WORTHINGTON - King Turkey Day is a time for fun fall festivities, and one man hopes to add to the excitement.
Steve Gryb, a Miami native sometimes called the “Pied Piper of Percussion,” has packed up his instruments and is headed to Worthington to share his love of music. He will perform four times during KTD.
“I want to get people excited about music,” Gryb said. “It’s fun to see people making music with me and seeing not only how much fun the kids are having, but how much fun the parents have.”
Though he is new to Worthington’s festival, Gryb is not a stranger to festivals celebrating turkeys.
“Last year I performed in your sister city, Cuero, during their turkey festival,” Gryb said. “They explained the competition between the two cities to me, so I reached out to Worthington to see if they’d like me to perform at their festival. … Soon I’ll be known as king of the turkey festivals. In fact, I even have a turkey call.”
Gryb said he is just a big kid at heart and likes to have fun with his audience. He said his show is very interactive, and he brings along more than 300 instruments to share with anyone who wants to participate.
“It’s a very unique experience,” he said. “My show is called, ‘The Rhythm is Going to Get You,’ and it’s a show for the young at heart.
“It’s a 100 percent interactive show. I pass out instruments to anyone who wants to participate, and we wiggle and jiggle and jam together to the music.”
The Pied Piper of Percussion travels all over the country, from Key West, Fla., to Fairbanks, Alaska. He worked as a music education professor for 20 years, and his mission with his interactive performance is to increase musical skills and experience.
“I use my passion as a performer and educator to reach people and teach people,” Gryb said. “I want to stomp out music illiteracy.”
He developed the show in the 1990s and retired from teaching in 2000 to take his show internationally. He does approximately 150 performances a year.
Gryb said he hopes the people of Worthington will be active participants and noted that his show is for all ages.
“It’s a great family activity,” he said. “Bring the kids - you’ll learn a little something, and you will have fun.”
Gryb will perform Friday and Saturday at the Nobles County Fairgrounds. There will be two performances each day, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
