R.L. Jackson was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned to plat the drum set at age 10. In 1990, he relocated to New York City, where he began to study the rhythms, dances, and instruments involved in the Afro-Brazilian, West African, South African, Angolan, Korean, and Japanese cultures.
He is currently music director for Batoto Yetu Children's African Dance Company. He is also collaborating with several dance companies, including "Fosse" choreographer Chet Walker's Eight And Ah 1 Dance Ensemble, Omar Edwards' (best known for his work in Broadway's "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk") Jeremiah Funk Ensemble, David Pleasnat's Riddim Athon Percussion Ensemble (which deals with Black American music and the Gullah Culture), and Young Soon Kim's White Wave Rising Dance Company.
Roderick is percussionist on staff at the Alvin Ailey School of American Dance and Broadway Dance Center. He has recorded works for The Children's Television Workshop, Sesame Street, Rabbit Ears Productions and The Smithsonian Institute. He also assisted film director Jonathan Demme in developing scene music for the motion picture "Beloved", starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. Roderick was the understudy for the lead percussionist role of "Chaka", in the Broadway musical Marie Christine, starring Audra McDonald. He was also part of the cultural traditions faculty at Jacob�s Pillow for the year 2000.
Roderick also is a founding member of Palms Down which has 2 CDs for dance:
The CD is $20.00
and
From Birth
to the Earth for modern dance (Some Horton
Technique).
The CD is $20.00
The CD is $20.00
Roderick is also co-writer on the CD,
