Artist: Ulysses Owens Jr.

Ulysses Owens Jr. is an American drummer and percussionist.

Owens was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He began playing the drums at the age of 3, and by the time he was in his early teens, he realized that he would become a jazz musician. He received a full scholarship to study at the Juilliard School, in its inaugural jazz program.

He was the drummer on vocalist Kurt Elling's Grammy-winning album Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, and on bassist Christian McBride's Grammy-winning The Good Feeling both of which won Grammy Awards. He has also played with pianist Joey Alexander. He has also recorded with Gregory Porter.

Owens is also the co-founder and artistic director of the charity, Don’t Miss A Beat. DMAB’s mission is “…to blend music, art, academic achievement, and civic engagement to inspire and enlighten children and teens in the Riverside and Brooklyn communities.”

After graduating from Juilliard in 2006, Owens traveled the world as a jazz drummer. "I saw so many arts programs for kids, especially in other cultures, and I thought we really need something like this back home." After hearing about Jacksonville's high dropout rate and other problems with struggling youths, Owens and his family designed a program to help suspended youths stay in school.

Owens performs and records regularly with his band Generation Y. See them jazzify Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box here.

Find Owens’ books and streaming music here.