For as long as he can remember, Willie Stewart has loved percussive beats. He began playing drums in high school in Jamaica and fine-tuned his craft in top-class reggae bands like Inner Circle and Third World.
He also has a passion for teaching the art of drumming, which he has done for the past 23 years in South Florida with students in the Broward County school system. Many of his proteges have played in Rhythms Of Africa, the event he has staged since 2010.
It celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with two shows (April 1 and 2) at Miramar Cultural Center where the show first started. In addition to exploring the origins of Africa’s pulsating beats, this year he celebrates the music of Third World, the Grammy-nominated band he was a member of from 1976 to 1997.
That segment of Rhythms Of Africa is dubbed ‘Love Will Always Be There’, a tribute to the band’s 50th anniversary. It will comprise improvised renditions of some of their greatest hits, though Stewart is holding those selections close to his chest.
“I can’t do that, I would be giving away everything,” he joked. “But people are going to hear things about some of their favorite songs they didn’t know before.”
Stewart’s tenure with Third World was fruitful. He played on 13 of their albums including the acclaimed ’96 Degrees in The Shade’ (released in 1976) and 1978’s ‘Journey to Addis’ which produced a cover of The O’Jays’ ‘Now That we Found Love’ which remains Third World’s signature song.
While he enjoyed his years with Third World, Stewart is even more satisfied teaching, and performing with, students in South Florida.
“It’s really something! They are at the stage where their interest is high, just like I was at that age. We all learn from each other and that’s important,” he said.
Written By Howard Campbell