Music star in the making wins award

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12: Could this be the next Clarence “Tootsie” Bean in the making?

Berkeley Institute student Jeron Clemendor, 16, was last week awarded a scholarship in the legendary drummer’s name and plans on making a profession out of his passion.

He was given the award and a cheque for $1,500 in acknowledgment of his musical achievements and excellence at a presentation last week at Berkeley Institute.

The great Mr ‘Tootsie’ Bean was present and spoke favourably of the aspiring young student.

Ahead of the ceremony Jeron told the Bermuda Sun: “It makes me a little nervous but I am very excited — this is a great opportunity for me to get this scholarship especially from a famous drummer like Mr Bean.

“I have actually seen him play drums in church and that is where I get my inspiration from.”

Jeron has been playing the drums since the age of three and took drum lessons from a young age. He got his first drum kit at four and has been playing ever since.

“I started hitting pots and pans when I was very young and it just grew from there.” Jeron recalled.

“My parents said I used to make a lot of noise but at least it sounded nice. I took more drum lessons when I was 13 and then I just started making my own styles and got better and better.

“My band, Simply Perfection, we play at a lot of events. Recently we played at Brown & Co for the late night shopping and that went great. We play at concerts, benefits, birthday bashes… I play every two weeks but it has calmed down a bit now because I am back at school.”

Asked whether he sees himself making a living out of his music Jeron said: “When I get older I want to be a music teacher/professional drummer and to be able to tour around the world and play with awesome celebrities and get a view of all different techniques to learn.

“I like all genres, as long as it’s got a rhythm I am in it,” he laughed.

“ For me it is like, when I play, I feel the music so it’s not like I am going to play one specific thing. I play to the rhythm and it catches me and I just let myself go.”

Clarence ‘Tootsie’ Bean has been playing the drums for most of his life learning his skills from one of the island’s leading musician Ernie Leader whose orchestra he joined at the age of 13. Bean has taught many of the island’s musicians and has toured internationally.

More recently he plays at church and the Swizzle Inn during the summer months.

He said of Jeron: “When I read the application I was very impressed. He reminded me a lot of myself when I was young — beating on anything you could get your hands on.

“It’s good that his parents recognised his talent. After music school I had a dream and I hope he will pursue it like I pursued mine — to be a well accomplished musician and travel the world and be playing with lots of big musicians we hear about and see on television.

“I always said that one day I would play with those guys. It takes a lot of practice but if you have a dream in mind you have just got to follow it and never give up. From what I see I think he is going to go a long way and it is a pleasure for me to give him this award.”

The scholarship money was raised through a gospel jazz show hosted by the Heard Chapel AME Church.

Music teacher at the Berkeley Institute John Woolridge, said that he had every confidence that Jeron was the right choice to win the scholarship and that it proved that young males are making a positive contribution to the island.

“Being a musician and a performer myself I am one to wish for the days when you could go out and hear the likes of Clarence “Tootsie” Bean and to know that the scholarship was in his honour truly thrilled my heart. His legacy goes back to the days of the greats like Ghandi Burgess and Chalkie Bean who played with legends like Dizzy Gillespie who had come to the island and jam at Spinning Wheel. We have those legends here on the island today and to say that we are continuing on that with young students like Jeron is testament to the fact that yes in fact here in Bermuda positive things are going on.

“There seemed to be a perception in the community that our young males were just constantly doing negative things not doing things that were positive and dare I say, exceptional. Berkeley has a great yield of exceptional students and Jeron Clemendor is one of those.