Victor Ray Wilson
| Beatmaster V | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Victor Ray Wilson |
| Born | February 20, 1959 |
| Died | April 30, 1996 (aged 37) |
| Genres | Heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Instruments | Drum kit |
| Years active | 1990—1996 |
| Associated acts | Body Count |
Victor Ray Wilson (February 20, 1959 – April 30, 1996), better known as Beatmaster V, was the drummer of Body Count.
Wilson grew up in South Central, and attended Crenshaw High School with Ice-T and Ernie C. "Beatmaster V., was born in Los Angeles. He grew up in the city of Los Angeles. He attended Crenshaw High School. As a musician he participated in music wherever he could, including church music with his local church."
"In his community and church, as a youth, Beatmaster V. practiced drums and other instruments. He excelled in his musical ability at an early age. By the time he was 11 years old he played with the legendary blues musician Lou Rawls, as a drummer. He continued on and took drum classes, and built more musical skill playing with various musicians. Of course, one of the musicians Beatmaster V. often worked with was the great Los Angeles guitarist and composer, Ernie C."
Along with guitarist Ernie C, vocalist Ice-T, Wilson, bassist Mooseman and rhythm guitarist D-Roc, Wilson formed the heavy metal band Body Count during the recording of Ice-T's fourth hip hop album, O.G. Original Gangster. "Musically, later, after their many days of rehearsing and performing Beatmaster “V” and Ernie C. ended up in the same L.A. band, Body Count. This band was founded by Ice T. and the other bandmates. After initially presenting the Body Count band sounds in L.A. clubs and venues Body Count went on to perform in Lollapalooza (the original Lollapalooza), and many other events and places across America and around the world." Wilson died of leukemia in 1996. Also his family member Jonathan James aka "the Kidd", as given by Ice-T and the rest of the band mates of Body Count, played with the band as a back up drummer on the album Violent Demise: The Last Days before the passing of family member Beatmaster V.
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