Description

By special invitation, the Steel Drummers once again played at the Apollo Theater's Amateur night show.

“Sometimes I get nervous. I won’t know the right words to say to my friends or to people who don’t know me, so I’ll let them hear my music. I rap to inspire people to live better and for them to know there is nothing impossible to grab. All we have to do is reach. It is really easy for me to tell them through my music.” Ahmel Williams

Ahmel, Aaron, Spencer, Dayshawn, Andre, Steven, Dha’sean – seven friends, seven remarkable musicians, came together for the journey of a lifetime.  In January, 2005, talent scouts from the world famous Apollo Theater arrived in Schenectady, New York, the boys’ hometown. After beating out the competition there, the band went on to New York City to battle the best amateur acts in the country in front of the boisterous Apollo Amateur Night audiences. The competition got tougher, but the boys ignited the crowds into thunderous approval time after time. By December, they had made it to the final fact-off, the Super Top Dog show. Could the band now drum their way to the top?

“The Apollo experience was really all we needed. As far as everything else, we’re all going to make it, every one of us.” Dha’sean Serrano

Reviews

"…packaged with a CD recording of the band's signature song plus seven more cuts done by partial line-ups, this account of their efforts makes inspiring reading for young performers tempted to try for the limelight themselves."
– Kirkus Reviews

"This powerful book takes the reader on an exciting journey…the main source of the book’s excitement and “can’t put down” feel comes from the Amateur Night competitions (leading) to the final face-off. Woven through is a sophisticated set of lessons about working hard…nurturing talent…mentoring. The book is as meaningful in social studies content as it is rich in artistic expression."
- Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children

"The excitement of rivalry with a driving beat pounds through this account of the Hamilton Hill Steel Drum Band's journey through three amateur rounds at the Super Top Dog competition at Harlem's Apollo Theater...an inspiring story of young people overcoming personal odds with creativity and vision."
- School Library Journal