Tuscaloosa’s Phillip Craig Makes Black History with Drum Nation

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2023 Black History Makers of Alabama.

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Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter for their continued support.

Black History Maker of Alabama-Phillip Craig

Phillip Craig was born and raised in Tuscaloosa Alabama under the care of his Mother Jacqueline Craig and grandparents Bishop George and Mary Craig. He is the proud husband of eight years to Tanisha Craig and the proud father of two boys Micah and Preston. 

Craig attended Central High School from 2000-2003 and graduated from Paul Bryant High School in 2004. From 2004-2008 he attended the University of Alabama where he majored in Health Care management and was a featured percussionist for the University's Jazz ensemble. 

"There are so many Black History moments that happened right here in Alabama. Those moments are what helped shape our grandparents and parents and are rooted in them. Black history will always be important in Alabama and for so many of us we strive to in some small way make ourselves a part of it."

What Phillip is most known for is his passion and love for the drums. His love for drums started at the age of 2 from growing up and playing drums in his grandparent's church Faith Refuge Apostolic Church. Phillip presently is the percussionist for Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

In 2011 his passion for playing drums would shift to teaching and ultimately lead to the start of Drum Nation Drum School. Through this program, Phillip has been able to sow back the same seeds into youth in the community that God has sown into him.

Over the past 12 years Drum Nation has trained hundreds of students in all areas of percussion with many of those students going on to receive percussion scholarships to their respective Colleges.

Today you can find the Drum Nation program housed in many of the schools in the Tuscaloosa area as well as the Award-winning Drum Nation Drumline performing all over the Southeast.

Even with all this the greatest aspect of Drum Nation will always be the relationships that are fostered between the students that last a lifetime. Making an impact on the community has and will always be the driving force in Phillip Craig's life!  

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