Kevin Lucas Experience

Description

Kevin Lucas is an individual performer and calls his genre "Percussion Theater". He writes his own music as well as recreating popular works. He combines high level virtuoso and emotional performances with visual elements to fit the theme of the music. He performs on a stage filled with his 5 octave marimba and many other percussion instruments and stage props and creates an exhilarating experience for audience members as he runs around performing. His music can be fast and intense, yet lush and beautiful. The Huffington Post called Kevin "the best percussionist since Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, and Ginger Baker". A member of the Tonight Show band said "Kevin Lucas has brought percussion to a new level combing high level musicianship with a style that resembles mixed martial arts in intensity".

Work Sample

This is one of my many videos. I write my own music and I also do arrangements of popular works. This particular video runs almost 5 minutes. This is called "Africa" and it was a filmed performance in September of 2017. I call my genre that I present to audiences "Percussion Theater". I coordinate high level musicianship with visual elements that work together for an overall entertaining effect.

This particular work sample is a recreation of "Africa" by Toto that explores the beauty of nature in Africa as well as the mythology and lore that exists in the magical place. The instruments I am playing in the video are very unique, such as the PVC pipe marimba, and the light triggered roto toms. I try to bring creativity into my performances and add elements of contemporary art into each performance. Movement and music are coordinated The audience can always expect the unexpected in a Kevin Lucas Experience show!

History

I have been performing for many years both on the Illinois Artstour Roster and my own performances. I have won over 50 music industry awards including a Billboard Magazine Songwriting Award and an American Songwriting Award. I have been featured in the Huffington Post and they called me the "best percussionist since Lionel Hampton, Ginger Baker, and Tito Puente". I also was scheduled to make my Carnegie Hall debut with the Indie Collaborative organization last April, but it got postponed to April of 2021 because of the pandemic. I am a regular at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and have performed the past 10 years that it was presented.

Artistic Vision

I have been performing for many years both on the Illinois Artstour Roster and my own performances. I have won over 50 music industry awards including a Billboard Magazine Songwriting Award and an American Songwriting Award. I have been featured in the Huffington Post and they called me the "best percussionist since Lionel Hampton, Ginger Baker, and Tito Puente".

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

I have performed for children many times and I make it a historical learning experience for them regarding my marimba and it's ties to ancient Africa. I have performed for all age groups, from kindergarten to high school and college. I modify my program so that it is age appropriate. I have also performed for seniors and the elderly in assisted livings and they always enjoy my presentations and music. I always mix cultural and historic information with my performances because many of my works are derived from musical styles from around the world. As an example, I have music that is native to the nation of India. I will give historical backgrounds as well as style information in regards to what genre of music I am playing.