Female ‘first’ for SU’s Human Jukebox

At first glance Dionne Fair, an 18-year-old freshmen from Baton Rouge’s McKinley High, appears to be just like the other 170-musicians in the Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band.
Just like the others, she had to accomplish several feats. She had to demonstrate the ability to play scales and sight-read. And sure she did it successfully, just as the others did, but one thing set her apart from everyone else.
Before Fair, a female at Southern has never played on the drum line.
“She is the first snare drummer in my entire history of 37 years that’s been able to crack that drum section,” said Dr. Isaac Greggs, leader of the world-renowned band. “She can play. Most drummers come in here and can beat, but she can play.”
Fair will perform with the rest of her legion at the McDonald’s Battle of the Bands on Nov. 25 in Houston, in part with the 32nd State Farm Bayou. The date is also when Fair, who is ceremoniously called a “crab” because of her classification, officially “crosses over” and becomes an official band member.
“It’s cool, being that I’m in it right now,” Fair said. “It hasn’t hit me yet. Being a crab – it’s like you have fun, but don’t have fun.
“It’s a lot of stuff that (as a) a crab, you can’t do that upperclassman can do,” Fair said.
During her freshman year at McKinley, Fair played the saxophone and then she played the French horn during her junior year. As a senior, she picked up the drumsticks and the rest is history. Call her a natural.
“I would always watch the boys,” Fair said. “I was interested and wanted to learn. I caught on to it fast.”
During her senior year and throughout the summer, she trained under the tutelage of Nathanial Dyer, a former Human Jukebox section leader. She is also learning the ropes from current section leaders Brian Sterling and Lorenzo Hart.
Fair said she knows she has a long road to travel. She also said because some criticized her for her instrument of choice, a welcome mat was not exactly laid out.
“I always knew I would make it. A lot of people were on my side and a lot of people weren’t. It’s not easy,” Fair said. “There were a lot of people to give helping and encouraging words to get me through.”
Fair said she received her main support from her family. But, she was still faced with opposition from some of her musical family.
“I didn’t like it first, because there were no females in the drum section. The drum section is basically for males,” said Timothy Shelly, a sophomore cymbals player and civil engineering major from New Orleans.
“I was like, ‘man, this lil’ chick tripping, she ain’t going to make it,’ ” Shelly said. “When I heard her play, I was like, ‘good, she can play. She’s good.’ A lot of us accept her.”
At most historically black colleges, having a female on the drum line is not something directors are willing to voluntarily accept. Edward Graves has been directing Tennessee State University’s band for 26 years and said Fair’s accomplishments should not go unnoticed.
“For years at most HBCUs, it was only males,” Graves said. “I would say it’s more of such traditions at the school. I’m sure she (Fair) is very qualified to make the drum line and I think it’s commendable that it happened.”
Graves said in previous years, women have steadily shown interest in his band’s drum line. This year, he has three females in the corps.
On the other hand, Greggs said women have tried out for the drum line, but lacked the necessary qualifications. He said a lot of alumni wouldn’t believe a girl could make the drum line, that is, until Fair.
“They figure it’s a ‘man thing,’ ” Greggs said. “It’s some that believe girls shouldn’t be in the band period.”
Freddie King, a former cymbals player at Jackson State, said he does not find women on the drum line a big deal.
“They learn just like everybody else,” King said. “It’s because we never looked at it like ‘Awe, she’s a girl.’ ”
Jackson State has had women on the drum line and even as drum major, a spot that has never been held by a female Southernite.
“The thing is, it’s a high standard over here,” said Ronnie Bell, a senior business management major and band member. “If you can’t play, you’re not going to play, male or female.”