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THE PETTY-DRAYTON MUSIC PROGRAM
at The Norwalk Art Space in partnership with
The Petty-Drayton Music Program was established to provide free, high-caliber music education to under-served students at The Norwalk Art Space. The Program will offer after-school music courses starting in January 2023, on subjects ranging from guitar, to vocal technique, to improvisation, ear training, and performance skills. The goal is to supplement TNAS’s free visual art classes and to further enrich the Art Space environment with comprehensive access to music. We are thrilled this will be facilitated in partnership with INTEMPO, a leader in music education and an incredible resource to the Norwalk community.
LEARN MORE
with Intempo’s Geo Suquillo
Started Sep 26
with Intempo’s Geo Suquillo
Started Sep 26
with Intempo
Started Sep 26
with Intempo's Maurizio Spista
Started Sep 26
About the Petty and Drayton Families’ Musical Tradition
The Program and gift to TNAS is given by Adria Petty (filmmaker and a managing partner at Petty Legacy LLC) and Charley Drayton (acclaimed world class multi-instrumental musician) in honor of their talented and compassionate fathers.
The two patriarchs, who were friends and grandparents together are respectively, the world renowned, grammy award winning musician and songwriter, the late Tom Petty and Bernard Drayton, a commercial music producer, innovator and a man with deep roots in the power of music.
The Petty/ Drayton families are “music families” who believe strongly in music being an essential part of life, creativity and expression. “Most of the members of our families are creative artists or musicians and we all strongly believe in giving back to underserved youth and providing best in class opportunities to emerging creatives. Our fathers are self made men who were and are dynamic mentors in music. They are both an inspiration to anyone who wants a career in music because they blazed their own unique trails. We are thrilled to lean in to contribute to the program and provide professional support, access and resources in these small classes. We are very excited to work with Bernard during his retirement on such an important project and simultaneously honor the loving memory of Tom Petty. We are blown away by how effective and uplifting the mission is at ADK /TNAS. We are thrilled to see INTEMPO has made this dream a reality so fast and are delighted to add more music into a space where something beautiful is already growing for the community.”
- Adria Petty and Charley Drayton
ABOUT
INTEMPO
INTEMPO offers high quality music education to children from communities underrepresented in the arts. Through the joy of music, INTEMPO helps children express themselves and build skills that will serve them in every aspect of their lives. Founded and led by Angélica Durrell, INTEMPO is committed to connecting the dots between intercultural music education and its influence on the overall development of children. INTEMPO has been recognized at the local and national level for the quality of its programs and its efforts promoting arts equity. INTEMPO received the 2022 Accelerator Award by The Lewis Prize for Music, the 2021 Core Mission Grant from Impact Fairfield County, the 2019 Adolf Busch Award, and was named a finalist in the 2016 and 2017 National Youth Arts and Humanities Program awards by the President's Committee of Arts and Humanities.
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"INTEMPO is really excited to work with The Norwalk Art Space as well as the Petty and Drayton families. All three have shown a commitment to the arts at an extremely high level and understand the power it has to change lives. We cannot wait to get started working with the youth of Norwalk through this program."
- Angélica Durrell
About Tom Petty
Best known for a 40 year career in popular music. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the release of their self-titled 1976 debut started a decades-long and extremely successful run, highlighted by multi-platinum albums that featured the now-classic singles “American Girl,” “Refugee,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More” and “Learning to Fly." In 1989, Petty embarked on an equally successful solo career, delivering memorable music videos to hits like “Free Fallin’” and "Runnin' Down a Dream." Petty also collaborated with other legendary rockers, including the Traveling Wilburys, Stevie Nicks and Johnny Cash, earning three Grammy Awards for his work over the years.The late Tom Petty’s great passion was in music, mentorship and belonging to the music community. In addition to his prolific career, he enjoyed teaching and studying music and music production until he passed away in 2017. He learned music in his hometown music store and was self-taught and self-made bolstered by the strength of his community. His family honors his passion with direct community charitable giving across the US. His songs and recordings live on to inspire and uplift many people's lives.
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About Bernard Drayton
Hailing from Brooklyn, Bernard Drayton has been a powerhouse in commercial music behind the scenes for decades. Shepherding in ad campaigns with over $1 billion dollars in billings. Bernard is also a fine art photographer and has served on the board of Brooklyn Hospital for over 20 years in service to his community.
Bernard is widely credited with opening the door for minorities and infusing mainstream commercials with the music of different cultures. Bernard has helmed projects with some of the industry's best musicians like, Cissy Houston, Bill Withers and Luther Vandross to name a few. His tasteful collaborations with originators from jazz, gospel, blues, r&b and hip-hop to create jingles for America’s largest brands set a new standard in his industry.
Drayton has been immersed in music his whole life and hails from a musical family, starting with his musician father Charles Drayton, a musician in the golden era of jazz with the likes of Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, and Billy Taylor, as well as recording numerous records including “An American in Paris.” Drayton’s brother Leslie, also a musician, is an original member of Earth, Wind and Fire and has worked with Marvin Gaye and Quincy Jones. And Drayton’s son Charley is currently a world class session and touring musician. As well as a producer who has worked with Herbie Hancock, Fiona Apple, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan and many others.
Bernard who is now retired will lend vital hands-on energy to this program with his vast network, experience, taste and distinctive warmth and charm.
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