By Kevin Hammond (Kato)

     On Saturday, September 17, 1994, the Go-Go community lost one of the most innovative musicians that surfaced out of this culture.   Yet, this is not a piece that reflects on the tragic death, but instead the life and unquestionable impact that Quentin “Footz” Davidson developed on the Go-Go circuit.

     For over 10 years, every Go-Go head who knew the time knew exactly what to yell and do when this drummer electrified the atmosphere with that all familiar “One On One” drum intro --  “Put your hands in the air y’all -- Get ready for Footz.”

     Well, now the brother has come.  He made his mark.  And, he moved on.  In fact, he’s impressed such a mark in the industry that even though he isn’t physically with us any longer, his presence continues to linger on.

     Footz picked up his first pair of drumsticks at the age of 8 years old, when his mother, Annie Mack Thomas, bought him a $100 drum set as a Christmas present.

     Along with a group of his school friends from St. Thomas Moore Catholic School in the early 70’s, Footz helped create a band calling themselves the Young Dynamos.   By the time 1977 rolled around, the band was already known throughout the communities by their performances at neighborhood recreation centers — right around the same time Chuck Brown was introducing a new brand of music called Go-Go.  Incorporating even more members, including his older brother James “Jas. Funk” Thomas, they renamed the group Rare Essence, a name created by Footz taken from a brand of perfume samples that his mother once brought home.

     By the time 1981 rolled around, Rare Essence  were well on their way to becoming one of the most innovating bands the circuit had to offer with their first release, “Body Moves.”  Footz was leading their pulsating vibe through the whole journey.

     Even in the mid 80’s,  when a lot of Go-Go groups in the area began to venture away from the Go-Go sound in the attempts to sell to a much wider national audience, Rare Essence refused to budge.

     “Footz would have none of it,” stated rapper Donnell Floyd

     Footz became undoubtedly one of the top drummers in the city.  Over the years with distinctive style pleased through popular tunes such as, “Get On The Wagon,”  RE Get Busy One Time,” “Comeback,” and of course, “One On One.”  Although the industry has produced many tight drummers such as, Sugar Foot Ricky, Ju-Ju, Butch Lewis, Alonzo Robinson, Heavy One, Jimmy Jam, Kiggo,  Jammin’ Jeff, Buggy, Blue-Eye Darryl and Dre’ Dog, none quite executed that popular Go-Go pocket’s precision quite like Footz.

     I myself can recall many nights of standing in the back and watching Footz just go to work.  I mean, there were many times when it looked as though he wasn’t paying attention to either lead conductors Jas. Funk or Andre “Whiteboy” Johnson.  With all the playing around and joking with Mickey and whoever else that might have been standing in the area, I watched how he never missed a cue.  If Funk called for some type of pocket change in the groove, Footz was right up on it without hesitation, as if he knew even before the call.  The vibe just clicked.  That’s why it worked so well.

Vocialist Junie Henderson (EU, Hiphuggers):
“What I remember about him most of all is what everybody says – He was a clock when it came down to his beats.  He never had to play hard.  What made him sound so good was that he never came out of character.  He stayed right there all night.  Real laid back.”

Sugar Bear:
“Footz was definitely one of the premier young go-go drummers.  He was the youngest drummer out of the bunch in the beginning, but he had continuous drive.  His pocket was like a clock throughout the whole show.  That’s why they were effective.”

DJ Rico (WPGC):
“I know Footz not just as Footz, but as Quentin Davidson.  Outstanding bowler!  He used to try to kick me around in the bowling alley.  He had so much of an effect on the younger upcoming drummers, even still now that he is gone.  He was an inspiration to them.  He was a clock master.  His rotations were on point.”

DJ Flexxx (WPGC):
“Man, that dude Footz was one hell of a musician.  Throw your hands in the air and let’s get ready for Footz.  Come on, man, there’s a reason why people be saying that.  He was an incredible musician.  Also, he was a hell of a cool dude off of them drums.  He was always nice to me, man.”

DJ Kool:
“First of all, rest in peace.  You are definitely missed on this go-go scene.  Footz was probably one of the greatest drummers to ever come out of the go-go
scene.  As far as somebody actually holding that pocket.  I think he gave Rare Essence the drive that they had.  As far as him being a person, basically he was a real good brother.  I mean, me and him always had real nice and positive conversations.  One again, in closing, the brother will be missed.  Believe me.”

Guitarist, Stan Cooper (The Legends, Marcus Johnson Project):
“Although Quentin “Footz” Davidson wasn’t the most talented drummer in the business, he was the only drummer who had the indentifiable beats.  You couldn’t tell that with the other bands.  If you broke it down to drum tracks, you could tell exactly what song you was listening to by the beat Footz was playing.  Everyone knows that “One on One” beat…   Ha-ha, Footz was the innovator."

Promoter, David Rubin:
“There are not that many people who have had more of an impact on go-go music than Quentin.  Techinically, he was the tops in town.  It’s like talking about Jimi Hendrix with his guitar.”

Daniel “Breeze” Clayton:
“Footz was one of the two best drummers the District has produced who inspired a generation of young drummers.  People should be glad there was a Footz and there was a Rare Essence, who… gave so many kids something positive to do with all their energy.”

The Washington Post:
“Footz had a way with those drums of his.  On some nights when the groove was just right, he didn’t play the drums so much as exorcise them, expelling from the instrument every ounce of energy, rhythm and joy, like spirits waiting to break free.”

     How much of an impact did Footz leave with us Go-Go heads?  That’s easy.  Where at first we were yelling, “Put your hands in the air y’all – And, get ready for Foots.”  Now we are saying, “Put you hands in the air y’all – And, let’s do for Footz.”

     Think about it.  That’s got to be some kind of an impact.