Raymond Xavier can usually be seen playing rocking beats on his several percussion instruments.
Though his main instrument is the cajón, a wooden box with a hole in one side, Xavier has been adding to the beat using everything from drumsticks to a medium-sized box to a pair of spoons.
Instead of logging around a drum set, he usually prefers unconventional instruments.
Inside his dufflebag lie pairs of drumsticks to click out the beat, as well as a shaker that can be worn on the finger.
“I wanted something you can put on your shoulder and you’re all set,” said the Village De La Vista resident.
He is always on the lookout for country and bluegrass sounds produced by local groups.
“The groups are easy to get along with,” Xavier said. “The more things you play with a pure sound, I think a lot of people like that.”
At home, he likes to play along to different tunes, especially to soul and Motown classics.
“As I tour different places, I’ve found you’ve got to be flexible,” Xavier said.
For his custom-built cajón, Xavier added a wooden beam with snare wires underneath that can be raised to the top to create a different sound. He also can add a small magnetic pickup to help plug into an amplifier. He has been playing cajón for about five years, which he learned on his own by watching other people play.
“I was looking for an absolute sound,” Xavier said. “They’re simple. It has a big sound like a drum set. I’ve got a liking for certain tones.”
He also has two sets of two spoons connected to a red handle, which he uses frequently to create perky tunes.
“They can make interesting sounds,” Xavier said. ”I like the click-clack sound. People always look at you when you play the spoons. They’re fascinated by them.”
He owns a pair of wooden Irish spoons, as well.
“They’re slightly different,” he mentioned.
Xavier’s interest in playing spoons rose about three years ago after seeing videos of bluegrass bands with spoon musicians.
“It’s easy, and it’s portable,” Xavier said.
Recently, he also tried his hands on the washboard.
“That’s kind of neat,” he said. “It’s a very unusual sound. It took me a while to like it.”
While he enjoys creating music through his voice or an instrument, he has found that he can’t sing while playing an instrument.
“It’s either one or the other,” Xavier said.
Xavier started learning how to play the bass very young. He worked with various bands during his high school years, like Ray X and the X-Rays and Joe Bananas and His Bunch.
He grew up listening to bands like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and everything from Motown.
Including Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys, a lot of the compositions Xavier’s bands played were motivated by these groups.
“It was a great pastime for me,” he said. “I’d go crazy if I didn’t play music again. It fills a big part of my life.”
Xavier worked as a high school guidance counselor for several years and started playing and collaborating again about 10 years ago.
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun