–11-year-old Master Drummer, Ricardo Primo

YOU’VE heard of Jumo ‘Rubber Waist’ Primo, member of the local group X2, three- time winner of the Carib Monarch Competition and Mashramani Road March King.
You may have even heard of Orlando and Kurt Primo, certified drummers, and founders of the ‘Majek Fingers Drumming School’. But out of this artistically talented lineage comes the youngest talent yet, in the form of Ricardo Primo, and 11-year-old genius on the drums, who is proudly and successfully following in his uncles’ footsteps.
Music is deeply embedded in the family’s genes, so when, at the wee age of four, Ricardo started showing an interest in the drums, it was his uncle, Orlando, who took note and began to train him.
Ricardo has over the years shared the spotlight with more experienced drummers than himself, but has certainly held his own, having participated in concerts, school Mashramani competitions, Emancipation and other events.
More recently, the young drummer was the youngest member of the three-person troupe that provided live music for the local production of Derek Walcott’s Ti-Jean and His Brothers held at the National Cultural Centre in honour of Education Month.
“I practise every day; I actually look forward to coming home and practising,” Ricardo told The Buzz. But he doesn’t let it get in the way of school, he said. In fact, he ensures he does his home-work first.
Ricardo, who attends Central High, is seen as being so talented with the instrument, that his family expects him to be the successor of the ‘Majek Fingers’ school in years to come. And when asked what he thinks about this possibility, Ricardo replied, “Of course!”
His two aunts, Icena and Melinda, who help take care of him are both extremely proud of him, as is the rest of his family. “It feels really good, knowing that he’s young and he has so much talent,” Icena said. “He can take that with him anywhere he goes; I am really proud of him.”
Melinda said Ricardo holds the family record of being the youngest to start playing the drums, and she looks forward to seeing him get better as the years go by. “His entire family supports him, and he is well aware of how talented he is. We continue to encourage him in his dreams,” she said.
As is the old saying, ‘Out of the mouth of babes cometh wisdom’. Well, this ‘babe’ is encouraging his peers to never let their age limit them from pursuing what it is they want to do. “You are never too young to follow your dreams; you can do anything, but you have to be serious and follow your dreams wisely,” he said.
In years to come, it will be a pleasure seeing what Ricardo and his talent both grow into.