WACO, Texas — If you've traveled through Waco in recent years, chances are you may have seen, or heard, Richard Thompson IV, better known as 'The Waco Drummer'.
"Bringing art and music together is something I'm passionate about," Thompson said.
Thompson has been playing drums since he was five years old. He moved to Waco nearly 15 years ago and has called it home ever since alongside his wife, whom he has been with for around 10 years.
"I met my wife on MySpace of all places, became best friends, made the move here, been here ever since," Thompson said. "I worked almost every job you can think of."
Thompson has also worked at schools across Waco as well, which is how he began street drumming.
"I was at Carver Middle School. I was a behavior specialist, and so they asked me to do a talent show. And when I did that talent show, the kids were screaming and hollering and I love it because I got to see the energy and their enthusiasm," Thompson said.
From there, Thompson began playing outside of a Fuzzy's Taco Shop in Waco and now travels the city playing the drums in various spots giving free concerts.
"He's passionate about what he does, about helping people and drumming and life," said Francisco Montelongo, Thompson's friend of over 10 years. Montelongo said drumming and doing music is Thompson's happy place.
Thompson said he loves showing off the artwork of the city and is passionate about mixing artwork with his music, adding that he wants to show off the City of Waco.
"It's not just Baylor or Magnolia, but it's so much within the community," Thompson said. "We've got murals everywhere, and so just trying to find every mural I can."
In the four years Thompson has been drumming across the city, only once did he skip a beat, after he was involved in a car crash.
"Feb. 9. It was I want to say maybe eight, nine o'clock," said Thompson. "We were involved in that crash when the truck was going 60+, man, and I didn't expect it. We didn't. I mean, he ran the red light."
"It took a toll on him," said Montelongo. "This is how I met him, playing drums and playing music."
Despite the situation, Thompson's passion for drumming never left.
"That, for me, was a pivotal point of 'what are you going to do,'" Thompson said about the crash. But of course, he decided he was going to drum again. "That was my prayer. That was my belief is like, 'No, I don't have this gift just to have it.'"
Thompson says his goal was and always is to inspire.
"The reason I live is, again, to motivate, inspire and empower," Thompson said. "Try to leave a smile on people's faces, man. So if I can do that, I'm doing my job."
To follow along the Waco Drummer's journeys, follow him on Instagram by clicking on this link.
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