Ladysticks
Ladysticks has been playing drums since the age of 4 accompanying her grandfather, Arthur B. Kemp who played the Hammond Organ at St. Matthew Church, Raeford, NC. She has played for many others in addition to her uncles and Aunt AOK. Growing up in N.C. in the church arena playing gospel music and “The Church of God” music increased her skills and strength.
She was inspired to enter talent shows out of town to enhance her showmanship and musicianship, because winning in Hoke County was impossible before performing at the Apollo. Ladysticks became her stage name ; Being a professional drummer was her calling. She perfected her award winning drum solo “A gift from God” and the gifts keep coming.
Private lessons and playing in the junior high and high school marching bands helped her learn to read music and teach drum line charts to her peers. In middle school she held the number one and two seats for playing the trumpet. She was the first black female drummer in Hoke County Schools because the instructor that expresed intrested in her ablitlties during junoir high said she had “good hands”. "Jimmy James"
lLadysticks relocated to California and became the minister of music for the “Gifts from the Giver Ministries” until she graduated from The Hollywood High Performing Arts Magnet School. She won the California’s NAACP ACT-SO Regional Competition using two pencils and a folding chair and traveled to New Orleans and Houston, Texas to represent two local chapters on full drumset in the competition . Little did she know this was teh beginning of The Ladysticks Show .. Attending one of the TOP performing arts academy in the states while wining scholarchips and travel experiences auditioning on chairs and tables..
Ladysticks graduated from Musicians’ Institute, Hollywood, California as a certified percussion instructor. She a fierce business woman, who teaches groups of all ages, tours overseas, juggles her schedule to inspire others as a motivational speaker and drummer as wells building her performign arts academies and mangaing a few artist that seek the same opportunities shes has been given.
Ladysticks is the founder and hostess of The Ladysticks Music Festivals which allows local artists to perform live in their hometowns on the same stage as professional recording artists. Her festivals promote event awareness in North Carolina and Hollywood, California for domestic violence, military support, youth basketball camps, local churches, vendors and businesses.