Black Star Drum Line was created and founded in 2008 by award winning drummer/percussionist Joey B. Banks, to give kids in the Madison community an opportunity for creative expression through the "Percussive Arts". Director Joey B. Banks incorporates diversity, respect for self and others, unity and mastery as the core elements of the youth development model he developed working as a youth development professional for over 20 years in the Madison area. The group has done over 600 performances in the State of Wisconsin and Madison community to date. Black Star Drum Line has performed and collaborated with many local groups and performers, which include,The Handphibians, Rob Dz, Keon Andre, Pretty Boy Hefner, Lucas Koehler,Jeff Weiss,Stefan Truesdell, Gabe Burdulis, A. N. T. Anthony Lamarr, and Bradley Thomas(DLO),Trilogy and the band Mascot Theory. Some past performance highlights were playing for 25,000 people at "Lifest" in 2012, opening for Rapper B.O.B. at a UW-Whitewater "Welcoming" event in 2014, 12 "standing room" only performances at Overture Center's "Kids In The Rotunda" the last 4 years the group has performed at the show and most recently competed in their first “DCI Drum Battle” at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis in August 2017. During 2016-2017 NBA season Black Star Drum Line became the first junior drum line in the NBA as the Milwaukee Bucks "Mini Beats" Drum Line where they performed at 7 home games this season, and recently opened for the national touring act "Drum line" at Overture Hall on March 1 2017. In 2017, Black Star Drum Line became a partner with newly founded Forward Performing Arts (Formerly, the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps Association). The partnership will allow for more youth from the Madison and surrounding area to be involved with Black Star Drum Line and other “percussive arts” and youth music ensemble programs.