Curtis Pierre “The Samba Man” of New Orleans. He is the founder and director of Casa Samba, the first School of Samba in the Louisiana and the Southern Region. Born and raised in the carnival traditions of New Orleans for the first 20 years. He was introduced to Brasilian percussion in 1979 by Airto Moreira, world renown Brasilian drummer for Miles Davis. He later studies percussion with Bill Summers, percussionist for Herbie Hancock; Munyungo Jackson, percussionist for Stevie Wonder; and Ron Powell, percussionist for Sergio Mendez & Kenney G. just to name a few. Since 1988 he has studied with many Masters of Samba percussion, whom are known in Brasil as Mestre de Bateria (Maestro of the percussion band). He has studied at some of the top Samba Schools (carnaval groups) in Brasil with Mestres like Mestre Marcoa of Salgueiro, Mestre Jonus of Mocidade and Mestre Ailton of Mangueira just a few of the ones a long list of the very best. He has studied exclusively with master Brasilian folkloric and percussionist, Jorge Alabe from Rio de Janeiro in self supported residency endeavor for over 15 years. In the past five years, he has also studied with master percussionist Marcio Peters from the world famous Bloco Ile Aye in Salvador Bahia. In 2004, Curtis paraded with the percussion group for Salgueiro in Rio de Janeiro carnaval,the biggest carnaval performance in the world. In 2009, he gave a workshop to members of ILE AYE on Samba from Rio de Janeiro. In addition to all this, Curtis Pierre is a teacher of the Afro Brasilian martial arts Capoeira Angola for over 20 years. He was taught by his master teacher of Capoeira Angola, Cobrinha Mansa of Salvador Bahia. Since 1998,Curtis Pierre”The Samba Man” has conducted his interactive Brasilian drumming programs at workshops, schools, museums, performing arts centers,libraries, conventions, festivals, and team-building events from California, Oregon, Washington & Washing D.C., New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and internationally in Brasil, Mexico, Japan and Korea. COMMUNITY PROJECTS– “Roots of Music” Currently work with a New Orleans city wide after school band teaching Samba Samba Kids at the New Orleans Recreation Department Commission N.O.R.D.C. for the past tw years. Works with Stage to Stage now at the N.O.R.D.C. Ty Tracy Theatre building with Director and Founder Julie Condy, Theatre Musicals for children for the past 15 years to present Young Audience Program, Board Consultant New Orleans, LA Curtis Pierre:The Samba Man 1988-Present Performances and workshops in New Orleans public school system & Southern Region; reaching over 1,000,000 children in 18 plus years. {Life-Time Achievement } Master Artist; Almost 40 years of relentless studying and training of Brazilian culture, He is recognized as the first American to reach the Master level in both Capoeira an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art Form and Brazilian Percussion RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS : 10-19-2019 The Merging of Brasilian Carnival music and New Orleans Carnaval music, while at the same time keeping it real. It was a night to remember with Brasilian Icon superstar Singer of Samba Neguinho Da Beija Flor Champion Samba School of Carnaval 2018 here in New Orleans. The first major U.S. Tour. Performing with Casa Samba for their first Fundraiser started this 2018. A Casa Samba version of Tricentennial 300 By Curtis Pierre and the “GANG” (Grown Adults Naturally Giving) California Brazil Camp 17 years Employed teaching samba at CBC. Over the past years at the California Brasil Camp, Mestre Curtis Pierre has instructed most of all of the upcoming Samba players in the United States. Using the technique of combining the different drum arrangements from Brazil’s samba schools putting several Drum arrangements from different Samba schools it together to create a program call Bateria Show first of its kind at the CBC. Something that was never really heard of. Drum arrangements of the Samba school are So difficult to learn If you’re a living in Brasil. Before there were no Internet videos to watch in the 70s – 90s it was a Now it is very easy for people to go to Brazil and visit the samba schools Mestre Curtis has been doing this Since 1988 bringing back various rhythms instruments, costumes, dances all types of Afro-Brasil cultures back to New Orleans • Workshop for Ile Aye – Instructed a Workshop on Samba from Rio de Janeiro to one the most famous Blocos (Samba School from Bahia Ile Aiye)2009 • Three months in Brasil culminating with earning a spot in the Bateria of Escola de Samba Salgueiro 2004 for his passionate work ethic, knowledge of Samba and its traditional instruments and recognition of his dedication to Brasilian culture. • Starting the first Samba Summer Camp in New Orleans based entirely around Brasilian culture, CASA SAMBA Brasil CAMP 2005. • Best Camp Summer Director of the Year 2005; Awarded by Charlene Braud, Director, New Orleans Recreation Department 60 years of Study at HKU (Hard Knocks University) United States Navy Honorable Discharge June 1977 Hahnville High School, Hahnville, LA, Class of 1975