Eddie Tuduri


Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Challenge: Spinal Injury

Website: www.trap-learning.org

From Playing his first paid gig at age 12 in 1959, Eddie Tuduri has lived every aspect of a drummer's life. His professional drumming career has spanned over 40 years working with artists such as Delaney Bramlett, Bobby Whitlock, The Beach Boys, Dobie Gray, Del Shannon, Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band, Dr. John, Ike Turner and many others.

Eddie says "On September 6th 1997, I was catching the last wave at the beach here in Carpinteria before getting ready for my gig that night in a pizza joint on the Mesa in Santa Barbara.

As I swam into the crest of the wave it grabbed and slammed me into the ocean bottom.

No hesitation, no continuity, just wham, bam, crack! Now, three feet under water, my body floating into what seemed a time without end.

As many times as I’ve tried to articulate it, words always seem to pale the experience. I felt myself drifting towards an indescribable calm.

If you've ever had a beloved pet or have one now, then you know what its like to experience the love in their eyes as they look into yours. I had a dog for many years, his name was Bach and we were as close as two living, breathing entities could possibly be.

When Bach looked at me I could feel the unconditional love, trust, and acceptance he felt for me, there was nothing like it. If I could describe this place I was drifting towards, I guess I could say; it was like falling into Bach’s eyes. And then, at the risk of sounding as if I’d completely taken leave of my senses, in this spiritual abyss through a wave of infinite space, I could see someone who was apparently holding on to what looked like a tornado, really, I know it’s the epitome of out but.... though spinning fiercely, he seemed to be hanging on effortlessly with one hand and beckoning me with the other. Lets go, follow me, its time to go. Some years ago, a dear friend of mine passed away and though I couldn’t be sure, it felt like this very same friend, this amazing energy was there to guide me on this enticing path towards a kinder, infinite world.

As I moved willingly in this way spiritually, I could see my body floating in the opposite direction. Yet not completely detached, I knew I would have to drown to let go completely. There was no doubt I wanted to continue on this journey and so I opened my mouth to let the water in. I knew that this act of drowning would liberate me spirit from body. When I opened my mouth to let this happen, I felt a strong hand placed firmly in my back as I was lifted up and out of the water. Instead of the water rushing in, I took a deep breath of air. I saw the beautiful Carpinteria sky and in the blink of an eye, I was back. I was clearly disappointed, the first words I uttered were, "Oh Shit". I was placed gently on the shore, but I was totally paralyzed.

For lack of any other descriptive adjective, a flock of angels disguised as lifeguards, and paramedics gathered me up, body, mind, and spirit, including my splintered neck, and rushed me off to the hospital.

Though divine hands clearly played a significant roll in this rescue, these precious souls served as incomparable partners".

After a 6 hour spinal operation and a week in ICU, Eddie was moved to The Rehabilitation Institute in Santa Barbara where both physical and spiritual healing occurred.

Eddie says "The rehab was indeed a safe haven, a place to heal and re-think my life. The first little while I was simply observing this new world I found myself in".

During his rehab, he asked a friend to bring a pair of drum sticks and a couple of percussion toys. He then began to work on his groove by tapping a stick against his bed frame. Other patients in the ward joined in on the rhythm and the happiness it created.

By experiencing these simple moments of joy through music with people outside of his career of playing drums as a living, Eddie began to understand music at an entirely new level. The basic rhythms of percussion and clapping were making trama patients feel alive and hopeful.

When Eddie's mobility improved, they formalized the music making into a drum circle involving occupational therapists. The drumming was used as a tool to address rehab goals and focused on regenerating nerves, attention span and memory in patients.

During this time, Eddie was asked to present his ideas at conferences all across the USA. While at a conference, Eddie was introduced to developmental disabilities and learned how drums and percussion were used with developmentally challenged kids to result in a true learning experience over time.

Since his accident, Eddie Tuduri has become the founder and CEO of TRAP - The Rhythmic Arts Project which is an educational program which utilises Djembie drums and hand percussion instruments.

TRAP was created to help enhance the lives of people with a disability. TRAP facilitators teach participants to read, spell, count and use life skills such as telling the time on a clock, by counting out beats or sounding out words on a drum. It has been a huge success at disability centres in the United States, Canada, South America and more recently Australia.


Eddie Tuduri - The Rhythmic Arts Project