Stephen Dale Project

I was born in New Orleans in 1990 with a Port Wine Stain on the left side of my face, located on my chin over my lip up to my temple and down my neck. When you have a facial difference, you have to manage the reaction of other people, and you have to do it every single day.

I began playing drums at four years old and have been tapping on just about everything since birth. As long as I can remember I would play for anybody that would listen. I guess you could say it is in my blood. My grandfather, Paul Ferrara, was a well known jazz drummer playing with the likes of Louie Prima, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, and Harry Connick Sr.

A defining moment in my life occurred in the seventh grade. New at my junior high school I entered the talent show. All the popular kids were in the show that night; the eight grade cheerleaders, football team captains, and dance team girls.

When I walked on the stage I acted clumsy and shy, then started playing very slow and off beat as if it was the first time I had ever played the drums. The “cool kids” started to ask “Who is this kid?” and “Where did he come from?” “What is that on his face?” almost laughing me off the stage.

I suddenly stopped playing and stood-up. The crowd thought I was going to quit. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a handkerchief tying it around my head as a blindfold. I sat down and played the best drum solo of my young life.

The crowd went crazy. When I finished the entire gym gave me a standing ovation.

 I won the talent show that night. A year later I was accepted into the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, NOCCA is where the best of the best young musicians in New Orleans go for training.

At Sixteen Years Old

I am playing in my high school band, performing in my school’s theatre department and I am the Disc Jockey at school dances.

I have had the opportunity to play with many great musicians in New Orleans including Charmaine Neville and Amanda Shaw. I have also played at jazz clubs in the French Quarter of New Orleans including the world famous Preservation Hall .