Documentary River City Drumbeat Shows Legacy Of Music Educators

Documentary River City Drumbeat Shows Legacy Of Music Educators

By John Saeger

The true value of a teacher’s legacy can be found by watching a student take in their lessons and pass them along to the next generation. The documentary River City Drumbeat shows this handoff in a Louisville, Kentucky community organization. Through the rhythm of its drumline, the River City Drum Corp provides a pathway for Kentuckians to emerge from systemic inequality and make a positive community impact. This new film shows the extension of their efforts as the Corp enters a new era. 

Ed “Nardie” White founded River City Drum Corp with his wife three decades ago. The organization from Louisville’s West End teaches African drumming and drum lines to the community’s youth. River City Drumbeat enters the picture as White hands the reins to one of his former pupils. A 65-year-old widower, White reflects on the legacy of his organization and its future as he steps down. 

The film explains how the organization’s focus has provided a structure for many young adults growing up in the impoverished area. This is not an unusual setting for a documentary, but the film separates itself from its contemporaries because it is able to directly show a multigenerational impact. While White admits that he has not been able to reach everyone, River City Drumbeat shines because of its success stories. 

In addition to interviewing several younger members who are enrolled in drum classes, the film follows River City Drum Corp’s older pupils. Two of the relative elder’s of the organization are taking the next step in their own lives as they move from high school to college. Watching their transition spotlights the net impact of arts education.

The documentary directly addresses how the music program is a contrast for children who are pushed towards sports as a way to gain advantages in young adulthood. During a time when live music performances are on hold and Philadelphia’s own desire to fund the arts has become stagnant, River City Drumbeat shows how diverse education programs yield results. Watching an ex-student become a leader is an empowering moment that highlights the positives of an organization whose legacy continues to grow. 

River City Drumbeat was directed by Anne Flatté and Marlon Johnson. The directorial team has separately worked on documentaries where music and community intersect. Prior to filming the River City Drum Corp in Louisville, their films continually examine aspects of music in Haiti, Detroit, and Miami. The documentary is enhanced by sound design from Richard Beggs, who won an Academy Award in the category for his work on the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now. 

The documentary premiered at DOCNYC in 2019 and has been showcased at festivals in Miami, SXSW, and San Francisco. River City Drumbeat can be viewed through a series of “virtual screenings” beginning on August 7.

About the Author: John Saeger is a music and film writer from Philadelphia. He has written the pop-culture blog Long After Dark, a site dedicated to the arts in the City of Brotherly Love and beyond, since 2017.
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