Marvin "Bugalu" Smith facts for kids

Marvin "Bugalu" Smith, born in 1948, is an amazing American jazz drummer and percussionist. He is especially known for his incredible work with the famous musician Sun Ra and his band, The Sun Ra Arkestra.

Early Life and Learning Drums

Marvin Smith was born in Englewood, New Jersey. He was one of four children. His dad was a carpenter. Marvin started playing drums when he was only two years old! That's super young.

He learned from some of the best drummers in jazz history. These included Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, and Art Taylor. He also learned a lot from his older brother, Earl "Buster" Smith. Earl also became a great musician.

Adventures in Music

Marvin "Bugalu" Smith traveled a lot for his music. He went on tour in Italy with a saxophonist named Tyree Grimm Jr. He loved Italy so much that he ended up living there for twenty years! While he was there, he played with another musician named Rocky Roberts. During his time in Italy, Marvin also explored new ideas that helped shape his drumming style.

When he returned to the United States, Marvin continued to play with many famous jazz artists. He played with Archie Shepp from 1982 to 1987. Then, in 1987, he joined Sun Ra's Arkestra. This was a very important part of his career.

Teaching and Jam Sessions

In the 1990s, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith took some time to relax. He moved to the Hudson Valley in New York State. There, he started teaching drums to students. He was known as a teacher who expected a lot but was also very kind. He helped many drummers learn and grow.

Bugalu also hosted a very popular jazz jam session. It was held every Tuesday night at the Terrace Lounge in Newburgh, New York. Musicians from New York City and other states would come to play. These sessions became legendary! Bugalu would record them and share them online.

During these sessions, Bugalu and his special musical guests would play the first set. Then, his group of students, called "Bugalu's Drum Crew," would play the second set. This included Andrew, Kesai, Jan, Douglas, and Fitz. These jam sessions continued until 2012.

Recent Years

After touring Italy again in 2012, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith focused on working in his studio. He also did session work, which means playing drums for recordings. He went on another tour in Italy in 2015.

Since 2017, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith has been living in New York City. He continues to play drums at sessions and gigs all around New York and the surrounding areas. He is still a very active and respected musician.