DRUM DIDDLEE-UM
with Hand Drummer HIGGY VASQUEZ
Laguna Beach, Ca.

Popular and fun, hand drumming has been keeping a steady beat in Southern California’s Orange County since the year 2000. Higgy Vasquez has been one of those through-lines promoting hand drumming. Higgy facilitated the Santa Ana’s Urban Drum Circle in the Artist’s Village at 2nd St. and Broadway in Downtown Santa Ana from 2000-2010 drawing large street crowds who loved to dance and hear the rhythms of congas and djembes, flutes, whistles and tamborines. Higgy loves to dance and started out break dancing in his middle school years in Orange, Ca. dancing in the 80’s film, Electirc Boogaloo Brake Dancing 2. A person with natural rhythm and dance ability is a good combo for a drum circle.

Higgy is a regular at the Aliso Beach Full Moon Drum Circle held every full moon at the Aliso Main Beach and Bonfire. His friends constitute fellow drummers that also hold the passion for drumming. Folks like the amazing Billy Fried (Aliso Beach Organizer), Greg White (drum teacher extraordinaire- Dana Point, Ca.), Marcus Tucker, the original organizer of the Laguna Beach Phat Drum Circle, now held summer’s in Long Beach. The drummer’s work together and help support each other, participating in each other’s public events such as the Monterrey Aquarium, Earth Day with Communications Drummer Stephen Dolle, Corporate Entertainment events, drumming therapy, Surf Competitions, Martin Espino and school music education program.  One, two, drum diddle-um, diddle-um, drum, drum.  What a great way to start appreciating music. The list goes on. It’s not uncommon to find Higgy and his personal drum performance group, Manos de Fuego, at Relay for Life and other volunteer charitable contribution events.

The drumming lifts everyone’s spirits and smiles appear as soon as the drumming begins. Higgy and his friends will hold down the beat, “One, two, on with the groove,” and people get pulled in with their smiles and love for the drum. Drumming creates a sense of freedom and happiness. It’s just one of those things where you find yourself tapping to the beat, dancing and simply having fun. It’s very entertaining to join in on the drumming and learn some rhythms and cut loose learning a new groove. After the drum circle people leave content feeling a true sense of joy and happiness. The drum circles work their magic dissolving worries and creating a true sense of living. It’s a great social activity, open to all ages and it’s free, just bring your drum or percussion instrument and have a good time.

Find out more about hand drumming at www.love2drum.com.

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