Scheidt School of Music and the same amount of time playing for Memphis Symphony Orchestra - his mother, Billie, was an opera singer and occasional backing vocalist on local soul sessions.Ĭhristopher grew up surrounded by classical music and classic soul, but a heavy hip-hop influence came from his late brother, rapper Ensayne Wayne.

In addition to his father - who spent nearly 40 years teaching clarinet at the Rudi E. He's sired hits and standout tracks for Young Jeezy, Yung Joc, Rick Ross, Nelly, T.I., Ludacris, Chamillionaire, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, August Alsina and Migos, among many others.Ĭhristopher's background is different than most of his hip-hop peers. Over the last 15 years, under his Drumma Boy moniker, Christopher has built an impressive list of credits. STAX IN MEMPHIS: Pat Mitchell Worley named new president and CEO of Stax's Soulsville Foundation “My father was seeing the difficulties that a lot of students of color were having in covering tuition or getting into student debt to cover tuition,” says Christopher, who is also an alumnus of the U of M music program. The idea was hatched a decade ago as the elder Gholson retired from U of M’s music department. For the Gholsons it's part of a commitment to Memphis music that bridges the worlds of music education and commercial success, of classical music and hip-hop.Ĭhristopher Gholson, better known as hitmaking hip-hop producer Drumma Boy, and his father James Gholson, a veteran professor at the University of Memphis music school and Memphis Symphony Orchestra member, started the scholarship as a way of helping music students, particularly those of color, further their studies. The scholarship - which has been handed out annually since 2012 - is given to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Commercial Music or Woodwinds. Earlier this summer, University of Memphis music student Onyinye Igboanugo was announced as the recipient of the James and Christopher Gholson Scholarship Fund.

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