For 17 members of the Southern University Human Jukebox and one dancing doll, four years of performing for the Battle of the Bands and the Bayou Classic halftime show has come to an emotional end.
The Diamond Anniversary of this year’s Bayou Classic marked the end of their tenure in the band.
”It hasn’t hit me yet,” said Gabriel Langley, trumpet section leader and marching band senior class president.
Langley said when he entered the band in the fall of 2000, 160 freshman started the journey with him. By the end of his “crab” year, 67 made it through. Today only 18 remain.
“When I think of all the people that held on– it’s amazing. It’s worth dropping a tear for,” said Langley, a senior biology pre-medicine major from Dallas. Other outgoing seniors share Langley’s sentiments.
Trombone section leader Alex Thomas said he has accomplished everything he wanted to do and he owes it all to God and his directors.
“It was a long time coming,” said senior trumpet player Shane Stringer.” I feel the Class of 2000 went out with a bang.”
After four years of performing before everyone including dignitaries and fans at professional football games Stringer, a psychology major from Walnut, Calif. wanted to leave band director Isaac “Doc” Greggs with a message: “I told you I could dance.”
Sunae Brown – Dancing Doll Captain
Gabriel Langley – Trumpet
Chris Green – Trumpet
Chris Smith -Trumpet
Shane Stringer – Trumpet
Leonard Pete – Trumpet
Lawrence Cooper – Trombone
Reuben Johnson – Trombone
Alex Thomas – Trombone
Israel Williams – Saxophone
Matthew Sims – Saxophone
Everson Martin – Saxophone
Damien Heard -Cymbals
Clifford Southern – Baritone
James Thomas – Baritone
Troy Williams – Tuba
Jeremy Jemkins- Tuba
Robert Jackson – Tuba
