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Carlos started playing drums when he was 13 and by age 16 he was playing professionally. He had great musical training both as a "street" player and as a schooled player. Carlos' high school years were surrounded with band activities. Playing in the #1 high school band at the time consumed most of his time. Say's Carlos, "I practiced. I got good." Then in his senior year, Carlos was offered several full music scholarships to study percussion. Drums was what he lived and breathed. His faith? Jesus? "I didn't have time," says Carlos. So, he chose Morehead State University in Kentucky and off he went. While at Morehead, Carlos studied with famed percussion teacher Dr. Robert Schietroma (now at the Universtiy of North Texas) who mentored Carlos and saw him through alot of LIFE mistakes. "Although I dropped out of college several times, Doc never lost faith in my talent ... and I am forever grateful to him." Finally through, Carlos left school for good, a jazz trio offered him a job which led to traveling with bands and doing studio work for the next 35 years. "Good bands, bad bands … great players and some not so great," says Carlos, "I didn't play music ALL that time; sometimes I had to work at a gas station, or paint, or lay carpet … paying dues ... surviving ... getting to travel and meet people … and sometimes living in one place for awhile."
Carlos has lived in New York City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, Nashville and now Dallas (for the past 5 years). "I've had some good times, I've had some SCARY times," says Carlos, "... times I know I could have died from the things that I was involved in or exposed to. JESUS was watching over me. He was with me, but still I wasn't with HIM." About 12 years ago, Carlos met Scott Miller. "Scott is a good Christian brother who set me on my path back to the Lord," said Carlos. Since that time, Carlos' life has been become CHRIST centered - the focus of who he is. He met his wonderful wife Cindy, "... she's a gift from God ... there aren't enough words;" they've been married 9 years. Another blessing is Carlos' 17-year-old daughter Ashley who came to live with them several years ago. "Ashley has added a new dimension to my life called 'fatherhood',"says Carlos, "what a joy!"
Two years ago, Drummers for Jesus was formed while Carlos was having lunch with a percussionist named Jon Skaggs, a fellow member of Lakepointe Church praise band.
Carlos' drumming duties these days include teaching drums/percussion, doing some studio work and playing drums at Lakepointe Church, and organizing the International Drummers for Jesus Celebration. Other musical hobbies that Carlos enjoys includes playing the guitar, piano, writing music, and drum/keyboard programming. "I like watching basketball, teasing our cat Chloe and all kinds of activities with church and family," says Carlos. So, DRUMS? Well, the ultimate call for Carlos is worshiping with the drums, that's what he calls "MAKING IT BIG ... playing for the Lord; it doesn't get bigger than that." When Carlos is worshiping at the drums, "I love the feeling of the ANNOINTING and knowing that Jesus has 'taken over'." "May you too feel the JOY of KNOWING Jesus."
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