Walking through the New York City Subway system, we met many street musicians. Each one had a different story, played a different instrument, and a different style of music, but what they shared was a love of their art and the joy that it gives them to share their music with the people of New York.

At the Times Square 42nd Street Station, we met African drummer Itemize King. King has been doing street performance for 8 years. A self-taught musician, King first saw the African drum in an African dance, and decided to learn how to play. After some time selling things on trains, he decided to start to play the drum and sing on the train instead. He receives some positive reactions and occasionally some negativity, but he says that you have to stay strong, and don’t give up on your art.

 

We met drummer Dexter Jones at Grand Central Station. Jones plays the steel drums. Born in Trinidad, Jones has been playing the drums for 45 years, and for about 20 of those years, he has performed on the subways. Unlike most of the musicians we met, Jones plays professionally, drumming for a living, and has agents who set him up with gigs.

 

At Lexington Avenue – 53rd Street Station, we met Joe Estrella, who plays guitar and sings. Of Puerto Rican descent, Estrella performs the Spanish oldies he grew up with. He started playing when he was 13, and has been doing street performing for 10 years. He told us that he usually performs 5 days per week for about 4 hours each day. He enjoys interacting with people and spreading joy through music.

 

Also at Lexington Avenue, was Ebrima Jassey, who plays the balafon, which is a wooden xylophone. Born in Namibia, West Africa, and now living in the Bronx, Jassey has been playing the balafon since he was 9 years old. He decided to learn because his brothers were playing, and he sometimes performs with his brothers in restaurants, colleges, and other venues. He has been a street performer for 3 years, and commented to us that he has made so many friends through street performance.  He says street performance, for him, is not about the money, because he is just happy when he plays.