Earth's Most Powerful Poetry Band

Upcoming Events

Follow Us!

Keep in Touch

Join the email list!

Earth's Most Powerful Poetry Band

February 2017

In the Realm of the Senses receives 3 Just Plain Folks Music Award Nominations.  Best Spoken Word Album, Best Spoken Word Song "Owlium", Best Spoken Word Song "And the gods were music".

*

August 2013

In the Realm of the Senses album receives the Independent Music Awards' Vox Populi award for BEST SPOKEN WORD WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT.

*

March 2013

In the Realm of the Senses nominated for best Spoken Word album for the 12 annual Independent Music Awards

*

June 2012

Larry Handy graduates with MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing arts at the University of California, Riverside

*

Spring 2012

Totem Maples finally release In the Realm of the Senses.

*

November 27, 2010

Totem Maples begin recording 4th studio album: Transistor Poetics

*

February 2010

Larry accepted into MFA program in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Riverside

*

Saturday February 21, 2009

Totem Maples complete In the Realm of the Senses

*

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Totem Maples begin recording 3rd studio Album: In the Realm of the Senses

*

February 2006

5th Annual IMAs.  Totem Maples receive award from Independent Music Awards for best Rap/Hip Hop album Trip to Sun and best Jam Band Album Trip to the Sun and Ars Poetica.

*

November 7, 2004

Totem Maples perform at Just Plain Folks Independent Music Awards. 

*

July 2004

"Gethsemane" from the Ars Poetica album receives  nomination for Best Spoken Word Song by the Just Plain Folks Independent Music Awards.

*

July 4th 2003

After a long 13 months, Totem Maples finish their two studio projects. The titles are Album 1: Trip to the Sun, and Album 2: Ars Poetica.

*

November 2002

Catharina Dinwoodey leaves the group; the seven members of Totem Maples now become six.

*

June 2002

Totem Maples enter the studio again, this time with producer/engineer Ben Eggehorn to record a revised version of their first album, as well as a 2nd album.

*

January 14, 2002

Larry turns down Def Poetry Jam audition, in response to the TV show’s producers not wanting the rest of Totem Maples to accompany him musically.  

*

October 2001

Joanne Kim plays keyboards first time at Sweet Daddy's Coffee Lounge.

*

April 2001

Totem Maples prepare to do a project for X-Patriot studios. The project being a pilot for an MTV spoken word show. The project fails as X-Patriot dismantles.

*

January 2001

Brian Sadler plays electric guitar first time at Sweet Daddy's Coffee Lounge, in Glendora, CA.

*

Thursday, December 9, 1999

Totem Maples play first paid LA gig at Sunset Strip's Crooked Bar/Coconut Teaszer.

*

July 1999

Totem Maples recorded their first demo LP: Nus eht ot Pirt, a 15 track studio project at Tru One Records near Whittier, CA., co produced by Sean "The Ace" Hall. The recording began at 5:00pm on a Wednesday evening and lasted till 2:00am Thursday the next morning. The miracle recording cost only $700 to make (recording, mixing, and mastering).

*

April 1999

After a coffeehouse performance, Totem Maples sell 41 audio cassettes of their high energy Generic Soul radio performances.

*

March 1999

KAPU, Azusa Pacific University's radio station debuted and Generic Soul, hosted by Matt Coleman and Justin Punzalan was the radio station's first variety show. On opening night, Matt Coleman along with Larry and Erik performed live on the radio a rendition of "City Jazz and Fire" joined by Justin Punzalan who, for the first time, played turntables with Totem Maples.

*

January 1999

The Maples become Totem Maples.  Sean "The Ace" Hall of Cosmic Jukebox sneaks Larry Matt and Erik into a Hollywood studio to record a 3 song demo.  Due to complications they only finish 1 song, "Wizard's Lullaby".

*

December 1998

Larry, Matt, and a bassist Allen Neuenschwander record a rough tape at their friend Michael Barber's house.

*

November 1998

Catharina Dinwoodey plays violin on stage with The Maples, becoming a member.

*

September 1997 through September 1998

Larry Erik and Matt become The Maples and perform throughout California’s San Gabriel Valley.

*

September 1997

Erik Elsey plays congas with Larry and Matt at Know Where Coffee House in Monrovia, CA.

*

Thursday, April 24, 1997

Matt Coleman puts music to Larry Handy's poetry, thus marking the nucleus of the band as they perform for the first time together "Ocean/Modern Prometheus" and "April" at Azusa Pacific University's coffee house.

*

Thursday, March 30, 1997

Matt Coleman talks Larry Handy into reading a poem, "Microscopism", in front of a large coffee house audience at Azusa Pacific University.  His first ever major reading in front of peers.

*

Spring 1995

Matt Coleman and Larry Handy meet at a college scholarship banquet.

*