SU Band featured in LPB documentary

Once again it’s show time for the Southern University Marching Band.
It’s not the Super Bowl, or another Presidential Inauguration. It’s not even the Bayou Classic.
It’s lights, camera, action, as the Marching Band stars in “The Southern Band: Jamming with the Jags,” a documentary premiering on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Network. The show will air March 5 at 7p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
The documentary will recollect the history of the band from the early 1900s until now.
“I think it’s a good idea that the documentary is premiering because it shares an important piece of SU history,” said Joseph M. Sylvain, senior trumpet player and animal science major from Edgard.
Alumnus Dorothy Kendrick, senior producer at LPB, arranged the show.
Kendrick graduated from Southern University in journalism and has been working in the television news arena for 20 years.
“The founders of Southern University helped to build the very foundation of their school through the power of music, long before the band had the tools necessary to make a notable mark,” said Kendrick.
Dr. Isaac Greggs has been the band director since 1969 where he started with a 64-piece band. Greggs has been associated with Southern University for more than half a century. “This documentary is a great idea, it will enhance the university,” said Greggs.
According to Kendrick, Beth Courtney, executive director at LPB wanted to do the project for about three years and all the pieces fell in place to get the job done this year.
“I have been doing documentaries for a year and working on the SU piece for four months,” said Kendrick. “The band has left its mark on much of the rest of the world. You’ll be inspired with the will of one man, Isaac Greggs, to set the standards for bands for predominantly African-American universities.”