Milton "Go-Go Mickey" Freeman has been a DC Go-Go legend for more than 20 years and is known for his fast hands on congas and for his raw beats that have become a staple for many local conga players.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (37:08) !
Related styles: URBAN/R&B: Go-Go, URBAN/R&B: Traditional R&B



Details:
Milton âGo-Go Mickeyâ Freeman


âThereâs a cat named Mickey from out of townâ¦â begins the Rare Essence hit song, âGo-Go Mickey,â a remake of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles âMickeyâs Monkeyâ that immortalized R.E.âs percussionist Milton âGo-Go Mickeyâ Freeman. Freeman has become a DC Go-Go legend and is known for his fast hands on congas and for his raw beats that have become a staple for many area conga players. Freeman won âCongo Player of the Yearâ in 2006 at the first Go-Go Awards presented by Washington DC radio station WKYS, and again in 2007, keeping the Backyard Band from sweeping every category in which they were nominated. In addition, Freeman has one two individual âWammiesâ from the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) and five as a member of Rare Essence along with a spot in WAMAâs Hall of Fame.

Mickey was born and raised in Washington, DC by a musical family. His mother Chicquita was a pianist and singer and his father Milton was a guitar player and lead singer in Mickey and the Blazers, a rhythm and blues group. The elder Mickey bought his son a drum set when he was two and taught the prodigy how to play. âLike father, like sonâ continued when Freemanâs sons Lilâ Mickey and BJ learned to play by watching and listening to their father. BJ currently plays congas with Go-Go band Faze 2, and Lilâ Mickey is in college.

When he was 12, Freeman went to see his first go-go band, the Pump Blenders and got in trouble when he went home. Good friends with the late Quentin âFootzâ Davidson (a legend in his own right), whom he used to bowl with, Freeman would go to the Coliseum and play on Footz drums. He taught himself to play congas when he was 14 after watching then Rare Essence conga player Tyrone âJungle Boogieâ Williams.

Counting percussionist and Prince protégé Sheila E. as an inspiration, Freeman was also inspired by local legends Jungle Boogie and Ricky âSugarfootâ Wellman. He joined Reality Band in 1980 and followed that with stints in Redds & the Boys, Ayre Rayde, and several other go-go groups, before joining Essence in 1984 and rising to legend status. One local conga player likened the Jungle Boogie/Go-Go Mickey connection to that of former NBA players Dr. J and Michael Jordan. âDr. J created a style, but Michael Jordan came in and perfected it and took it to a different level and no other ball player since Jordan has been able to do thatânot even Kobe.â Another local conga player feels that Mickeyâs âBeen there, done thatâ tattoo sums things up. âJust about every beat played in go-go today is something Mickey created. The only difference is how they play it.â

Mickey released a solo, instrumental album on Liaison Records in 1991 titled âIt Gets no Rougher,â and in 2008 he created No Rougher Productions. Freeman has played for several R&B and hip hop acts including: Prince Markie D, Heavy D., The Roots, Doug E. Fresh, Teddy Riley and most recently Raheem DeVaughn. He has also played with the godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown and reggae band Soljahâs of Godâs Army, who he still plays with from time-to-time. He has played on numerous Rare Essence live and studio albums, and appeared on Chuck Brownâs hit 2007 album âWeâre About the Business.â
With Rare Essence, Freeman appeared with rapper Ludacris for performances of his hit song âPimpinâ all Over the Worldâ on Jay Leno and at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards. He also appeared in Aretha Franklinâs âJimmy Leeâ video.

Go-Go Mickey can be seen performing three nights a week with Rare Essence at venues throughout the DC area. When he is not performing, Freeman is likely to pop up at local venues to catch other go-go bands and can often be persuaded to get on stage and play the congas. Currently, Freeman offers percussion lessons and is working on a project with his sons Mickey and BJ.