Oosh-Ka-Boosh was originally written for the Salem High School Band in Salem, VA where Allen attended High School from 1989-1993.

The OKB theme was inspired by "Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual" by Robert W. Smith. There is a unison percussion rhythm in the middle of this work that inspired OKB. In the early 1990s, Robert W. Smith was the assistant director of bands while I attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. One afternoon, I was listening to Robert rehearse the Symphonic band in the performance hall and I was severely sleep deprived. I fell asleep in the auditorium seats while watching the rehearsal. When I awoke, Oosh-Ka-Boosh was in my head. I went back to my dorm and took 20 minutes to right it down and there it was!

I used this cadence with all of the groups I taught from 1994 to 2003 including the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 1999 and Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX in 2003. After the fall of 2003, I decided I was done with OKB. I had written all the versions I wanted to write. I hope you enjoy this cadence as much as I have! It's been a crowd favorite everywhere it was performed!

The OKB Cadence Collection Includes all 6 Cadences based on the OKB Bass Drum theme composed from 1994 - 2003 (13 variations in all!). The cadences are grouped by version.

OKB'94 + '95
OKB'96 + '97
OKB'98
OKB'99

OKB'00 + '02
OKB'03

To purchase cadences individually click here...

$40.00

Coming Soon!