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Sexy 2:560:00/2:56
Curtis “Kirky” Rice Jr., GoGo Percussionist and CEO of Married 2 Da Game Entertainment, one of the top entertainment companies in GoGo in the DMV area, was born and raised in Southeast, Washington, DC in April 1979. His interest in music started at Randle Highlands Elementary School, where he joined the marching band, and his failed attempt at learning the trumpet quickly turned into a passion for the snare drum.
In the Hine Junior High School Marching Band was where it all set in for Curtis, under the guidance of Mr. Edward Anderson. Curtis began on the tenor drum, moved on to playing the Quads, then eventually became the Drum Major, leading the school marching band. At Hine is where he received his first taste of the “GoGo beat”. Surrounded by fellow peers in the Side Show band and the OP Tribe band, he became intrigued with wanting to be a part of a GoGo band, and in the 90’s, GoGo was the music trend of the DMV area.
Curtis, aka “Kirky”, became a member of his neighborhood GoGo band, Young Trouble, inspired by a family member of Tony Fisher, a lead talker of the legendary Trouble Funk band. Young Trouble performed at neighborhood functions, local recreation centers, and a few night clubs, and had a sound that became a major introduction to Kirky’s breakthrough into GoGo. His marching band experience curved his young teen percussionist’s sound, as he later began to study the sounds of major GoGo artists, including Winko of Junkyard Band, Dig Dug of Northeast Groovers, Bo Jack of Rare Essence, and Sauce of Backyard Band.
Young Trouble ended in the late 90’s, and after that time, Kirky played in various bands, including Pure Elegance Band, Hot Profit Band, and later Elevation Band, where he gained most of his recognition in GoGo. He later received a call from DaMixx Band, where he was introduced into the “big scene” of GoGo, and shared the stage alongside great GoGo artists 32, Stomp, and Smoke, D Lee, Keyboard Chris, and a host of other great talents.
After years of performing with DaMixx Band, Kirky received a call from the legendary Donnell Floyd, Jr. for an opportunity to fill in for Bo Jack of Familiar Faces, the hottest grown-and-sexy band in the city at that time. This experience eventually led to opportunities to perform with Rare Essence, Suttle Thoughts, and various other bands, and then later to become a member of the All-Star band called The ATEAM, also known as ATEAM Producer’s Group, which is the official back line band for GoGo All-Star performances and several national artists.
Kirky’s GoGo career continued to grow, and as he continued to fill in for various other bands in the DMV area, this soon led to him performing on stage at one of the biggest GoGo shows ever, “D. Floyd – The Final Show”, which was held at The Anthem in DC and included legendary artists Stevie Wonder, Doug E. Fresh, Ledisi, Raheem DeVaughn, Kenny Sway, Tao formally of Dru Hill, and a host of other GoGo all-stars and bands.
Curtis “Kirky” Rice Jr. has also performed alongside other amazing artists including, Sheila E., CeeLo Green, Carl Thomas, Keke Wyatt, Lil’ Mo, 8Ball, and Yukmouth, and with other GoGo bands, including EU (Experience Unlimited), Northeast Groovers, Elevation Band, R&S Project, Pure Elegance Band, Hot Profit Band, and CCB (Critical Condition Band), and a host of GoGo All-Stars and DMV performers on the rise. He also managed the Deep Impact Band, multi-winner of “Battle of the Beats” on 95.5 and a winner of the bounce beat “Battle of the Bands”.
Kirky now performs with Still Familiar, the band formally known as Familiar Faces, alongside the great Steve Roy, Jammin Jeff, GoGo Mickey, Kinjee, Michael Arnold, Sean Geason, and Tao formally of Dru Hill.