Education: I received my BA in Liberal Studies with a Minor in African American Studies and an emphasis in Music from SF State University (June 2021). I received the first John Handy Scholarship entering the music department at SF State in 2008. I also received a full scholarship to Berkeley School of Music in 1987 which I declined to go on a tour with the late J Spencer, Motown Mo Jazz Recording artist who passed on in 2004. I attended grade school in the Oakland Unified schools (Brookfield Elementary and King Estates Jr High) I attended high school at Berkeley High School and was the drummer for the award-winning jazz band in 1986 and 87 under the direction of Charles Hamilton. I attended all the Peralta Community Colleges (Alameda, Laney and Merritt) before attaining my BA. And I was always in the music community of the bay area and abroad.
Performances: I have toured and performed with many music legends as the drummer:
John Handy with class, J Spencer, Najee, Mark Wright, Dave Berstein, Pete Escovedo, Farough Sanders, Bill Bell, Calvin Keys, Jeff Othello, Joshua Redman, David Byrd, Sugee Otis and Dave Ellis to name a few.
Recordings: I have recorded on 2 CD’s Rabbits and C the Blues (Dave Berstein 1990’s) Chimera 1994 (J Spencer), Wright Turn (Mark Wright) 1990’s. I have 2 CDs recorded under my own label BFO Brothas from Oakland 1990’s. 2 rap groups featured on these CDs (Unidentified and BFO). I have made beats for E-40 Too Short and many other rap productions.
Work and training: I have worked in the Oakland Unified Schools and Berkeley Unified as a tutor mentor and TA. I also worked for Oakland School of the Arts for 2 years in the music dept. I also taught in the Oaktown Jazz Workshops with Kevin Choice and now Director Ravi Avcarian. I have my own business called Denardos World Beats which is where I bring it all together. I have been doing mental health and wellness, and restorative justice drum circles with an organization called Brothas of the Drum. I have brought these restorative justice drum circles inside the San Quentin Health Fair and the Juvenile Justice Centers in Alameda County. I also heal trauma and build communities through the power of sound and drum healing practices.
I am currently a Family Outreach Specialist and Care coordinator for the Alameda County Public Health Dept. And I served as an intern for the Board of Supervisors (Nate Miley) District 4 in 2016,17 year.
If You need more info please contact me at
Denardo's World Beats
510-830-5965
