SOUTH-CENTRAL : Band Plays On, Even Without Instruments

Call him the Pied Piper of South-Central.

Phillip Arrington, 40, is tooting his horn and banging his drums to lead local disadvantaged youths away from the “rats” of the streets.

Through World Flaggs USA, a nonprofit music and education program Arrington founded two years ago from the ashes of the Crenshaw district computer business he lost in the riots, Arrington hopes to one day produce a 300-unit drum-and-bugle corps consisting of children from inner-city schools.

“The program is necessary to keep the children’s time constructive rather than them becoming professional spray-painters or gang members,” he said.

With the assistance of the property owner and various corporate sponsors, Arrington took one year to refurbish the once abandoned office building at 6519 S. Vermont Ave. where he now runs World Flaggs.

Starting this month, Arrington has gathered about 50 6- to 12-year-olds at Budlong Elementary School, where they practice drumming, bugling and marching for two to four hours, three days a week. The instruction is free.

“I like this because I like to experience more things as I grow up,” said Nicolas Smith, 9, a member of the horn section.

“I want to learn how to do stuff like this because when I grow up, I can go on talent shows,” said his twin, Nicole, who also wants to become a bugler.

But there are no horns. No drums. And no uniforms.

Instead, the drummers pound their drumsticks on slabs of wood stacked on milk crates. The buglers blow air out of mouthpieces and the color guard marches around the blacktop with flagless wooden poles.

“That’s why I’m hollering for help,” Arrington said. “If we can get the money and equipment we need, we can make it from there. It’s getting to the point where I don’t have that much time to instruct the kids because I’m trying to pull enough money to keep the program going.”

Despite the property owner’s help, World Flaggs is two months behind on rent and utilities. “If we have to move, that might kill the program,” Arrington said.

In a detailed budget outlined by Arrington, World Flaggs needs approximately $220,000 for musical instruments and uniforms and about $30,000 a year to cover its daily operations. Once the corps is on its feet, income from performance fees and competitions should help fatten the coffers, according to the budget plan.

Although Arrington said he had difficulty recruiting local vendors for World Flaggs, the organization has received cash and equipment donations from large sponsors such as Pioneer Electronics, Home Base, Kodak and U.S. Gypsum Co.

Arrington imported his knowledge as a drummer from Chicago’s West Side, a part of the city similar to south Los Angeles. He was a drummer on various drum-and-bugle corps in three states from the ages of 11 to 14.

After a shaky career as a jazz drummer, for various local and national acts, he went into painting but never stopped dreaming about organizing his own drum-and-bugle corps.

“We’re going to stay together until it comes together,” Arrington said. “We only have one direction, and that’s forward.”

Information: (213) 758-4890.