Campus Safety and Support Officer Cardell Whitley lives a double life. By day he protects the students of Oak Park and River Forest High School, and by night he works with the Grammy-winning artist Maxwell.
Whitley spends evenings and extended tours working as the drum tech for the drummer Darryl “Lil Man” Howell under Maxwell, the stage name for Gerald Maxwell Rivera. Maxwell is known for hits like “Don’t Ever Wonder” and “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” that popularized the neo-soul genre in the late 1990s.
As a drum tech, Whitley’s job is to set up and maintain drum equipment as well as solve any technical issues during the show.
Setting up a show could start from anywhere between 6 a.m and 8 a.m., Whitley said. Once the equipment is brought into the area, Whitley unloads drum stands, racks, cymbals and drum heads. After putting everything together, Whitley tunes the drums to have the correct sound as “drums can be tuned to different musical keys depending on the playlist,” he said. When the main drummer cannot make it, Whitley is there. In the past year, his career has taken him all over the globe to places like Nigeria, London, Australia and across all 50 states.
When not on the road with Maxwell, Whitley stays dedicated to his craft. “After I get done working here during the day, I like to dedicate most evenings to sitting down, just practicing and learning different music or getting ready for shows,” he said.
Whitley comes from a musically inclined family. Growing up in the church, he got his foundation in music playing gospel. His brother played the organ and Whitley gravitated toward the drums. Eventually, he ventured out and tried R&B.
Whitley’s experiences with Maxwell have been fulfilling as the star is “very family oriented. He loves his camp, his crew, his people. He treats us well,” Whitley said.
Whitley’s position has taken him across the map, as Maxwell tours the country and the world. Even though Whitley has celebrity connections, coworkers say he is a humble guy. Campus Safety and Support Officer Roberto Tucker said, “He is a ray of sunshine.”
Michael Cintron, another campus safety officer, added, “Cardell is like my brother from another mother,” signalling that Whitley’s positivity and dedication do not go unnoticed.
James Hurt, a student drummer in the community, said, “I didn’t not know that [Whitley] worked at this school. It’s crazy to me because touring on a national level is a job that’s incredibly hard to come by.”
What Whitley has been able to accomplish is not an easy feat. One of his biggest struggles as a musician has been managing his time away from home. His wife is one of his biggest supporters; she pushes him to his full potential even when he’s on the road, he said.
A future goal of Whitley’s is to go on tour with his younger brother, Carrice. Carrice Whitley has played the keyboard professionally for artists like Keyshia Cole, Usher, Lil Durk, Jodeci and many more. The two are very close. He is confident that he’d love to rock a professional stage with his brother. Whitley’s next Maxwell gig is in June in the U.K.
