When the dust settled after the accident, the passenger’s side of the car was literally wrapped around a tree but miraculously the passenger, a seventeen-year-old drumming sensation, survived. He was severely brain injured and in a coma but he survived.

The accident left Kevin Hicks with little or no feeling in his left arm and therefore unable to play drums. This was the boy who just months earlier had starred at the Lionel Hampton Festival and made friends with Lionel’s drummer, Wally “Gator” Watson.

“My head was messed up, too, man,” Kevin recalled.

The brain injury left his short term memory in tatters so much so that he had to tape a note to his bathroom mirror reminding him to wash his face, shave, brush his teeth and comb his hair.

Four years after the accident, as he continued his struggle to recover, Kevin lost his biggest supporter, his mother. On her deathbed, she encouraged him to get out and explore the world.

He took his mother’s request to heart, even though at the time he had to keep a book with him and write down everything he needed to know including directions on how to get from home to his classes at Malaspina University-College – He still carries a book with him at all times.

Kathryn Goldsmith, one of his teachers at Malaspina, recalls the time Kevin planned an overnight solo trip to Vancouver to see a concert. After a lot of sweating and fuming, he took off and when he made it back safely, declared that he was ready for Europe. Two months later, he was gone.

Over the next five years Kevin visited Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the United States, several countries in Europe and Israel.

Both he and his brother feel that the constant traveling, meeting new people and new challenges everyday forced his brain to work harder … and better … but the greatest gift from his travels came in Jerusalem on Christmas Eve 1999 when he came across a large flat, alter-like stone where Christ’s body is reputed to have been laid.

A Christian ever since he got out of G. F. Stone in Vancouver, Kevin laid his hands on the stone and prayed. A few days later, for the first time since his accident, he began to feel a slight tingling in his left arm. After that, little by little, he began to play again.

What an inspiration this man is. Dozens and probably hundreds of times along the way he could have given up but he didn’t and his persistence has paid off big time.

I first met Kevin at the “It Only Takes A Moment” fundraising concert on January 16. For me the highlight was Kevin’s drum solo. There was no doubt; Kevin Hicks, the drumming sensation, was back. .

Since then Kevin says he feels like his recovery period is over and Billy concurs. As far as he is concerned, “The sky’s the limit for Kev now”.

Next month Kevin has been invited to participate in the Drummers For Jesus event in Dallas Texas. His fellow participants will include people who have played for Sting, David Lee Roth and Prince. Dear knows what will happen from there.

Billy says that his brother has a huge vision and his mind is expanding every day. He sees a bright future for Kevin writing and producing music.

Kevin’s next big gig will be at the Neighbourhood Heroes party this Thursday at the Nanaimo Yacht Club (6:30 to 9:30 pm) where he will be backing Tippy Angel, an eighty-five year old piano player who knows every sing-a-long song ever sung along to. There will be other surprise musicians as well.