Help Karl Wright Replace Stolen Drum Sets

This Go Fund Me is to help master Jamaican drummer Karl Wright get a new drum set after having two massive sets stolen. Karl is literally the heartbeat of the NYC Ska Orchestra, a 20-piece big band that is a family of like-minded working musicians. Karl makes a living solely as a professional drummer.

Karl was born in Jamaica and lives in Queens, NY, and continues to rehearse, perform, and record with the top artists in the Jamaican music scene. For each session, he loads his massive drum kit out of his house and into his van, then meticulously sets it all up, plays incredibly, tears it all down, loads it back in his van and finally loads it back into his house.

Click here to see the drum kit that was stolen

Last month, all his equipment (drum kit, percussion, hardware, cymbals) was stolen for the second time in two years. This interrupted Karl’s busy schedule of paid rehearsals, recordings, and gigs, some of which he has had to cancel, affecting his day-to-day livelihood and ability to replace what was lost.

On top of being an incredible professional drummer, Karl is a sweet, generous man. He’s the kind of guy who calls regularly to check on people, donates equipment to young drummers, and gives what he can, when he can, to any friend in need.

We respectfully urge you to give what you can to help him. It will cost about $5K to begin to replace what has been stolen and get Karl up and running. Anything we can raise to help him out will be appreciated by all who know, love, and play with him. And please — spread the word. Thank you!

Sincerely,

The NYC Ska Orchestra

Kevin Batchelor (leader, trumpet and vocals), Larry McDonald (vocals, congas and percussion), Pallavi Gummalam (vocals), Aida Brandes-Hargrove (vocals), Karl Wright (drums and vocals), Jonny Meyers (guitar and vocals), Paul Nowinski (bass), Nick Balaban (keyboards), James K. Smith (trumpet), Josh Levinson (trumpet), Matt Ragsdale (trumpet), Greg Lapine (alto saxophone), Matt Knoegle (alto saxophone), Tony Orbach (tenor saxophone), Nigel Innis (tenor saxophone), Paul Vercesi (baritone sax), John Speck (trombone), J. Walter Hawkes (trombone), Buford O’Sullivan (trombone), Dan Fusco (trombone), Jack Walsh (manager), Sydney Mills (producer)

About Karl:

Karl Wright is a master drummer and producer, highly-regarded and sought-after in the world of reggae, dance hall, jazz and R&B. In a career that spans more than four decades. Karl has performed, toured and/or recorded with top artists including Sting, Shaggy, Monty Alexander, Ernest Ranglin, C&C Music Factory, The Manhattans, Ray Goodman & Brown, Maxi Priest, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, El General, Stuntman, Rita Marley, Yellowman, Eek-a-Mouse, Machel Montano, Marcia Griffiths, Nahki, Judy Mowatt, Sugar Minot, Culture, Beres Hammond, Martha Reeves, Aubrey Adams Jazz Band, Peter Tosh, and a host of other renowned Jazz, R&B, and Reggae artists. He has performed throughout North and South America; most countries in Europe; Japan, Hong Kong and Fiji; as well as Australia and Africa. Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Karl was educated at an early age in reggae music and jazz.

Click to see Karl performing at Lincoln Center

Karl started playing professionally at age fifteen in the Montego Bay Boys Club Orchestra. He honed his craft in his band as drummer/ vocalist performing at hotels, nightclubs, and stage shows throughout Jamaica. During this time Karl taught drumming techniques to adults and children at the Montego Bay Boys & Girls Club, and Herbert Morrison High. Migrating to the USA, he continued teaching music to adults and children at his studio in Queens, New York. Karl’s versatility is realized by the array of artists he performed with throughout his career he remains at the top of his game, and has a proven track record as a composer, producer and engineer of sound recordings, and has shared his passion as a drummer by teaching his techniques. In addition to regular recording, touring and local performances in NYC, Karl is currently the drummer, background vocalist and musical mentor of the extraordinary NYC Ska Orchestra; a 20-piece big band that combines traditional Jamaican Music styles of mento, ska and reggae, with big band jazz classics from the 50s and 60s.