‘Let’s just get through this week and this month’

How in demand was Richard Sellers before the coronavirus pandemic? The numbers tell the story for this ace jazz, rock, reggae, blues and calypso drummer, whose many credits include La Jolla Playhouse and San Diego Ballet productions.

“I received at least 13 different 1099 tax forms in 2019 for my work in at least 13 different bands,” Sellers said. “I went from all those different gigs last year to playing once a week at The Promise Church in Escondido, which I am a member of. That is the only thing I have now that is steady and the only thing that has given me any income, other than the money from my California unemployment benefits. And, Lord knows, that’s not much. So, I’ve had to change all my plans. Everything has changed.”

Sellers and his wife, Snejana, are no strangers to challenges — or to the deep faith that has helped them persevere in the face of soul-sapping adversity.

In 2016, their then 8month-old daughter, Nikki, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. She required extensive treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital,

including specially prepared and transported breast milk that had to be packed in dry ice and cost $4,000 a month.

The breast milk was one of a number of items not covered by Medi-cal, which Sellers gratefully credits for covering the bulk of his now healthy daughter’s medical expenses. A 2016 benefit concert by an array of San Diego’s top jazz musicians helped defray some of the uncovered costs. So did contributions to a Gofundme account for Nikki.

Now, with all of Sellers’ once-steady music work having vanished because of the pandemic, the stylistically eclectic drummer finds himself again calling on his faith. He lives in an apartment in San Marcos with his family, which also includes older daughter, Everly, 6.

“I owe almost $7,000 in back rent, and that amount is steadily growing because there are no gigs. My income has been reduced by at least 75 percent,” said Sellers, who performed at jazz sax great Charles Mcpherson’s Oct. 17 Mainly Mozart drivein concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

“I used to play sometimes two or three gigs a day, starting with 8 a.m. school performances, but everything is gone. I’ve performed at Pala Casino once since March. I used to have six drum students. Now I have two. We’ve cut down on all our expenses, our groceries, everything is cut down. I’m just hoping we can get back to work as quickly as possible. Being a Christian, my background of knowing the Lord provides for me, so I’m just trusting in him.”

Sellers was born in Valencia. He was playing with such Los Angeles jazz luminaries as saxophonist Gary Foster when he accepted an invitation to join Phazz, a San Diego band led by future Black Eyed Peas music director Priese “Printz” Board.

That was nearly 25 years ago. It didn’t take long for Sellers to become a valued member of the music community in San Diego, where his collaborators have included pianist Mike Wofford, flutist Holly Hofmann and saxophonist/keyboardist Kamau Kenyatta.

Eager to keep his drum chops up during the pandemic, Sellers has been performing weekly Facebook Live concerts with keyboardist Mikan Zlatkovich and other notable San Diego jazz musicians.

“Occasionally, we asked if people wanted to donate online,” the drummer said. “But, basically, it’s a free concert we do every Sunday just so we can play with other musicians. I am trying to look for other opportunities for work, even cleaning someone’s garage. I’m trying to do anything I can.”

Eager to create new opportunities, Sellers recently completed a recording project called “Revelatory

Drums.” Designed to be used for audio system demonstrations and evaluations, it features him performing on nearly three dozen drums, cymbals and percussion instruments.

“I did it to try to generate some income to help with our finances, and I did all the (audio) engineering and mastering myself,” Sellers said.

“I’m living day to day and hoping there will be some kind of way to safely perform live, just so we can get back to work and out of this loop of owing money for rent every month. Some people are acting like it will be another half year, or longer, before things start to return to normal. I don’t want to hear that. I’m like, ‘Let’s just get through this week and this month.’

“I miss playing with all the other musicians and bands I used to play with — and not just because of (lost) income. But I’m still thankful I’m able to play at all. There are musicians here who can’t even play once a week, even if it’s only for free on Facebook.

“We’ve just got to make it through until we get back to doing what we do, which is playing music and making other people happy.”

“My income has been reduced by at least 75 percent.” Richard Sellers