Willard Dyson, drummer, born in 1962, has played percussion since the 5th grade. In his teens, he received a scholarship to participate in the Young Musicians Program at the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Willard earned a bachelor degree in percussion performance from California State Hayward University and a master degree in jazz and commercial music from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He works regularly with a diverse group of musicians including Regina Belle, Grady Tate, Jimmy Scott, The New York Voices, Dakota Staton and Cassandra Wilson. He plays New York clubs as well as various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Mr. Dyson has appeared on the Tonight Show, Soul Train, The Arsenio Hall Show, Good Morning America and BET along with performances at the New Zealand, JVC, Playboy and Essence Music festivals.