Black Arts and Culture
“Mr. Silver Strings” Is Super Talented Music Man
Thaddeus Coffey, also known as “Mr. Silver Strings,” is a self-taught master of over 200 musical instruments, captivating audiences with his extraordinary talent. His journey, from struggling to speak until age four to becoming a musical prodigy, showcases his unique abilities and dedication to sharing his gifts with the community.
#ThaddeusCoffey #MrSilverStrings #MusicProdigy #AfricanAmericanMusic #NationalAfricanAmericanMusicAppreciationMonth #Juneteenth #MultiInstrumentalist #MusicEducation
By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter Emeritus
New Journal and Guide
Since 1979, June has been National African-American Music Appreciation Month.
The nation is observing the legacy and contributions of African-American musicians, composers, and singers to the art form from Gospel, Soul, Jazz, Rock to the current dominant genre Hip-Hop.
At Portsmouth’s Olde Towne Farmers Market on Saturdays or at the recent Juneteenth celebration in Franklin, or any of the various events where he is booked to entertain, Thaddeus Coffey displays his mastery of the tools of musical creation.
Along with English, he is proficient in six other languages and counting. A proud son of African Heritage, he has adapted a love of the Japanese language and culture.
He also has an interest in Astronomy, Quantum Physics and Aviation.
He has a lucrative business under the brand of “Mr. Silver Strings.”
During the recent Juneteenth Festival in Franklin, Jenice Coffey, his mother, joined him on the stage and narrated to the audience with colorful banter, the young prodigy’s movements from one instrument to another, silently and brilliantly.
Coffey, 21, is a self-trained master of more than 200 – and counting – musical instruments. The violin, various flutes, Chinese erhu and bagpipes are among his favorites.
The Booker T. Washington High School graduate participated in orchestral programs in the Norfolk Public Schools system, Tidewater Community College and eventually, Hampton University.
He has also begun the process of enrolling at Hampton University for Music and other courses.
Coffey’s unique ability to quickly master an instrument allowed him to outpace his fellow students in a matter of weeks from the rear chair to the front.
His mother, who works in the IT Department at Norfolk State University, is a protective lioness and “Momager” of her youngest offspring.
On the low end of the Autistic spectrum, this may be the partial clue to his unique abilities.
He could not talk until he was four, but he could read beyond his levels and had exceptional hearing, especially with music, according to his mother.
He recalls that his fascination with playing the violin began at age 4 as well. He heard a violin solo on a radio in his mother’s office shortly after he began speaking.
“I asked her what was playing,” he recalled. “She said it was a violin. I told her I wanted one, that it stood out to me as something unique.”
But due to the expense of hiring a teacher, constant travelling and other factors, his wish was denied.
Instead, his mother bought him a guitar and paid for lessons.
But one day his teacher called and told her “Come get your son, he is not interested in learning the guitar,” but he did know how to play it.
Then the family was off to Japan. His mother, a traveling Defense Department Civil Servant, managed a commissary at a Marine Base.
While overseas, her son immersed himself into the Japanese language and culture. During his time growing up there, he had secured the ability to play the various instruments used for music in the land of the rising sun.
When the family returned, he landed in the sixth grade Orchestra at Norfolk’s Blair Middle School.
“The first instrument I saw was the violin,” he recalled, “My wish had come through.”
But his mother was still reluctant, fearing he would quickly abandon it like the guitar. Initially renting one through the school, he later acquired his own thanks to the proceeds from family yard sales and a gift from a pastor.
Without the benefit of years of training by instructors, Coffey has mastered instruments around understanding the similarity of the “anatomy” of each class of instruments. The classes are strings (violin), woodwinds (flutes), brass (horns), percussion (drums) and others.
Coffey converted his new found love and mastery into an enterprise in junior high. While waiting for his mother to scoop him up from school, he would practice his violin out in public.
On his first day, someone dropped a $5 bill into his case.
In Britain it’s called “busting” where a singer or instrumentalist stands outside of venues and entertains patrons standing in “queues” or the “line,” awaiting service.
He instructed his mother to delay collecting him from school so he could collect more donations.
This is how his brand, “Mr. Silver Strings,” was born.
The young entrepreneur also began teaching people how to play instruments, repairing them and composing via an enterprise called the Music Department.
He also established a workshop component where he builds, modifies and repairs instruments.
Coffey said during various events regardless of the weather, he mans a kiosk, where all of his instruments are on display.
When the curious stop and pose questions, he then offers his “one minute music challenge.”
He allows them to attempt to play an instrument they fancy, and he gives instruction on doing so.
“I love teaching and sharing my gift to other people,” said Coffey. “People are surprised that learning to play an instrument is not that hard.”
Coffey just recently taught one of his blind pupils how to play the Bagpipes and march with a band in a parade.
After middle school, Coffey joined the Orchestra of Granby High School. Again, with ease, he moved up the ladder quickly towards the first chair.
He detected resentment due to his unique skills, having realized that a Black male possessing such skills was a threat to some.
“One day after practice, they set me up. They blocked me from leaving the room, then another student came in and knocked me down, hoping I would retaliate and be kicked out of the program as a troublemaker. But I did not respond.”
His mother, irate, confronted the school leadership. She withdrew him from Granby and enrolled him at Booker T. Washington High School.
“A child like Thaddeus, who is gifted, is always targeted,” his mother said. “I kept my shoes on … prepared to go to a school to stand up and protect my child. This was the worst case.”
At BTWHS, he socially and academically flourished, especially in music. Shy and awkward, instead of being bullied, he was embraced and protected by his fellow students.
He was even named the school’s ambassador to the community.
Mr. Silver Strings added “and Bagpipes” to his brand due to a very interesting turn of events about a year ago.
On some days at The Legend Brewery in Portsmouth, Coffey would join in on the Celtic Jam sessions hosted by international fiddling champion Sean Heely with his violin and other instruments.
The group was asked to play on the night the establishment would close for good.
Coffey recalled that after his fellow jamsters marched out of the bar’s doors, he was approached to join a Norfolk Bagpipe band by his now former pipe majors; they had played in the session with their bagpipes along with the Celtic group.
Black artists are not linked with the Scottish Bagpipes, for they were the Celtic instrument of war and provided high honor to fallen soldiers, police officers, royalty and other important figures.
Coffey has managed to change that idea.
He agreed and within weeks, advanced from the elementary to a viable level of performance of the instrument.
He left his former pipe band and soon established the new Portsmouth Pipes Pipe band, where he has ascended to the rank of Pipe Major.
Whether it be through music or another discipline, Coffey said he wants to share his unique gifts.
“I want to give back to my community,” he said. “I have been given so much, I want to share my gifts so others can enjoy music and the instruments we use to create it.”
“People ask me how he does it,” his mother said, “His gift is from God. How else can you explain it?”
