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Kevin Reed Story - Designer of the Trash Kat™The Trash Kat is an instrument that almost did not exist. Kevin Reed's dreams were crushed by a tree felled by a co-worker during spring break in 1994. Sustaining a catastrophic, traumatic brain injury and numerous spinal fractures, he was lifeflighted to a level-one trauma center. World-renowned neurosurgeon, Robert J. White, MD, Ph.D. abruptly terminated surgery to announce to the family that they would be spending their last night with Kevin. Kevin's injuries were far too critical. True to form, Kevin challenged authority…and another eight hours of brain surgery was continued a few days later. Dr White had to remove one-and-one-half pounds of Kevin's three pound brain, and the prognosis was dismal. A 75-day coma ensued, and it was probable that he would remain in a persistent vegetative state. His coma was punctuated with many life-threatening medical complications. Kevin shocked everyone the day he finally awakened. But, he could not talk, was totally paralyzed on the right side, was partially blind and deaf, could not read or write, could not swallow or breath or think properly, and did not even remember what his name was.
Now, after more than 2500 therapy sessions, he has relearned to talk, read and walk again. Drumming, however, was never lost, since it was ingrained from the time of his first paid gig at the age of 13. He and his brother, Craig, formed many bands over the years. Music, in fact, forged the mettle of Kevin's incredible recovery. Kevin tapped rhythms on his body brace long before he relearned to talk. As part of his physical rehabilitation, seven years after the accident, Kevin, with the help of Professor Tom Fries, wrote Odyssey, a percussion ensemble rock suite premiered by the talented students of the College of Wooster. It is a musical expression of brain injury, coma, rehabilitation and celebration of life. Craig composed the piano score with such emotional honesty as only a brother could. Tom Fries directed Odyssey, and the Kevin Reed Band joined in the celebration of life. The Odyssey was professionally recorded by Paul Hamann at Suma Recording Studio, and was released in 2002 to quite a bit of publicity in NE Ohio. The Trash Kat™ was used in it's recording.
Kevin has a solid foundation in his percussion education, having studied at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and has completed percussion theory coursework and teaching technique at Wooster College during his physical rehabilitation. Kevin also is a longstanding member of the Percussive Arts Society and belongs to Cleveland Local 4 of the American Federation of Musicians. Kevin also engineers unique drum kit setups, repairs percussive instruments and has designed the Trash Kat™ (patent pending), that he plays on gigs. Kevin and his mother, Jane Garson Reed are today, 13 years after the accident, manufacturing and selling the Trash Kat™ through their company, ThunderEcho Drum Company. He freelances as auxiliary percussionist in Christian rock projects, and occasionally teaches drumming at his home. Kevin owns a 1968 Dodge Polara convertible and is also starting to restore a 1968 Dodge Monaco 500. But first he had to design and build a diagnostic running engine stand to test vintage Mopar engines. It took him two years to complete the stand, but he did! Click here to see his latest mechanical feat. All of this was accomplished in spite of the residual effects of his injuries. Kevin's vision, speech, hearing, cognition, coordination and balance remain impaired. His sense of humor however, was left intact! Kevin is still severely disabled, but not when he is behind a drum kit, designing and building percussion instruments or tinkering in his garage. Contact him at kevin@thunderechodrums.com
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Company, 2351 Pearl Rd, Unit 102,
Medina, Ohio 44256 |