Video above: ‘Chico Drums Recovery’
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — A well-known drummer in Mobile County is recovering from open heart surgery. Even if you don’t know his name, you’ve probably seen Chico Drums playing in Mardi Gras parades.
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Chico has had to cancel all his shows for the next several months and can’t work his day job.
While it’s been tough, that’s not stopping him from rocking through it in true Chico fashion.Chico McCollum, or Chico Drums, is known for his signature mohawk and twirling, then pointing his drumstick at revelers.
“The point kind of started as ‘I see you’ to some of my friends. And then I realized a lot of people really liked when I would point at them,” said Chico McCollum.The 56-year-old has been playing at Mobile Mardi Gras since the early ’90s.
“I have averaged 10 to 12 parades a year for the last 34 years,” said McCollum.When he’s not on the route, he’s drumming at local clubs, fundraisers and balls — all while he’s a truck driver instructor at Bishop State…