Drumton Ward

Drumton Ward is a professional Drummer & trombone player whose playing style, oozes a rich vitality. A seasoned musician, with years of experience, he adds production to his wealth of talent. His story begins in his birthplace of Cardiff, Wales.

Real name, Anthony Ward, his mother was of mixed heritage, Jamaican & Welsh. His father was also from the Caribbean, St Kitts, and was a professional trumpet player. As a youngster, he relished listening to his dad’s musical talent, and when his father saw his eagerness, he began teaching his son how to play.

As a young Caribbean British boy growing up in Wales, he faced many a hard time. Black people were a minority in the region, and Anthony encountered many struggles. While in school, he was plagued with racism and found it difficult to focus in the classroom. On top of that, Anthony lost his mother at a young age, it was an extremely traumatic time.

Finding his way into a local Youth Club, which had instruments, the drum kit became a tool for him to thrash out the challenges of life. At the age of seventeen, whilst walking past a community centre, he spotted musicians transporting their instruments inside. He asked if he could watch them rehearse, and they agreed. When the guys took a break, he probed if he could pick up sticks and play the drum. The band were impressed with what they heard.

Anthony formed a band with some Rasta friends in 1981, and they played gigs around Cardiff. He stayed with the band, for around three years, and shortly after, transferred himself down to London, where he began working in a record store in Tulse Hill. One morning, a man walked into the store, and mentioned his car had broken down. He needed assistance, and asked Anthony if he could help him push his car. Once the task was done, he handed Anthony his card, explaining, “Pop in, if you’re ever in the area.” At the time, he wasn’t aware of who he was, but later found out the man was “Mad Professor,” Dub producer & engineer.

Sometime after, Anthony connected with Mad Professor over at his studio. Venturing around the building, he spotted a drum kit and automatically jumped on it. Impressed with his talent, the producer offered him the chance to work on his album, titled “Dub mi Crazy Part 4.” Together, they began recording the same day. Mad Professor coined Anthony the name, “DRUMTON.” Later when the album was finished, he presented Drumton with a gift, a car, and over time, linked him with various musicians across London.

In 1986, Drumton returned back to Cardiff and joined a band called Black Roots, and toured with them in the UK & Europe.

Between 1990 & 1996, the trials & tribulations of life were tough, and Drumton took a back seat for a while. When he jumped back into music, he went to London and made a recording with a band called, “Urban Roots.”

His style as a drummer, is strong and captivating, his rhythmical gift has led Drumton to performing at stacks of events, and touring with a string of bands. He has also performed with some of Jamaica’s major reggae artists such as Dennis Brown, Freddy McGregor, Gregory Issacs, Frankie Paul, Bob Andy, Horace Andy, Lee Scratch Perry, Culture, U-Roy, Big Yout, I-Roy, Justin Hinds and Eric Donaldson.

Shortly before his father’s passing, his dad was listening to him play the trumpet, he uttered the words “Your gonna play.” Around 2015, he was eager to play the instrument. One day whilst out with a friend, he spotted a Trombone, picked it up and played. The sound was one he had been tackling on the trumpet for two years. At that exact moment, his friend uttered, “This is the one” and the following day, Drumton sold his trumpet, bought a Trombone, and never looked back.
In 2021 he released a composition dedicated to his father, the song “Dada” was recorded at the “Wales Millennium Centre.”

He then formed a band, by the name of “Callaloo.” Performing covers, the group have been working on their own collection. With a diverse range of musicians, they performed and recorded a live-streaming gig at the WMC, and were supported by the Welsh Arts Council. The amazingly talented musician is also working on his own material.

DRUMTON WARD is an exuberant Musician, producer, and arranger who brings music to life. A longstanding professional musician, he is an outstanding Caribbean/British global music storyteller.
Havana White