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View Winners → Monrovia Drummer Lands Cinderella Gig With Goddess of Soul at St. Luke’s
Arts Aug 12, 2015
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Doña Oxford and Raymond Audette play ‘Boogie Under the Stars’ fundraising concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Monrovia on Aug. 1st. – Courtesy Photo
People at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church were well-acquainted with neighbor Raymond Audette. Largely because they could hear him practicing his drums every day. But also because he showed up to help on church improvement workdays even though he wasn’t a member of the congregation.
So it was natural that Ray would come to mind when keyboard wizard Doña Oxford, a longtime friend of St Luke’s Rector Neil Tadken, offered to play a fundraising event for the church. Rev. Tadken asked Doña if she could use a drummer for the “Boogie Under the Stars” event. He introduced them, and Ray got the Aug. 1st gig without an audition.
“I’ve been drumming forever, getting in trouble in class banging on my desk,” said Ray. “But I didn’t have an actual drum set until I was 24, so I’ve really only been ‘drumming’ for six years. The first time a friend asked me to audition for a gig, I practiced for two weeks, tapping on my legs at Starbucks while listening to my CD player. After that first gig, I was hooked. I wanted to do this no matter what.”
Oxford’s schedule kept the two from rehearsing together. “I just had to focus for four days on learning as much of her music as I could. Talk about nervous,” Ray said. “But once I sat down, I was good.”
Actually, he was quite a bit better than good. Oxford — who was fresh off a UK tour with legendary blues guitarist Albert Lee and has played with such legendary stars as Keith Richards, Van Morrison, Roger Daltrey, Buddy Guy, Levon Helm and Bob Weir — complimented Ray repeatedly throughout the concert. “Ray is fantastic,” she said. “I knew from the first note he had the goods. His timing and groove are exceptional, and he can even sing! What an incredible talent.”
“Getting this gig was really a treat for me,” said Ray. “She was amazing to play for.”
With roots in Monrovia dating to the 1890s, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is an inclusive church that welcomes all to its community. The landmark 1924 Romanesque church is located at 122 S. California Ave. at Foothill Blvd. Eucharist services are held on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 12:10 p.m. The Reverend Neil Tadken is Rector. For more, visitsaintlukesmonrovia.org.
