The HBCU Band Experience with Christy Walker

TW: sexual assault Christy talks with Nathan B. Haymer, the former director of Southern University's renowned "Human Jukebox." They delve into the intriguing details of Nathan's newly released tell-all book, "Juked," where he candidly shares the highs and lows of his tenure as SU's director. From the intricacies of leading the Human Jukebox to the turn of events that led to his federal prison sent...

In this BONUS episode, Christy chats with Frank and La Keisha Johnson, founders of the HBCU Culture Legacy Foundation , and alumni of Johnson C. Smith University's International Institution of Sound (IIOS). Christy learns the (funny) story of how they met, what they learned marching in the IIOS, and most importantly, how they give back to band programs through their foundation work.  Follow them!...

Can you believe it's been 20 years since the movie Drumline was in theatres? Christy brings back friends of the podcast, Michael Lee, Warren Shaw, and Geoff Thompson to reminisce on the making and release of the movie. They also discuss the movie's impact on HBCU bands of today.  This episode drops 20 years to the day that the movie was released.  The HBCU Band Experience with Christy Walker will...

In this episode, Christy chats with Corey "Mr. Hanky" Dennard, an award-winning and chart-topping music producer who has worked with artists like T.I., City Girls, 2 Chainz, and more. Really, he's produced a LOT of artists we know and love. Corey is a proud member of Southern University's "Human Jukebox", and talks about how things he's learned in the Jukebox help him in the studio.   Corey can be...

This week, Christy chats with "Prof" Larry Jenkins, an Assistant Band Director for the "Aristocrat of Bands" at Tennessee State University (his alma mater). Hear some fun facts about him (for one - he almost didn't major in music), and he drops some news on some future AOB projects that we cant wait to see!    Larry's Instagram: @profjenkins

This week, Christy talks with her friend Darrell Spires, who marched for Tuskegee University's "Marching Crimson Pipers" in the 70s and 80s.  Learn about how this jazz-head, "Accidental Bandsman", and proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi used lessons he learned in the band in his successful career as an engineer. And being from Tuskegee, there MUST be a mention of the Commodores!

This week Christy chats with Larry J. Allen, better known as LA or YOU.C.LA, who is a producer, singer, writer, choreographer, and more! Larry was the head percussionist for Beyonce's "Homecoming", has performed with artists including J. Cole, Missy Elliott, and Cardi B, and has been seen in productions on HBO, MTV, and BET. Larry is a PROUD alumnus of Prairie View A&M's Marching Storm, where he w...

This week Christy speaks with Kim Evans, who marched for FAMU's "Marching 100" and now serves as the President of the Marching 100 Alumni Association. Kim reps the '100' ALL DAY EVERY DAY and is a true ambassador for the program. Find out about her humble beginnings and how marching for FAMU prepares her for any obstacles that get in her way.  She's also an author in "The HBCU Experience  - HBCU B...

Did you know that "Drumline" was NOT the first movie about HBCU Bands? This week, Christy interviews Darryl D. Lassiter, who wrote and directed "Pay the Price", which was released several years before Drumline. Darryl is an alum of Alabama State's "Mighty Marching Hornets" and shares his marching story and some good ol' HBCU band history. Listen and learn!     Pay the Price Trailer: https://youtu....

This week, Christy chats with an old friend, Thurman D. Hollins, who has led 3 HBCU band programs - Johnson C. Smith, St. Augustine's, and most recently, North Carolina Central. Find out about how this "Mad Band Director" rose through the ranks from humble beginnings, and what he's doing next. Also, Thurman tells Christy some news about his career that shocks her!  "Diary of a Mad Band Director" a...

One thing about Dr. Rodney Chism - he always has something going on! Rodney shares with Christy how his upbringing in Memphis exposed him to all sorts of musical influences. Listen to how he went from one HBCU band (listen and find out who) to UAPB's M4, to becoming an assistant at Jackson State, to becoming a head band director at multiple HBCUs.    Rodney is also a contributing author in The HBC...

Picture your favorite HBCU Marching Band. Maybe you marched for them, maybe you're an alumnus or a fan. Now imagine that program ceasing to exist. Christy speaks with Maria James, an alumna of Virginia Union University. She marched in VUU's band, and after the program folded, she fought on the main lines to get them back and thriving on the yard. Listen and find out how she did it. Maria is also a...

Our Season 3 kickoff begins with Christy's interview with Brian Simmons, Head Band Director of Texas Southern University's Ocean of Soul and alumnus of Southern University. Come learn about Brian's meteoric rise from student, to assistant director, to head band director. It's a great one! Oh yeah, and another HBCU Band Book is on the way! The HBCU Experience - HBCU Band Alumni 2nd Edition drops Ju...

We're back! Listen to what's been going on since our last season concluded. 

It's Book Release Week! This week, Christy interviews contributing authors in The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Band Alumni Edition. This book is the first-ever compilation of stories from HBCU Band alumni and will be released on Tuesday, April 27 on Amazon. Guest: Contributing Author Taylor Whitehead

It's Book Release Week! This week, Christy interviews contributing authors in The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Band Alumni Edition. This book is the first-ever compilation of stories from HBCU Band alumni and will be released on Tuesday, April 27 on Amazon. Guest: Contributing Author Rashad Watters

It's Book Release Week! This week, Christy interviews contributing authors in The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Band Alumni Edition. This book is the first-ever compilation of stories from HBCU Band alumni and will be released on Tuesday, April 27 on Amazon. Guest: Contributing Author Chevis Anderson

It's Book Release Week! This week, Christy interviews contributing authors in The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Band Alumni Edition. This book is the first-ever compilation of stories from HBCU Band alumni and will be released on Tuesday, April 27 on Amazon. Guest: Contributing Author Chase Arrington

It's Book Release Week! This week, Christy interviews contributing authors in The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Band Alumni Edition. This book is the first-ever compilation of stories from HBCU Band alumni and will be released on Tuesday, April 27 on Amazon. Guest: Contributing Author Charles Conner  

SURPRISE! WE'RE BACK! And we wrote a book! The HBCU Experience: HBCU Band Alumni Edition includes 36 HBCU marching band alumni who share their stories. We're dropping interviews with some of the authors this week. Hear all about it! The HBCU Experience: HBCU Band Alumni Edition goes for sale on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 on Amazon. 

Stephanie Sanders never thought that she would participate in a marching band, much less become a HBCU band celebrity (she really is!). Stephanie is a multi-hyphenate: an associate director/music professor/jazz band director/classical musician/jazz artist. Find out her story, and how she does it all! Guest – Stephanie Sanders

This week's episode is focused on auxillary in the band, and it's long overdue. Christy talks with Candis Alston-Davis, who not only danced in Virginia State's "Essence of Troy", she also served as the instructor for South Carolina State's "Champagne" dancers. Candis shares the full circle moment of joining a HBCU dance squad and dancing at the Honda Battle of the Bands, to teaching a squad that d...

Marching. Arranging. Logistics. Directing. You naaaame it, Kerry Gilliard has done it at Bowie State University (shoutout to Shirley Caesar). As a member and alum of Bowie State's "Symphony of Soul", Kerry learned how to run a HBCU band program from the ground up. Find out how he has channeled this experience into a thriving career as a band and chorus director.  Guest: Kerry Gilliard

Christy reunites with Gerard Howard, creator of BlackCollegeBands.com, MarchingNetwork. TV, and more recently, MarchingSport.com. Gerard talks about his time marching for Jackson State, and how he balances being a web designer, photographer, videographer, musician, and radio show host. Oh, and he talks about how the Boombox Classic and the Zero Quarter got their names.  Guest: Gerard Howard 

Christy interviews Jamie Brunson, one of her favorite "rivals" (he's really like a brother, but don't tell him that). Jamie is a PROUD alumnus of the Marching 101 of South Carolina State University, and has a thriving career as a middle school principal.  Listen to Jamie and Christy discuss rivalries between the Sargeant Brothers, 100 vs 101, Thunder vs Thundar, and 101 vs the BGMM - with a little...