This month’s New Member Spotlight is Cassie Bradley, whose instruments are the steel pan (drum) and clarinet. She has played live with various music groups, performed at NBA games, and has done TV and commercial work. Local 47 sat down with Cassie to talk about her career and union membership.

Local 47: As one of our new members, I want to say welcome to the union and thank you for taking the time to chat with us. What led you to join AFM Local 47?

CB: I was a member of the Chicago local union, and I performed on TV shows like Empire. It dawned on me that I needed to be part of the musicians’ family out here in LA, to have the support the union provides, along with great people and a top-notch organization. After speaking with the local representatives, it was pretty much a no-brainer to join.

Because I’m also an actor on various projects, I understand the importance of having a union and its backing. It’s like a family and provides unity, and I find that it strengthens me as an overall musician. So I couldn’t wait to join.

Plus, seeing the rehearsal rooms when I toured the local building was very appealing. I’m going to start using them next week. The space looks amazing, and the price is great. You can’t beat it anywhere else. It’s great to see a local union making things feasible for us as musicians and assisting us.

Local 47: When did you first become interested in the steel pan?

CB: My first instrument was actually the clarinet, which I still play actively across various genres. It was my first band instrument.

I first heard the steel pan when I was studying music at Northern Illinois University. I heard a beautiful sound coming from the concert hall. As a music major, you learn multiple instruments, though you have to focus on a few primary ones. But when I heard the steel pan, it didn’t sound like stereotypical island music. It was playing classical music, jazz, and other styles. Hearing it in that light, I found it so gorgeous that I had to get one myself. It’s been bearing fruit ever since.

It has definitely landed me a lot of gigs, including performing the national anthem and halftime shows at NBA games for the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn Nets, an M&M’s commercial, and my favorite “Worthy Is the Lamb” on Charles Jenkins’s gospel album Praise Party, Volume 1. It’s a unique instrument that fascinates me, as does the culture behind it. I was fortunate to have that type of program at my school.

Most people think of it as strictly a Caribbean instrument, but it appears in pop music as well, including songs by 50 Cent and Soulja Boy. It has also been used at awards shows, including the Oscars. The instrument is used a lot more than most people think, but people might not recognize it because there aren’t many solos, or because they hear synthesized versions of it.

Local 47: What brought you from Chicago to LA?

CB: Chicago is great. The culture and everything about it are unmatched. But at least at the time, I knew L.A. was the mecca of entertainment, and I always knew I wanted to be here. Coming here has been a dream come true, with way more opportunities in the entertainment field, whether in music, acting, or sports. I’ve been out here for 10 years and love it! I also am a youth basketball coach for the LA Clippers. Being part of the LA music community is another reason I joined Local 47.