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Teen Drummer Beats Competition

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Drum roll, please.

The Tampa winner of the Guitar Center Drum-Off 2007 is ... Marcus Thomas.

There are seven Guitar Center stores in the state, and each will send its champion to district competition this month. It will lead to a national champ for the Guitar Center store chain.

In September, drummers from the area competed for six coveted spots in the Tampa store final Oct. 3. Thomas, 18, of Riverview; Patrick Bryant, 21, of Tampa; Aaron Fowler, 26, of Tampa; Brennan Jenkins, 23, of Tampa; Josh Jones, 28, of Seffner; and Jay Roberts, 19, of Temple Terrace, arrived at the Guitar Center at 3914 W. Hillsborough Ave. with friends and family prepared to showcase their skills.

A crowd of about 40 crammed into the drum section to listen to their favorite musician beat the heck out of a glittery, hot pink drum set supplied by the store. Although they had an enthusiastic audience, only three people there would seal their fate.

George Flores, a professional drummer for 11 years, Jon Walman, a professional drummer for 25 years, and Mike Marsh, the drummer for the band Dashboard Confessional, were the judges.

Each drummer had three minutes to wow the judges with whatever style they chose. Some stuck with rock beats, and others dabbled in jazz and rhythm and blues. In the end, Thomas was the victor.

'He has a very unique style, very good dynamics,' Walman said. 'He played soft and loud. His overall performance was awesome.'

Thomas, a senior at Riverview High School, said his interest in drums began at 3 when he saw his brother drumming. He asked his brother for a try and has been drumming since, he said. Thomas said he practices about three hours a day.

Asked whether it drives his family crazy, he smiled.

'They love it,' he said. 'They tell me to keep doing it. My neighbors even tell me to keep doing it.'

Thomas plays for bands in the area and performs with gospel groups. He will perform for other judges at the district finals, which are Oct. 24 in Hallandale.

Winners from store finals in Kendall, West Palm Beach, Lakeland, Fort Myers, Clearwater and Hallandale will compete against Thomas for a spot in the regional finals Nov. 14 in Clearlake, Texas. That winner will advance to the grand finale in Los Angeles in December or January. The overall winner will take home prizes totaling $45,000. Thomas is confident he will be the recipient of those prizes.

'I think I have a real shot at it,' he said.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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