during the day and still gig at night,” Revels-Bey said. At the time, Revels-Bey was ready to reduce his time on the road and welcomed employment alternatives. Less travel meant more time with Pearl, his wife of 46 years, and daughters Carmen and Amirah. He also has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Devol trained Revels-Bey on the community arts programs and taught him to write and prepare study guides, which are essential to working with school systems and obtaining grants.

LONG ISLAND

Revels-Bey continued to play on Broadway and in other venues while developing the study guides. His first programs were with Hempstead public schools through grants from BOCES of Long Island and support from Tyree Curry, a well-known Hempstead public school administrator. As his program offerings grew, he founded Revels-Bey Music Inc. www.revels-bey.com in 1993 and then the nonprofit Nassau Performing Arts Inc. www.nassauperformingarts.org in 1998 to acquire larger grants and reach more organizations on Long Island and in New York City. Revels-Bey is most proud of receiving the 2017 Jubilation Fellow Award for the Arts grant, which is presented to individuals who work to help young people through rhythm as expressed in dance, music and poetry. The fellowship is for two years and awards $5,000 annually. Over the years, the benefits of Revels-Bey’s outreach programs have not been just to the thousands of children he has instructed. “I guess I got an extended family I never thought I would get,” he said. Contact: Napoleon Revels-Bey c/o Revels-Bey Music PO Box 13, Uniondale,NY 11553-0013 516.565.9404 516.97.6827 mail@revels-bey.com www.revels-bey.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/napoleon.revelsbey Nassau Performing Arts, Inc 635 Southern Pkwy, Uniondale, NY 11553-2816 516.750-0810/fax 11 nassaupainc@gmail.com www.nassauperformingarts.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/npainc.org/

LIVE SHOWS When Napoleon Revels-Bey isn’t teaching, he can often be found onstage with his drums. Here are some upcoming

performances. https://vimeo.com/78217252

NOV. 26

12 p.m., Kitchen 21, 3052 W. 21 St., Brooklyn INFO Free; 718-954-9801, kitchen-21.com

DEC. 20 5 p.m., Great South Bay YMCA, 200 W. Main St., Bay Shore

INFO Free; 631-665-4255, ymcali.org