Photo by Victor Jouvert

Performed on the cane fife accompanied by bass and snare drums, the pre-blues African American fife and drum band is one of the most fascinating American musical traditions. It has its roots in colonial America and both the military and social history of our nation When NEA National Heritage Fellow Othar Turner, the oldest living fife and drum practitioner, died in 2003 at age 95, many believed that this tradition would vanish But today his legacy lives on with Othar’s 18-year-old granddaughter Sharde, who learned his songs, his fife–making craft and now leads his band Sharde Thomas and The Rising Star Fife and Drum infuse a centuries-old tradition with a new energy and youthful spirit.

With Othar’s passing, the tradition seemed about to disappear Fortunately, his granddaughter took an interest in Othar’s beloved fife and drum music As a young child, Sharde watched her grandfather play and would often steal his fifes and practice. Although Othar showed Sharde a few tricks, she mostly learned by watching and doing.

Taking up the mantle of her grandfather to assume leadership of Rising Star, Sharde’s youth, energy and ability have given the venerable tradition a new lease on life Sharde and company’s approach to the music is updated, with a youthful swagger not unlike that of a Memphis rapper.

 At home in northern Mississippi, Rising Star carries on playing at Othar’s annual Labor Day goat barbeque and other local events The group has also started performing outside Mississippi at regional blues festivals, and recently made its first appearance in New York City.