Sammy's still got the beat

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October 29, 2008

11-year-old prodigy drumming up a storm

Anonymous The Suwannee Democrat Wed Oct 29, 2008, 08:14 AM EDT

Editor’s note: This is the second time the Democrat has profiled young Sammy Bright. "Sammy's got the beat," published in June 2003, when Sammy was just 6, has been reposted on our website, www.suwanneedemocrat.com.

Eleven-year-old Sammy Bright used to bang on pots and pans with a wooden spoon when he first started playing "drums." Now he plays his music on professional drum sets he got from Ben Sesar, the drummer for country music singer Brad Paisley.

Bright, of Live Oak, met Sesar at a concert after he and the musician began communicating online in 2005. The two have become drumming buddies, of sorts.

When Sammy met Paisley backstage at a concert in Tampa, Sammy handed him a signed drumstick and asked the singer to give it to Sesar.

"When I got home I found him (Sesar) on myspace.com. That's how it happened," Sammy said.

Sammy said Sesar thanked him for the drumstick and requested the other one.

"He told me he needed the other one to beat around on his legs," Sammy said.

At a Savannah, Ga., concert, Sammy and Sesar exchanged drumsticks. At another concert, Sesar took Sammy backstage afterwards and gave him a one and a half hour drum lesson that his mother video recorded.

"Most people are looking at Brad Paisley" during the concerts, said Sammy's mother, Ann Bright. "(Sammy's) eyes are glued on Ben Sesar."

Ann said after Sesar learned that Sammy was looking for a particular brand of drums that he used, he offered to sell his to Sammy at a discount after his tour. Sammy has since bought three of Sesar's drum sets.

"You just can't go to the store and buy these," Ann Bright said of the custom-made kits designed for Sesar.

Sesar has also taught Sammy various tricks, such as how to play cross stick, a method of making make the sticks bounce. He has also taught Sammy the role that math plays in reading music.

Ann Bright said Sammy's inspiration to play came from watching his dad Tom Bright, who has played guitar in numerous bands over the years. She would video "Suwannee River Band," his group at the time, practicing, and the toddler Sammy would bang on pots and pans in front of the television.

"Instead of watching cartoons like normal kids, he would have me put in one of those videos and he would play in front of the TV," she said.

Sammy has been called "the little drummer boy" since age 4. From time to time he would sit in for the drummer for "Suwannee River Band."

His mother said the audience would chant, "Sammy, Sammy, Sammy," to get him to play a few songs.

Ann Bright said her son's talent became evident at age 3 and has progressed ever since.

"He can outplay some grown men," she said.

"It's a fun thing to do. You can have fun and get paid," Sammy said of playing drums.

At one event Sammy got paid $100 plus $60 in tips. He was filling in for his dad's drummer in the local band "Justin Case."

Sammy currently plays in the group "Generations Band." Tom Bright is the lead guitarist. The group will play at the Suwannee County Animal Shelter's Fall Animal Festival at the fairgrounds in Live Oak Nov. 8-9.

"I feel so amazed that I have a lot of fans," Sammy said. "They think I'm really good and they think I'm going to become famous someday."

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