Drumming to his own beat, Brian Melick finds success across the globe  

Lifelong career earns a spot in Eddies Hall of Fame 

NEW BALTIMORE— Brian Melick, a seasoned percussionist and educator, has spent a lifetime exploring and sharing the rhythms of the world. His musical career began at the age of 13, and since then, he has become an influential figure in the world of percussion, performing on over 450 commercial records, creating and selling his own udu drum stand and sharing his wisdom as a performer. Melick joins the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame this year.  

Melick’s journey is one of passion, experimentation and a deep respect for the cultural significance of music that will be celebrated at Universal Preservation Hall 7 p.m. March 24.  

Among his earliest inspirations was the landmark record, “Drums of Passion” by Babatunde Olatunji, which he first heard at 12 years old. The album, a pioneering work in the world music genre, captivated him and ignited a lifelong passion for the rhythms and sounds that could be created from drums.  

“I put in on, boy, the hair on the back of my neck stood right up,” he recalls of his first listening experience. This moment would set the course for his future in music. 

“But I’m probably as much a kid now as I was then when it comes to being excited and being inspired to blend all these sounds,” Melick added.  

Thanks in part to an influential music teacher, very supportive parents and a talent show, Melick joined a band to fill in for a drummer needing carpel tunnel surgery.  

“That was that,” he said. “Fast forward to August 2024, I worked with a wonderful composer by the name of Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius. She and Zorkie Nelson, a gentleman from Ghana, collaborated to create a world music group that resides in Troy.” 

Over the years, Melick has honed his craft not only through performance but also through a dedication to education. He’s passionate about sharing his knowledge of percussion and music with others, using his skills as an educator to inspire the next generation of musicians. “I really enjoy doing a lot of educational work,” Melick says. His focus on teaching extends to sharing the unique sounds of instruments from around the world and helping students understand their cultural significance. 

In 1985, Melick’s discovery of the udu drum—a Nigerian percussion instrument—would become another pivotal moment in his life. This instrument, with its distinct sound and cultural roots, opened doors to meeting some of his musical heroes, including Baba, a key influence in his career. The udu drum remains a central figure in his musical journey, embodying both his respect for tradition and his adventurous approach to creating new music. 

In the early 90s it was difficult to find a stand for this instrument in the United States and Melick’s creative mind decided to solve the problem. Using rebar and bolts, he managed to create a stand that honored and supported the udu. For 21 years, he sold the stands and educational materials with Latin Percussion.  

Melick said, “When I look back and see what I’ve been able to accomplish, believe me, it’s not because I had this incredibly well-defined roadmap. I feel very fortunate to have the diversity of my career.”  

His latest project spans multiple art forms, bringing together five artists from five different disciplines: dance, music, film, storytelling and art. The project, which has evolved over the past two years, will culminate in a short documentary film about the collaborative process of these diverse artists.  

For Melick, it is a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential for artists from different fields to come together and create something greater than the sum of its parts. “The project is evolving, and it’s exciting to see where it will go,” he said. 

Through his decades-long career, Melick has become a beacon of artistic exploration and collaboration, touching lives and inspiring future generations of musicians along the way. His work reminds us of the power of music to connect, to heal and to inspire positive change in the world. 

Melick’s legacy and talent will be honored at the Eddies Hall of Fame induction ceremony 7 p.m. March 24. Tickets are on sale now for this exceptional showcase of music in the Capital Region, sponsored by MLB Construction Services, LLC and media partner WEXT. Visit the Box Office at Proctors in-person or via phone at (518) 346-6204 Tuesday-Saturday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org. 

More information on the Eddies Music Hall of Fame is available at theeddiesawards.com. The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards and Hall of Fame, as well as UPH, are part of Proctors Collaborative.