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Drumline Live is a theatrical production created from the executive consultants of the hit 2002 movie Drumline. Dramatic lighting, intricate choreography, exciting costumes and stage effects enhance the show theatrically
DON P. ROBERTS
CEO - DIRECTOR - MUSICIAN - EDUCATOR
Mr. Don P. Roberts, M.M.ED. served as the Executive Band Consultant for the Twentieth Century Fox hit movie, “Drumline.” He was responsible for training the actors, writing the precision drills, rehearsing the band, etc. As the chief band consultant, he played a vital role in the making of “Drumline” and its success. The movie received national and international acclaim. In 2003, it was nominated by the NAACP as “Most Outstanding Motion Picture” and also nominated for an “American Choreography Award” for outstanding achievement in a feature film. Mr. Roberts also serves as the President and CEO, Director, Playwright, and Creator of the critically acclaimed Theatrical Production, “DRUMLine Live,” which toured all across the U.S., Japan, and Korea from 2008-2013. The DRUMLine Live tour was managed by Columbia Artist Management Incorporated (CAMI). DRUMLine Live is now working in collaboration with the Creative Booking Agency (CBA) in preparation for the upcoming 2017 tour.
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Most recently, Mr. Roberts was appointed as the Executive Band Consultant for the upcoming 2017 BET movie, “The Yard.” He also worked in the same position for the VH-1 and Fox Television Studios movie, “Drumline: A New Beat,” which is the long awaited sequel to “Drumline.” The movie premiered on VH-1 in October 2014, and was nominated for "Best Music Supervision" for Television: Long Form and Movies, by the Guild of Music Supervisors. He was also the Associate Producer and Executive Band Consultant for the ESPNU Television series, “The Battle,” which featured some of America’s best Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands. The five series weekly show debuted in the fall of 2010.
Mr. Roberts also served as the Director for Halftime Live, which provided the official drumline for the Atlanta Hawks from 2007-2014. The company also
provided the official band of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream in 2014. In March of 2016, the DRUMLine Live Marching Band performed for more than 8,000 "Googlers" as a part of the Google (Engage) Employee World-Wide Convention in Anaheim, California. The DRUMLine Live Marching Band was featured on worldwide television as they performed with Grammy award winning artist, Ne-Yo, as a part of the 2008 National Hockey League All-Star Game halftime show.
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In 2009, Mr. Roberts served as the Musical Director and Executive Band Consultant for the “Black College Football Xperience” video game by Neriyzed Game Studios (bcfxgame.com). Mr. Roberts also choreographed the drills and routines for the popular Nature’s Own Whitewheat Bread commercial, which featured marching bands and debuted during the 2005 Super Bowl. In 2005, Mr. Roberts also worked as the Executive Band Consultant on the Missy Elliot hit song, “Bad Man”, from her album, “The Cookbook”.
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Don P. Roberts received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. While at FAMU, he served as drum major, student conductor, and student arranger in what is considered to be one of the finest band programs in America. He received a Master's Degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Presently, Mr. Roberts is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida.
As an educator, Mr. Roberts has served as the Music Coordinator of the DeKalb County School District since 1996. He served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia from 1990 through 1996. He was appointed to a dual role from 1998-2004 as DeKalb County Music Coordinator and Southwest DeKalb High School Co-Director of Bands. With the assistance of six chairmen (3 band and 3 orchestra), Mr. Roberts supervises approximately 150 music directors, 19 high schools, 19 middle schools, and 88 elementary schools. There are more than 15,000 students participating in band, chorus, and orchestra in DeKalb schools. Under the guidance of Mr. Roberts, the DeKalb County School District has one of the largest, most active and innovative music programs in the state of Georgia. The DeKalb School District was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Communities in Music Education in America” in 2005, 2008, and 2012.
Mr. Roberts' bands (Southwest DeKalb High School and McNair Middle School) received superior ratings for fifteen consecutive years from the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). The Southwest DeKalb High School band was the first African American high school band to ever perform for the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention in state history (1996). Under Mr. Roberts' tutelage the band was invited to perform in the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
The band also recorded the compact discs, "We Rock the House", in 1996 and “Band of the 90’s” in 2000. One of Mr. Roberts’ greatest accomplishments as a music educator was the Southwest DeKalb Panthers being the only band in America selected to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games where he worked with world renown “Super Producers” Kenny Ortega (High School Musical and This Is It) and Don Mischner (Prince Super Bowl Halftime 2007). He has also worked with Hollywood Directors, Charles Stone (Drumline) and Billie Woodruff (Drumline: A New Beat). Additionally, he served as Assistant Band Director of the Atlanta Olympic Band, which performed in the Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games. His 300 member Panther Marching Band was also the hero band in the movie, “Drumline”. They have performed all across the United States. In 2008, Mr. Roberts was recognized by the Dallas Austin Foundation as its 2008 “Maestro of the Year in Music Education”. He was also recognized as a 2008 Black History Living Legend by Atherton Elementary School in DeKalb County.
Mr. Roberts has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and arranger for many different organizations throughout the Southeast. He was Multicultural Chairman for the Georgia Music Educators Association for four years (1998 – 2001). In addition to his membership in GMEA and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Fraternity, Mr. Roberts is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Music Educators National Conference. He is Co-Founder of Precision Incorporated (Summer Band Camp), Chief Consultant for the Metro Atlanta Battle of the Bands, and former Executive Producer of DeKalb Schools Television Show, "Music in Motion".
