Extraordinary People: Chiefs band drummer no stranger to crowds

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 21, 2008 by Carolyn Kaberline

By Carolyn Kaberline

SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Although Topekan Jim Robinson has one of the best seats in Arrowhead stadium, he doesn't always get to watch an entire Kansas City Chiefs game.

As the drummer for the TD Pack Band, his focus usually is on- band leader Patti DiPardo-Livergood.

"We do a pregame show of four to five songs, then snippets at the huddle," Robinson said. "That's five beats when they break the huddle and are heading to the formation. When we make a first down, we play four measures. These are the beginnings to songs people recognize. We have our sheet music right there beside us. We have to be constantly on our toes."

Robinson said there are times during a game, such as when there are technical difficulties, that the band has "to be ready to hop in and cover."

Although this is only his second season with the band, Robinson is no stranger to drumming. In fact, he's been doing it most of his life.

"My mother was the leader of a band called the Bobcats when I was growing up," Robinson said. "Since the drummer rarely has anything to do during rehearsals, mom would put my bassinette back by him. He'd let me play with his drumsticks."

Robinson said he started drumming on oatmeal containers, then moved on to coffee cans. Because there were no drums at Fifth Avenue School in Leavenworth, he played on cafeteria stools at his first concert.

"Mom said I was a hit drumming on a stool with one hand and ringing bells with the other," he said.

Robinson continued to play the drums, and after graduating from UMKC with a major in music and a minor in photojournalism, he had the opportunity to hit the road.

"It's been beautiful ever since," he said.

He moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for Hollywood Productions.

"To work for them, you have to read music, play your instrument, and sing, too," said Robinson, who crossed the country several times on the Hyatt Regency Tour and others.

Although he enjoyed his work, Robinson said, he finally tired of the road after about 10 years with Hollywood Productions. The real impetus for his departure, however, came when he was shaving one morning.

"It was Aug. 15, and I was looking out the window and saw the palms in the distance shaking, then the ones closer started shaking, and then my mirror cracked," he said. "I was living in a duplex at the time and ran out yelling 'Earthquake!' The lady next door who'd lived there for several years said, 'Oh no, that's just a tremor.' I had told my sister in Denver I'd come there for her birthday. So when my sister asked how long I planned to stay, I said 'forever.' "

In Denver, Robinson met his wife, Mary. He went to work National Business Systems and transferred to Kansas in 1994.

In addition to the TD Pack Band, Robinson plays for numerous area groups, including the Frank Ace Blues Band, The Penderblast Jazz Band and Crossroads Trio, a gospel group. He's the lead vocalist for the Boulevard Band, a nine-piece band in the Kansas City area, and gives drumming lessons through his church, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Robinson, now an operations manager for Identity Solutions, also is a science fiction fan and dreams of dressing up as a Klingon and playing his rhythm stick and singing in Klingon.

"I was in eight different bands out of Los Angeles, and at least one member of each band was a Trekkie. I have a Klingon outfit with a giant leather vest with rhinestones and red fur."