Like Father, Like Son
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Bob and Jakob Dylan. Kirk and Michael Douglas. Charlie and Martin Sheen. John and Julian Lennon.
They're all famous fathers and sons, but how often have they worked, played or performed together? Probably not as often as Kim and Brandon Bussard.
The Bussards, of Warsaw, both play drums and often perform together for groups, at talent contests and at a few car exhibitions.
"We were best of show my freshman year (at the high school talent show)," said Brandon.
Because Brandon is graduating from high school soon, their last father-son duet will be at 10 a.m. May 27 at Warsaw Community High School during the Renaissance program.
Brandon said, "It's usually just been awards. Lately, they've tried to bring in entertainment, and they invited us this year."
Perfection takes practice, and the Bussards started early in life to get as much practice as they could.
"I started playing drums in seventh grade here at Warsaw," said Kim. A 1973 WCHS graduate, Kim played all through high school and received several awards. He studied for five years under the late Gerald Franks.
Brandon was introduced to the drums early in grade school. He learned basic fundamentals and techniques under percussion teacher Michael Scheiver in the sixth grade. In seventh grade, Mickey Ratliff took over as Brandon's teacher.
Two years later, Brandon and his father started playing together.
One of their most often performed numbers is "Eighteen Heads," a four-page written drum duet the Bussards slightly modify.
"We break off into solos and break off towards the end," said Kim.
Asked what it's like as a father and son duo, Kim said, "It's fun. It's awesome as a father and son. We're pretty close.
"We just feel it's a unique thing being a father and son. You don't see too many duets with drumsets only."
He also said Brandon's the better player between the two because Brandon practices daily and hasn't had the time to get rusty, as he has.
"I've written a couple of snare drum solos. I took them down to Moorehead State University. I won best snare drum in the Midwest two years in a row," said Brandon.
"We had a band called the Soundmasters. I played in it for 10 years. Then I got out of it for four to five years. Then Brandon talked me back into picking my sticks up," said Kim.
For Kim, an auto technician, playing drums is strictly a hobby.
"I'm not going to give it up," said Brandon, "but there's not much chance of succeeding in that." He said he plans to become an auto technician just like his father.
"It's fun to bang on (the drum). You get more sounds out of it than anything else. It's kind of hard to explain," Brandon said as to why he enjoys playing the drums.
"It's fun to get your arms and legs going in four different ways," Kim said.
While their final duet may be less than two weeks away, they will always be father and son. And that's the way they like it. [[In-content Ad]]
Bob and Jakob Dylan. Kirk and Michael Douglas. Charlie and Martin Sheen. John and Julian Lennon.
They're all famous fathers and sons, but how often have they worked, played or performed together? Probably not as often as Kim and Brandon Bussard.
The Bussards, of Warsaw, both play drums and often perform together for groups, at talent contests and at a few car exhibitions.
"We were best of show my freshman year (at the high school talent show)," said Brandon.
Because Brandon is graduating from high school soon, their last father-son duet will be at 10 a.m. May 27 at Warsaw Community High School during the Renaissance program.
Brandon said, "It's usually just been awards. Lately, they've tried to bring in entertainment, and they invited us this year."
Perfection takes practice, and the Bussards started early in life to get as much practice as they could.
"I started playing drums in seventh grade here at Warsaw," said Kim. A 1973 WCHS graduate, Kim played all through high school and received several awards. He studied for five years under the late Gerald Franks.
Brandon was introduced to the drums early in grade school. He learned basic fundamentals and techniques under percussion teacher Michael Scheiver in the sixth grade. In seventh grade, Mickey Ratliff took over as Brandon's teacher.
Two years later, Brandon and his father started playing together.
One of their most often performed numbers is "Eighteen Heads," a four-page written drum duet the Bussards slightly modify.
"We break off into solos and break off towards the end," said Kim.
Asked what it's like as a father and son duo, Kim said, "It's fun. It's awesome as a father and son. We're pretty close.
"We just feel it's a unique thing being a father and son. You don't see too many duets with drumsets only."
He also said Brandon's the better player between the two because Brandon practices daily and hasn't had the time to get rusty, as he has.
"I've written a couple of snare drum solos. I took them down to Moorehead State University. I won best snare drum in the Midwest two years in a row," said Brandon.
"We had a band called the Soundmasters. I played in it for 10 years. Then I got out of it for four to five years. Then Brandon talked me back into picking my sticks up," said Kim.
For Kim, an auto technician, playing drums is strictly a hobby.
"I'm not going to give it up," said Brandon, "but there's not much chance of succeeding in that." He said he plans to become an auto technician just like his father.
"It's fun to bang on (the drum). You get more sounds out of it than anything else. It's kind of hard to explain," Brandon said as to why he enjoys playing the drums.
"It's fun to get your arms and legs going in four different ways," Kim said.
While their final duet may be less than two weeks away, they will always be father and son. And that's the way they like it. [[In-content Ad]]