(Source: Southern University Marching Band Facebook Page)
Brian Simmons was a 10th grader when he saw Southern University’s Human Jukebox Marching Band square off against Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South band at a football game.
The hands-down winner to Simmons was the Human Jukebox. Two years later, even with a scholarship offer from another Southwestern Athletic Conference school, Texas Southern University, Simmons chose Southern.
Now at just 23 years old, Simmons is the Assistant Director of Bands of the Human Jukebox. It’s a tall task to be in leadership of a band that many say is the best Historically Black College marching band in the country and among the top college marching bands in the U.S.
Simmons said he was “stunned” to get the call but that he is ready.
Simmons, a baritone saxophone player, graduated from SU just over a month ago. The graduate of McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans said being in new position is a “dream come true.”
He said he was having a “bad day” at his job at Papa John’s Pizza a couple weeks ago when he found out that he was in the mix to be the next assistant band director. “Things weren’t going good for me that day,” Simmons remembers. Then he received the phone call from Nathan Haymer, the newly minted interim director of bands.
Just 36 years old, himself, Haymer said he was sure about Simmons when he called him to bring his résumé immediately to the campus.
“He is very capable,” said Haymer, adding that Simmons did some musical arrangements last year and is mature beyond his years musically and has good administrative skills. “He will assist me with the responsibilities of the program,” Haymer said.
"I see a lot in him, just like what I think ‘Mr. J’ (recently retired Director of Bands Lawrence Jackson) saw in me. More than anything I know he has my back,” Haymer said. “He may not agree with me on everything, but he will support the decisions that I make.”
Haymer was the assistant director of bands under Lawrence Jackson for six years.
Simmons laughs about the day that he got the call from Haymer about the position. “I was stunned. It took a few minutes to settle in.” Then he had to break the news to his boss who was about to send him on a pizza delivery.
Simmons said he hurried to Southern, still dressed in his Papa John gear, to meet with Human Resources, administrators and others on the campus. “It was great meeting all those people and the looks I got with my pizza shirt on,” he said.
The road to his new position started when he was in 11th grade and went on a trip to Jackson, Miss., to see Southern and Jackson State play. He went more for the band competition than the game.
Simmons remembers a couple of the songs that the Jukebox played that got his attention. “They played ‘Gotta Getcha into my life’ and ‘Never would have made it.’”
“It was the way they played and their style…I liked the band’s swagger and confidence. It was Southern after that.”
Additionally, Simmons said, he was recruited and persuaded by Jackson that Southern was the right place for him. “Mr. J. gave me the band speech. He can make you feel much bigger than you are.”
Sitting recently in his new office in the band hall, Simmons said, when he arrived at Southern and joined the band, “that was the first time I wanted to be a band director. I could see the pride, respect and professionalism of the band and Mr. Jackson. And, that’s what I wanted.”
He’s on his way. See More
— at Photo by John Oubre.
Replies
Congratulations Brian!! Can't wait to see what the Jukebox has in store this football season!!!
I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE OTHER BANDS NOW WE HAVE TWO ARRANGING GENUISES, IT'S CURTAINS FOR THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
Congrats to you BRIAN !!!
this was the obvious decision. congrats Black.from 35 ..
and they say people from New Orleans don't care about music.
Congrats SU, for creating this beast!
I love this story. I'm certain the man's résumé wasn't as long and decorated as some. But it's not a matter of if he's qualified, but is he qualifiable.
This is a great story that should be shared as folks step out. Many are just too concerned with stacking up credentials that do nothing more than qualify them on paper.
No one is really qualified for any occupation they seek. I'm certain Simmons didn't know how to make pizzas, operate the oven etc. before he worked at Papa John's. But he applied for the job believing he was "qualifiable." Same concept was used as he went forward. If that's not understood then the insecurity about not being qualified alone will limit your mind.
And my favorite, the fact he has good administrative (aka politics) was recognized along with his work. So many people are good at something but they ignore the politics and never understand why they're overlooked.
Awesome story.