Cirque du Soleil drummer proudly returns to Atlanta roots

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A metro Atlanta musician is proud of his role in the latest Cirque du Soleil production and hopes other Atlantans will enjoy “Kurios-Cabinet of Curiosities.”

“My job is to lay the foundation, stay in tune with the groove of the show, the rhythm of the show,” Chatham said, sitting in front of the huge drum set that’s perched behind the stage.

”Everything has to be fluid and fit in the music. As an assistant band leader, we accentuate the individual performances and have to keep an eye on everything that’s going on stage,” he told FOX 5. 

Chatham was born and raised in Austell and went to Pebblebrook High School in Cobb County before transferring to Washington County High School when his father, a preacher, was assigned to a new church. He was on the drum line at the University of Georgia and returned to metro Atlanta after he graduated with a degree in music education - to instruct the drum line. He said performing in front of friends and family members he hasn’t seen in years makes the Atlanta tour stop more special than most.

SEE RELATED: A peek behind the curtains of KURIOS Cirque du Soleil

“My mom calls to tell me who’s in the audience that I may know. I brought my nephew to the show and he loved it. That felt really good. I feed off the energy. It’s like a drug, a good drug though,” he said as he laughed.

“Kurios” runs through Sunday, May 8, under the Big Top near Atlantic Station.

“It’s an amazing show. The costumes, the stage, the acts, the contortionists…it’s all very well done. We have some of the talented artists from all over the world. There’s nothing else like it.” Chatham said.