Known as "The Professor," longtime New London percussionist Dwight Baldwin supplied an infectious and bubbling groove to just about any musical style. But those who knew him, played with him in bands or learned from him as students would suggest The Professor was most fluent in the rhythm of life itself.

Baldwin, a Pittsburgh native, grew up in New London and graduated from New London High School in 1971. He died after a lingering illness Dec. 3 in Riverdale, Georgia, where he'd lived for the past few years. He was 69. A celebration of life was held in Riverdale on Dec. 11.

Baldwin spent much of his life in New London and studied mechanical engineering at Thames Valley, but music was his primary focus. He traveled internationally as a professional percussionist and musical instructor mentoring inner city youth. In addition, he anchored the popular longtime New London funk band Shades of Joy, which formed in 1976 and was active, on and off, until recently.

"Dwight had so much talent and charisma," said Tommy McKissick, a friend who played for years with Shades of Joy. "He was so good at sharing the power, history and influence of the drum from Africa through slavery and on to present day. He loved playing in bands, but his thing was teaching percussion to children. He could definitely show you how to play, and so many of the kids he taught went on to play in band. But Dwight was especially good at teaching you how to connect the music and rhythm to the spirit."

In an article about Baldwin written by this journalist for The Day in 1998, the percussionist described his philosophy of "the power of the drum in the community" — a worldview that went beyond craft and ancestry all the way to the wellspring of existence. It was resonant in everything Baldwin did, from his earliest experiences in music dating back to the formation of Shades of Joy.

"One of the first things we ever did was win a Battle of the Bands at Veteran's Field," said Andre Danforth, co-founding vocalist of Shades of Joy who is still active on the local scene with the popular band Andre, Eddie and Friends. "We thought we were going to be the next Rolling Stones. It didn't happen, but we did pretty well."

Not long after Shades of Joy formed and established a reputation around New London, it scored a few gigs in Montreal — and ended up staying two years. The band did some recordings for RCA, and a single called "The Stroke" was released in Canada, but ultimately an album contract never materialized. Though the band returned to New London and stayed together full time for a few more years, members began to drift off.

Baldwin, whose Afro-Caribbean and Latin stylings were superb, scored a lucrative endorsement deal on the West Coast with the renowned Latin Percussion company. Alongside artists like Mongo Santamaria, Baldwin traveled the country conducting drum and instructional clinics. That gave him an idea to do workshops with young people and he started the ABC's of Drumming.

In an early brochure, Baldwin further explained his goals: "Our objective is to raise the level of cultural awareness and self-esteem of the participating students by focusing on the healing power of drums."

Baldwin integrated and refined the concept working with students at a Montreal Association for the Blind home and, back once again in New London, he conducted his increasingly popular workshops in schools, churches and, over the years, civic organizations like the Kente Culture Center and Writer's Block InK. His son, Wesley Baldwin, and a cousin, Ray Stover, were early participants who then became part of the ABC's family. Various classes could also be seen performing at Sailfest and other outdoor events. He also continued to do session work and record his own work, including a self-released solo album called "Percussion Jazz Project." 

Jack Madry, jazz pianist and pastor at Madry Temple Church in New London, where Baldwin conducted clinics, said, "Dwight was a gifted musician whose infectious personality garnered children of all ages, as well as adults, who showed curiosity or interest in the cultural styles of drum music. He taught classes in various churches as well as ours and, not only was he gifted, but to meet him and experience one moment with him was an electrifying experience. He was loud, talented, knowledgeable and well deserving of being called 'the professor of percussion.'"

New London former City Councilor Curtis Goodwin, who participated in Baldwin's drum circles as a young man, said, "(Dwight's clinic) and the Kente Center were my first experiences with anything cultural in the city as it relates to African Americans. His programming was vital for history and oral traditions that my generation is becoming more and more distant from. This is such a sad loss for our community and for Black Culture, and the memories Dwight provided continue to follow me to this day."

Last summer, while working in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic on a just-released solo album "Love Ain't a Burden," McKissick reached out to Baldwin in Georgia. "I knew Dwight had been ill, but he never complained," McKissick said. "I had a song called 'Million Moons' that just cried out for Dwight's sound, and I was hoping he'd feel well enough to play on it. He said, 'Send it down here!' and put his parts down in his studio. It was perfect. Exactly what the song needed. I had no idea it would be the last time we'd work together, but I'm so glad it happened. He was my boy, my brother by another mother."

Danforth recalled, "Dwight was absolutely an exceptional percussionist. But he was also our ringleader." He laughed. "He could talk us in and out of any situation, and I saw him do it a thousand times. He was that guy in any band that made sure the rest of us were fed and had some money in our pockets. He took care of us — and that's the spirit he brought to his teaching with young people. It was about music, but it was also about life."

r.koster@theday.com