If you are familiar with Leimert Park Village or just so happen to call the cultural hub home, then more than likely you have seen many changes to the small community as the years have passed. You’ve probably seen businesses come and go, renovations, residents move in and out, and much more.
With the significant transformations that has happened over the course of just a few years, the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center is one of the many momentous staples in Leimert that has been serving the community for 22 years, since 2001. The facility offers free performing arts classes to underserved youth.
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Born and raised in Chicago, founder Fernando Pullum moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to follow his dreams of teaching and playing music. His love for music came when he was a child, when he made a sound on a bugle. The reaction he received from those who heard him was strong and that fueled him to want to get that level of acceptance again.
“So when I was offered the opportunity to join the school band, I almost flipped over a chair to participate; I just wanted to rekindle that positive reinforcement,” he recalled
Pullum attended the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance. He came to Los Angeles while in college to play at the Rose Bowl.
It’s safe to say, Pullum fell in love with the California sunshine. It was 40 degrees below zero where he attended school, and when he came to Los Angeles, it was 60 degrees, which he explained was a like a 100 degrees temperature change.
He, along with many of his bandmates, made the decision to move to California. His first real gig was playing with the Temptations and Four Tops.
His move landed him at L.A.’s Washington Prep High School where he transformed the music program causing it to flourish. In 1989, the program would be recognized as the first music magnet program in South Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The Pullum Center offers free arts instruction to more than 1,200 students, ages 5-20. These classes are conducted at their headquarters and partner schools.
Classes include, drama, jazz band, classes on beginning instruments including: piano, guitar, and wind instruments, drumline, drums, dance, choir, song writing and music production, filmmaking, tap, and step. At the end of each semester, students are given the opportunity to showcase their work to family and friends.
Pullum has witnessed a plethora of students from his center graduate and accomplish amazing things. From working with the likes of Beyonce to Lady Gaga, to performing all around the world, he has a multitude of student success stories.
One in particular that stands out to him is when he played Whitney Houston’s last concert. He detailed how when she came to rehearsal and she started telling jokes, he started to tear up. People around him asked why he was so emotional.
“I was crying because the guy next to me, who was Ryan Porter, used to be a terrible trombone player who I used to yell at all the time and now he’s sitting next to me on a gig,” he explained.
He described this moment as “surreal” not only because Porter was sitting next to him, but because he was playing with Whitney Houston. He was overflowing with emotions.
“This is the person I always wanted to play with and I’m playing with him (Porter) and he was terrible and now he literally is playing better than me and I was just so happy with that,” Pullum described. “This was one of my most enjoyable moments, to see someone go to that level.”
Pullum credits music for saving his life, saying it “raised his self-esteem and leveled the playing field.”
“With music, your gender, economic status, your religion, none of that stuff matters; what matters is if you can actually play,” he elaborated. “So I worked really hard and it allowed me to see things and play with people I never envisioned being able.”
The Pullum Center opened for the Gardena Jazz Festival this past Sunday. To be updated on their upcoming events, follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullumcenter/For more information on the Pullum Center, visit: https://www.pullumcenter.org/
