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PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 18, 2016 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM Celt beatboxer has freestyle fl ow and a growing legion of fans By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Tyrell Kennedy can make a beat you feel in your chest using only his mouth. The McNary High School senior and beatboxer is a regu- lar standout in area talent shows with a regular gig mimicking the drum beats using his mouth, lips, tongue and voice every Sunday at Salem’s Barrel and Keg. But his journey from promising novice to budding star began at Houck Middle School. “The summer after fi fth grade, my brother was really pumped up to show me this stuff a guy named Rahzel was putting out. He was making this Mortal Kombat beat and launched into Iron Man (by Black Sabbath),” said Kennedy. The performances inspired him to give it a shot and he spent the next nine months lis- tening to mp3s, doing his best to mimic the sounds and then add in his own takes. Then he heard about a talent show being held the last day of his sixth grade year at Houck. “I was all pumped up and I had my beats perfect, and then they told me there was audi- tions. After I heard that, I was freaking out because I had only ever performed for my family,” Kennedy said. He made it through with ease, and he spent three hours watching videos and trying to fi gure out how to hone his act the night before he was sched- uled to take the stage. On his way out the door the next morning, he grabbed a large jug of water. The sounds he makes can take a toll on his vocal cords, and water provides lubrication. “You have to have water that you drink before the show and during the show because you’re sucking up a lot of air and dub- step actually hurts your throat because it’s almost like holding a long growl,” Kennedy said. Throughout his day at school, KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald McNary High School senior Tyrell Kennedy drops a dubstep beat on an enthusiastic crowd at the McNary Talent Show in February. people kept asking him what the water was for and, when he told them it was for beatboxing, few of his schoolmates believed him. “They would tell me to per- form and I wouldn’t. Instead, I was practicing in the bathrooms all day long. Any free chance to practice, I took it,” Kennedy said. As his debut neared, Kenne- dy had a realization: he’d never actually been to an all-school assembly. He had no idea what one looked like or the number of people on-hand. When he took a peek inside the gym, his hands started shaking. It wasn’t until he saw the re- sponse students were having to McNary class of ‘66: It’s reunion time the other acts that he began to worry. “I thought, ‘What if that doesn’t happen for me?’” Ken- nedy said. When it was fi nally his turn, Kennedy was handed the mic and had another epiphany: he’d never performed with a mic. Af- ter some false starts, he pulled it up close to his lips. “While I was doing it I put my fi nger on the side of my nose. Now I realize everyone thinks I’m picking my nose when I do this,” Kennedy said. He was more than nervous, he was putting himself on the line in front of his entire school, and all the girls he had crushes The 50th year reunion of McNary High School’s fi rst graduating class has been set for July 15 to 17. The class num- bered about 250 and were comprised of students who moved from North Salem High School and Keizer students. on, in particular. His legs started shaking, but he closed his eyes and launched into his fi rst beat. “As soon as I started, every- one was cheering me on and wilding up and, when I stopped, I opened my eyes and everyone was still cheering. I’m blush- ing, there’s girls screaming and I walk over to my spot and I get high fi ves and that’s when I got over being scared. I was like, ‘This is it. This is the start of me,’” Kennedy said. After the talent show was over, kids were passing around yearbooks and Kennedy didn’t have one to pass around for sig- natures. As he was quickly learn- ing, he was good at improvisa- The deadline for registering for the re- union of McNary’s fi rst graduating class is June 1. Visit www.mcnaryhs66.com for a full list of events for the three-day sched- ule and registration information. tion. He pulled out a notebook contingent of the Celtic Val-o- and started having friends sign it. gram ensemble that he ended When the day was over, he had up in an impromptu battle with numerous notes encouraging his cross-town rival, Charlie him to keep going. “Robotic” Torres. Since that fi rst performance, Kennedy visited the same Kennedy has gone on to stand room where Torres was in class out in the local beatboxing and the two battled on the spot. scene with wins in talent shows, “He does his beat and I do music competitions and on-the- mine and suddenly everyone is spot battling with other beat- freaking out. They wanted me boxers. to come to their school so they After sixth grade, he and his could see battles all the time,” family moved to Keizer and he Kennedy said. transferred to Claggett Creek Kennedy ended up winning Middle School where he as- on Torres’ home turf. sumed he would know no one. His most memorable battle As it turned out, a few of his thus far was with a local named friends had also made the switch Greg Williams. Williams was unbeknownst to him. serving as a security guard at “That’s when I started meet- McNary and was showing off ing new people because my his skills to students when he friends were telling everybody challenged Kennedy to a duel. else I could beatbox. I was Kennedy lost that fi rst round, friends with the AVID kids and but the two ended up perform- they had connections to the ing together last December at teachers and I Barrel and Keg. started perform- “I did my ing for them, “I was like, thing, closed my too,” Kennedy eyes and I did ‘This is it. This the beats he did said. It was only a then reversed matter of time is the start of them. I was before he was me.’” making some performing at of the craziest school dances, — Tyrell Kennedy noises I’d ever talent shows, made,” Ken- assemblies and nedy said. “He more. was amazed at how much I’d “I was like, ‘I’m going to love learned.” this school.’ I had a lot more Kennedy has hopes of work- chances to get out there than I ing in music production at some would have at Houck,” Kennedy point after high school with said. hopes of going to community Since making the leap to college then transferring to a McNary, he’s performed with four-year school. He’s even en- the school’s a capella group, tertaining the idea of becoming Danger Tones, gone back to lo- a teacher. cal elementary schools to per- One of the things he enjoys form for other students and has most about beatboxing is shar- plans to work with a local jazz ing it with audiences and trad- group and tap dancing studio. ing tips with other beatboxers. “It’s crazy when little kids Even he and Torres share feed- are looking at me out in the back on each other’s work. community or parents even He still closes his eyes when recognize me from perform- he performs, but he’s always lis- ing at the schools or in coffee tening for the crowd and their shops. It kind of freaks me out, I response. don’t know them, but I’m really “Once I start, everyone is go- thankful. It gets me pumped up ing crazy and it gets better and that people around Keizer and better, and that’s why I love it to Salem know who I am,” Ken- this day,” Kennedy said. nedy said. For videos of Kennedy perform- It was while traveling to ing, check out the Keizertimes on McKay High School with a Facebook) Owned By Our Members Your locally owned and family operated collision repair business since 1958 3353 Silverton Road NE in Salem ◆ 503-363-1990 “I was in a collision recently. It was a painful and traumatic experience. Th e staff at Jackson’s were very helpful! Th ey treated me with compassion and were professional. I was thrilled with the appearance of my car aft er they completed the repairs!” — Marlene B. Committed to the Communities we serve See BEFORE & AFTER photos at jacksonsautobody.com Hand Us Your Keys, and You’ll be Pleased! WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 452 Cummings Lane North 393-0404 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Celebration Services Saturday Evening 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 9:15 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org Jason Lee UMC 820 Jeff erson St. NE Salem OR 97301 9:00 am Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor The church with the purple doors 10:45 am Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available 6:00 pm Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. Sunday Morning and 503-364-2844 Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Rd N • 393-4507 Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Children’s Church 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities Pastor Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion
