Birthday: May 5, 1990
Method of Creation: #3- he was part of a "hidden talent series" dedicated to people who had significant handicaps but excelled in certain areas. Gary Charles is not part of this series because this idea came close to three years after his creation but it's the same idea. Others in this series include Maineco Djosevili and Jeremy Cauler (whose story is very grim and morbid and also highly unlikely). He can also be classified as #2 because he's based almost totally on Ben Underwood.
So AYWAYS... I was toying with the idea of incorporating some blind musicians into the mix. I'd already come up with Maineco Djosevili but wanted another too. One drawing later and Brian Foster was born!
Brian was born in the small town of Selton, Pyncyltonia, which is south of South Kennywood. It's a very small place. After he was born it became apparent that something was different. Brian was born without eyes. His eye sockets were filled with bone and the only part of his eye that existed were his eyelashes. What a shock!
His parents took this news with a grain of salt however and made life as normal as possible for young Brian. His older brother David quickly tried to include Brian in everything and even learned how to write in Braille so he could transcribe for him. Brian did everything except walk. He just didn't know there was a whole world past his arms. That changed one fateful day.
When Brian was about five he learned that when he clapped his hands it made an echo. Quickly, with David's help, he learned that there was distance to everything. David helped Brian reach for things and helped him navigate the house. Soon, however, they realized that clapping hands was loud and his hands had to be empty. Therefore, Brian turned to clicking his tongue. With this new device the world opened up to him. It became apparent that Brian had an excellent sense of time and space and nothing got in his way. Soon he never tripped, bumped into things, or got lost. He became excellent at memorizing things and his life was a world of sound and touch.
Now for the hidden talent part. Before he could even walk, he wanted to play the violin. His parents encouraged him and he began playing at the age of three. It soon became apparent that this kid had talent. He also learned the piano and excelled at both. School was easy for him. He used a Braille machine and preferred to memorize thing rather than using notes. He learned to write and has very good handwriting. He's never seen it. He learned to write by carving into soft wax until he got it right.
As Brian grew, he wanted more music. His older brother played the trumpet and Brian began learning it on his own. He also began to learn the saxophone. By the time middle school rolled around, he had his heart set on percussion. He fell in love with the drums and still plays them to this day. In high school, he still wanted more. He heard about Drum Corps from a friend and wanted to be in it:
Story time!
Brian quickly made his way into the bandroom. He didn’t want to be late for his favorite class, after all. His sensitive ears picked up every sound and soon he knew he was in the back of the room. He felt for his bag of sticks and after finding it he helped his fellow percussionists move equipment around. The bell rang and he was busy tuning the timpani over the loudness of the band warming up. Soon, the room fell silent and Mr. Farnsworth began giving the morning announcements.
Most of the announcements didn’t pertain to Brian so he only half-listened as he quietly fingered through the book he was reading for his Kevian class. The rehearsal soon began and Brian was hard at work making his parts line up with everyone else’s. For the first time since the band received one of the pieces he nailed his part. He smiled to himself as they went on to the next piece.
Soon, the class was over and Mr. Farnsworth began giving a few other announcements. Brian again only half listened but something caught his ear.
“I need to see Brian Foster after rehearsal in my office. Someone is here to talk to you.”
Brian had no idea who it could be. He was nervous and excited as he packed away his things and placed them in his locker. He then made his way over to the office. He could tell that there was someone else in the room and was pretty nervous. He shut the door behind himself and then sat in the empty chair nearby.
“Brian, Mr. Perrin is here to speak to you today.” Said Mr. Farnsworth. Brian knew Mr. Perrin. He was Brassington High School’s band director… but what was he doing here talking to him for?
“Hello Brian. I am Mr. Perrin from Brassington and I hear that you are a very good mallet percussionist.”
“Well, I am pretty good… I mean, I know what I am doing…”
“I also hear that you are interested in playing more.”
“Well, yes. I love music.”
“Brian, I really think that you could make Ricktoria.”
That last bold statement caught Brian’s ear more than anything. He smiled. He had always wanted to try out for Ricktoria but thought that they wouldn’t accept him because he was blind. Hearing this from a former Ricktoria member and DCI enthusiast-activist made him very hopeful.
“Sir, I’ll try out then! I love to play and the energy I feel from Drum Corps is amazing.”
“That’s the spirit! I want to hear you play.”
Brian went over to the marimba and began to play a piece he knew well with ultimate precision. Mr. Perrin smiled and the two of them talked about auditions.
Many weeks later, the tryouts had arrived. Brian was very excited and wanted to show everyone what he had to offer. Finally, it was his turn and he walked into the bandroom. He could hear three judges at a table across from him.
“So we hear that your name is Brian and that you want to play for our corps,” one of them said.
“Yes. I love to play and be part of the music.”
“Before you begin, do you have any questions?”
“Yes. I am blind and I have absolutely no vision at all. I navigate by echolocation. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Not at all. We’ll work something out. Now, play for us.”
Brian felt the keys and took a deep breath. He then began to play. He quickly became part of the music and felt as if he was soaring over a canyon. He had so much energy and expressed it all in his playing. He didn’t miss a beat and played everything picture perfect.
At the end he could almost feel their astonishment at what he had just done.
“Wow! What you have just done… It’s amazing! And the fact that you weren’t even looking! I’ve hardly ever heard that piece played that well at the first audition! Brian Foster, you won’t be able to see the color of your slip but it’s GOLDEN, my friend! Congratulations, Brian. You are our ninth Golden Unknown!”Brian was so happy right at that moment. He ran over to the judges and hugged them all. He talked with them for a long time and they got to know him.
Pretty impressive, eh? He's been in Ricktoria ever since.
Today Brian is a busy freshman in college. He's majoring in composition and wants to conduct a big symphony someday. He currently plays in the pit in marching band, violin in orchestra, percussion in band, saxophone in jazz band, and is takin piano and trumpet lessons, not to mention violin lessons. Wow! What a guy!
Five Fun Facts:
1. Surprise, he has perfect pitch!
2. He has a guide dog named Myley that he got to help navigate college. She was a gift to him from his school.
3. He was drum major his senior year. He has a talent for conducting.
4. He has an older brother named David and a younger brother named Kyle.
5. His echolocation and sound memory is so good many can't tell he's blind.
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