Jackson takes over SU Band

With the retirement of Dr. Isaac Greggs, famed director of the Southern University Marching Band, Lawrence Jackson, associate director, has been appointed to take the band’s helm effective Jan. 1 of next year.
“We think he has done an excellent job as associate director,” said Margaret Ambrose, executive vice chancellor of Southern. “He has proven his commitment, we believe the capability is there and he came highly recommended by Dr. Greggs.”
Ambrose said Jackson is a long time protege of Greggs.
During his career, Jackson managed to accumulate over 30 years of experience in directing bands, serving as a director at Clinton High School, Clinton Middle School and Clinton Elementary School, then as an arranger and associate director of Southern’s band.
“He developed the Clinton band into one of the best bands in Louisiana,” Ambrose said. “It was like an imitation of the SU band.”
Jackson said he felt that he was chosen because of his experience and the faith the administration has in him to continue as well as build upon the legacy of the “Human Jukebox.”
“I think because of my past success at elementary, and high school band, and because of my success here as an arranger and my advanced degrees, they (the administration) felt that they had someone on the staff that could continue the great legacy of the band,” Jackson said. “The job itself is not going to be a big challenge because I’ve done it for 30 years.”
Jackson said the biggest challenge he will face in his new capacity would be overcoming state mandated budget cuts.
“Getting the resources we need to continue the great legacy we have will be a challenge,” he said. “We need more resources to move this band into the new millennium, we really need financial support.”
He said that recruitment is a top priority, but in the wake of cuts, the band would have to focus more on in-state recruitment.
“We won’t be able to offer as many scholarships, so we will have to focus primarily on recruiting in-state,” Jackson said. “Without money, we can’t just get students to come to Southern University with just the opportunity to be a part of the band.”
Even with tough challenges of finding resources looming, Jackson is optimistic of what’s to come of the SU band, and promised students, faculty, administrators and fans alike can look forward to more excitement from the band on the field.
“The cuts certainly won’t affect the band’s performance,” Jackson said. “We are going to have nothing but excitement. When we come in the stadium be looking for fireworks, we not just going to be marching in.”
Jackson said fans could expect new drills, a different look, more dancing dolls and a larger band, just to name a few changes he plans to initiate.
“It’s going to be very innovative,” he said. “It’s going to be good drilling and good singing, but we’re going to maintain our class. We (are) not going to re-invent the wheel, we just going to put some twenties’ on it.”