About Edward Biko
Artistic Bio
Edward Biko Smith completed an MS at Cornell University in 1976 where he began to study African and Afro-Latin rhythmic persuasions, informally. While there he was a member of the New Wave Jazz Band. Since that time he has woven the creative spirit in the form of music and movement in to his career path, performing, giving workshops and presentations in various work place milieu, creating community which in turn becomes the basis for appreciation for cultural diversity. Mr. Smith traveled as a company representative for Environments, Inc., accenting early childhood marketing with mini drum and percussion workshops for children and adults alike
Edward worked directly with young children when his daughter entered Kindergarten and reveled in his visits to her classroom to teach about African American culture, Kwanzaa, rhythms and song writing. Over the years, he has been invited back to other schools in the local school district and districts in other states and has been well received by teachers and students alike.
Edward Biko Smith is a poet, his first published poem appearing in a book entitled “Coming Together” written by Calvin Hernton and published by Random House. He is a songwriter and musician specializing in percussion instruments with voice. He has collaborated with other musicians and his name appears several albums and cassettes of commercial music. Mr. Smith collaborated with Jeff Young in Santa Monica, CA to pen a song “Cornbread and Tea” on the “Acting on Impulse” CD. He was percussionist for Samite' of Uganda on two albums: Abaana Bakesa, Shanachie Records, 1988 and Pearl of Africa Reborn, Shanachie Records, 1992.
Lullabyes For Fathers is the first self published, interactive, musical project which Edward composed, produced and marketed in 1988. A Lullaby for Daddy, an idea spun off from the original project, culminated in a children's book published by Africa World Press. Since coming to Ithaca in 1973, Mr. Smith has played in numerous ensembles. He continues to perform and write music and otherwise hone the artist spirit. He has composed original music for two local theater productions: "The Tempest" and "Thieves in the Temple."
Edward Smith has performed with Karlton Hester of Hesterian Records, Phil Bowler, Cecilia Smith and Bill Johnson at varied venues; Cornell University and the Abraham Chauvitz Center for Performing Arts in El Paso, to mention two. He penned a poem named “Waiting for my Turn” and recited it on the CD “Reconstructive Musicism.”
He was percussionist on that CD as well as “Harmonious Soul Scenes 2000” and “Hesterian Liberation.”
Over the years he has collaborated mastering recordings with Deb Carter and Blue Water Day, Howard (HoJo) Jones, Charles Shew, Bill Avery, Don Karr and Adam Crown. Edward was a “master drummer-in-residence” at the Ithaca City Health Club playing for African Dance Classes. He collaborated with Maurice Haltom on the CD “Quantum Conversations.
Near future projects include a second CD of Original Drum Music, a book of poems, and an instructional manual. He is currently “shopping around” childrens book ideas.
Edward Biko Smith completed an MS at Cornell University in 1976 where he began to study African and Afro-Latin rhythmic persuasions, informally. While there he was a member of the New Wave Jazz Band. Since that time he has woven the creative spirit in the form of music and movement in to his career path, performing, giving workshops and presentations in various work place milieu, creating community which in turn becomes the basis for appreciation for cultural diversity. Mr. Smith traveled as a company representative for Environments, Inc., accenting early childhood marketing with mini drum and percussion workshops for children and adults alike
Edward worked directly with young children when his daughter entered Kindergarten and reveled in his visits to her classroom to teach about African American culture, Kwanzaa, rhythms and song writing. Over the years, he has been invited back to other schools in the local school district and districts in other states and has been well received by teachers and students alike.
Edward Biko Smith is a poet, his first published poem appearing in a book entitled “Coming Together” written by Calvin Hernton and published by Random House. He is a songwriter and musician specializing in percussion instruments with voice. He has collaborated with other musicians and his name appears several albums and cassettes of commercial music. Mr. Smith collaborated with Jeff Young in Santa Monica, CA to pen a song “Cornbread and Tea” on the “Acting on Impulse” CD. He was percussionist for Samite' of Uganda on two albums: Abaana Bakesa, Shanachie Records, 1988 and Pearl of Africa Reborn, Shanachie Records, 1992.
Lullabyes For Fathers is the first self published, interactive, musical project which Edward composed, produced and marketed in 1988. A Lullaby for Daddy, an idea spun off from the original project, culminated in a children's book published by Africa World Press. Since coming to Ithaca in 1973, Mr. Smith has played in numerous ensembles. He continues to perform and write music and otherwise hone the artist spirit. He has composed original music for two local theater productions: "The Tempest" and "Thieves in the Temple."
Edward Smith has performed with Karlton Hester of Hesterian Records, Phil Bowler, Cecilia Smith and Bill Johnson at varied venues; Cornell University and the Abraham Chauvitz Center for Performing Arts in El Paso, to mention two. He penned a poem named “Waiting for my Turn” and recited it on the CD “Reconstructive Musicism.”
He was percussionist on that CD as well as “Harmonious Soul Scenes 2000” and “Hesterian Liberation.”
Over the years he has collaborated mastering recordings with Deb Carter and Blue Water Day, Howard (HoJo) Jones, Charles Shew, Bill Avery, Don Karr and Adam Crown. Edward was a “master drummer-in-residence” at the Ithaca City Health Club playing for African Dance Classes. He collaborated with Maurice Haltom on the CD “Quantum Conversations.
Near future projects include a second CD of Original Drum Music, a book of poems, and an instructional manual. He is currently “shopping around” childrens book ideas.
Artistic Bio
Edward Biko Smith completed an MS at Cornell University in 1976 where he began to study African and Afro-Latin rhythmic persuasions, informally. While there he was a member of the New Wave Jazz Band. Since that time he has woven the creative spirit in the form of music and movement in to his career path, performing, giving workshops and presentations in various work place milieu, c... More
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