About Baba Don
For almost a quarter century, Baba Don Eaton Babatunde, a percussionist very much in demand, has performed with many Major American Dance Companies in the world’s greatest performing-arts venues. His recording career is as equally varied as it vast; the jazz idiom, rhythm and blues, and most African derived percussion styles are represented in his discography. He is a featured member of the esteemed last poets. He has long been acknowledged as one of New York City’s master teachers of African Drumming and the rhythms of the Diaspora in the Americas. Baba Don Eaton Babatunde is presently on faculty at the Harlem school Of the Arts for over 25 years, teaching all ages from 4 years of age to adults.
He has performed and recorded with The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Maurice Hines, Gregory Hines, Andy Williams, and Chuck Davis Dance theatre, Pattie Labelle, Philycia Rashad, Choreographers Frank Hatchet, Geoffrey Holder, Louis Johnson and many more. Baba Don Eaton Babatunde has recorded with many Jazz artist Donald Brown, Joe Henderson, Jason Linder, Tyrone Jefferson, Tevin Thomas, James Spaulding, Ron Carter, Gorge Clinton, Pharaoh Sanders, and The Last Poets
Baba Don Eaton Babatunde has theatrical credits with The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Macbeth, Caligula, and Dream on Monkey Mountain as percussionist for each Production and with HBO’s Hoop Life sound track. Baba Don Babatunde has performed with Maurice Hines’s "UPTown It’s Hot," as a Featured Percussionist. Baba Don Eaton Babatunde has performed with the Metropolitan Orchestra at the Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The State Theater , Avery Fisher’s Hall , City Center, The Apollo Theatre and The House Of Blues and is also features on Sesame Street segment called Drumming School and with Julie Andrew’s Green Room on HBO to name a a few .
Baba Don Babatunde has received proclamations from the City of New Orleans, The City of New York Public Advocate’s Office as well a plaque of recognition from the Mid Manhattan branch of the NAACP for his contribution to the Arts.
Baba Don Babatunde Has also Conducted Workshops through out the Metropolitan, Tri State Area, with many institutions such as The Harlem School of The Arts, John Jay College, Arts Connections, Harlem Late Night Jazz, African Horizon, Pyramid Dance Company, Arts Horizon, Yaffa Productions, North Hampden High School and Jack and Jill Arts Center to name a few.
Performance Credits
The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Maurice Hines, Gregory Hines, Andy Williams, Valerie Capers,NorthCarolina State Choir, Harlem Spiritual Ensemble under Francios Clemmons, Chuck Davis Dance theatre, Pattie La belle, Phylicia Rashard, and Presently with The Last Poets Choreographers Frank Hatchet, Geoffrey Holder, Louis Johnson, Dano Mano Geoffrey Holder and many more.
Recording Credits
Jazz artist Donald Brown, Joe Henderson, Jason Linder, Tyrone Jefferson, James Spaulding, Ron Carter, Gorge Clinton,
Bill Laswell. Pharaoh Sanders,Gorge Clinton, Electra Kurtis, The Last Poets
HBO’S Hoop life sound track,the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Dougla, Alvin Ailey’s Revelation Second Recording and the Last Poets
Mac Gollenhan’s Hispanic Mechanic with Tomaso Dockerx
Theater Credits
The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Macbeth, Caligula, and Dream on Monkey Mountain Alfred Prisser Director "As an featured percussionists
Maurice Hines’s "UPTown It’s Hot," as an featured Percussionist.
Unheard voice Judy Tate Producer " As an featured Percussionist
Malcolm X, Spike Lee "as an actor
DNA MIA. HSA as an Actors
Performance Venues
Metropolitan Opera House,with DanceTheater of Harlem (DTH)
Washington”s DC Kennedy Center. (DTH)
Carnegie Hall,(longar Orchestra)
The New York State Theater , (DTH)
The Metropolitan Opera house
Avery Fisher’s Hall , (DTH,Ebony Longar Orchestra)
City Center, (DTH)
The Apollo Theatre (The Last Poets)
The House Of Blues (The Last Poets)
The National Black Theater
Kennedy Center for the performing Arts (DC )
Television Credits
2010 Julie Andrews Green Room HBO Episode 10
2005 Sesame Street episode Drumming School
1990 hop life HBO
Civic Credits
1999 Proclamations from the City of New Orleans from Mayor Marc H Morial
1998 Proclamation fromThe City of New York Public Advocate’s Office Mark Green
2003 The Mid Manhattan branch of the NAACP for his contribution to the Arts President Billie Holliday Hayes
2012 Proclamation from The City of Boston City Council, Members Charles C Yancey ,Felix Arroyo, and Tito Jackson
Workshop Credits
1980 to present
Conducted Workshops throughout the Metropolitan, Tri State Area, with many institutions such as The Harlem School of The Arts, John Jay College, Arts Connections, African Horizon, Pyramid Dance Company, Arts Horizon, Yaffa Productions, North Hampden High School , Jack and Jill Arts The children Aid Society Dunlevey Milbank Center to name a few.
Arts connection
Education & Training
Cuny City College
Jazz Mobile
EbonyLogar Ensemble and Orchestra Principle african percussionist
Chuck Davis International Dance and Drum Ensemble
Dance Theater of Harlem’s Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble Prinicipal
Private instructors Tania Leon, Melton Rosenstalk Bob Bast
Chief hawthorn Bey, Freddy Waits, Warren Smith, Richard Landrum, Louie Bauzo, and Orlando Puntilla Rios