FROM DRUMS TO HARP

Robert M. Garcia a professional drummer from the age of 17 attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee and later studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts. During his freshman and sophomore years at FAMU (1968-1970) he was on the drum line of the world famous band the FAMU Marching 100. Through the years Garcia became widely known as a master drummer. However later in his life for reasons revealed in this book he switched his focus from drums to the grand harp. Robert Garcia became a skilled and versatile harpist. His music was a joy to the many people who saw and heard him perform. . . . The fact that Robert was able to move over to the harp is a sign that he always had a pitched-instrument player nestled within his musical gift. It is a great blessing that he was able to express this part of his musical personality later in his career. The fact that he enjoyed such success at this is clearly a testament to the versatility and depth of his musical talent. -Vern C. Falby Ph.D. Faculty Music Theory Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University