Dr. Kedric Taylor, the band director of the incredible Human Jukebox, shared his excitement for the upcoming Battle of the Bands!
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00:00 All right, all right
00:02 Guys, we got him back
00:05 It's none other than the human jukeboxes
00:08 Man director. Dr. Taylor was going on my friend
00:13 Good man going good going good. I can't complain
00:16 God has been good to us man. We're here healthy
00:19 And you know, we're just trying to make it work and making things move as swiftly as possible
00:25 Yeah
00:27 It's gonna be moving pretty swiftly going into Saturday night. You guys gonna be down here in H town
00:34 Battle the bands. Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. We're looking forward to it. Well good
00:41 Before we go on guys, this segment is brought to you by the fitting where that's our title sponsor for this year for the blow
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00:55 50 rats calm for the latest in apparel
00:59 The young lady who owns fitting where is an SU grad?
01:04 So you guys got a support? She's from issue and she's HBCU
01:09 All right, well doc talk to me a little bit about what's happening with the human jukebox
01:17 How do you feel about upcoming?
01:19 battle of the bands you guys got a lot of
01:24 Got a lot of competition headed your way
01:26 Yeah, we do and we're excited about it. You know
01:30 We pride ourselves on being better than our last performance of the students executing do what they supposed to do
01:36 It's not a question about it that Southern versus human jukebox definitely gonna be in the top
01:42 Well, all right because I know last time you and I spoke we talked a little bit about
01:49 some of the background what you guys have done and
01:54 That's brought you thus far, but everybody knows about the human jukebox. Everybody knows about the
02:00 World-renowned Southern University band what makes this band this season a little bit different than others in the past
02:08 Well, I will say this is a special group
02:11 My freshman have done a phenomenal job making the transition from high school to college. They're adopting very fast
02:19 They came with good qualities already in musicianship
02:22 So they came with broad talent that we are molding and bending and shaping to become
02:27 Southern University human jukebox band members that we know to be and so they are receptives to change and
02:34 They are the three things that I always like to talk about
02:36 Teachable coachable and trainable and I can't say enough about our upperclassmen. They came back with the right mindset
02:42 They came back ready to concentrate. Dr. Gregg's always say be at the right place the right time ready to concentrate and so
02:49 That has transitioned from last year to now
02:52 And I'm excited, you know, I'm sure the fans gonna be excited when they hear the group
02:57 They got a snippet at fan day
02:59 But that's just a snippet of what to expect and to come from the Southern University human jukebox
03:04 Man, you guys have a deep repertoire of songs that you're going to be bringing on any well
03:12 I know you can't release what you guys gonna be, you know as far as your playlist is concerned
03:18 But is there anything that's gonna be hot new?
03:21 There's gonna get it, you know, get it grinding and have that NRG Stadium rocking
03:27 well, um
03:30 We're the human jukebox
03:32 Suppliers to a too many because it's always something that we can relate to the audience with
03:37 We never like to play anything that we don't think will translate to the audience
03:42 So we like to educate and entertain but in the process of educating
03:46 We definitely want to make sure that they understand in the pedagogy that we're possession to them
03:52 You know, so a lot of times you got teachers that like teach way over the students head
03:56 We like to make sure that the audience in which we are
03:59 You know performing to understand what we're doing
04:03 So we definitely gonna put in some a lot of the traditional things
04:06 But we're going to also keep it contemporary at the same time so that we can
04:10 Connect with all age groups in all genres of music
04:13 Okay. All right. Let's talk about the competition as it is
04:17 You guys will have some battles in the stands
04:21 But also it's on the field what people are going to be waiting for right?
04:25 How long is the show how long will you guys have to be able to put on your show and be judged fairly?
04:33 so
04:35 Every band gets 10 minutes. I guess that's on and off the field
04:39 So we based our show around that, you know sticking to the 10 minutes because well normal halftime
04:44 They cut us when you're waiting seven minutes and the home team might sneak a few seconds in there
04:50 You know being that their football team don't run them over
04:53 We're getting an extra three minutes
04:56 So I think we can
04:58 Incorporate a few more things in that extra three minutes that we normally don't get to do in our basic halftime show
05:04 So we're gonna be excited about it, you know, 10 minutes is a nice time and I think it's a enough time
05:09 For one group because after so long it gets kind of long and drawn out
05:15 So you want to make sure you hit it and quit it don't hit it too long
05:17 Are you gonna be you know sitting there and and waiting for the next group?
05:21 Everybody's gonna be tired by the time the last band get up, you know
05:25 So I would definitely say everybody needs to stick to the 10 minutes to make sure that everybody have a fair chance at entertaining the crowd
05:33 Yeah, I went to one battle the bands and one I think they stayed on the field at least 20 minutes man
05:41 Trying to make their case
05:43 Yeah, that's like a pastor that putting too many points on the paper and trying to get all of them in it's like after
05:52 20 30 minutes you lost the people
05:54 You just need three pass just gives us three points. That's all we can take right now
05:58 Say that the last three for the next week
06:03 Alright, so let's talk about who's the new drum major for this season
06:07 So we have our same drum major from last season on the ties Johnson from New Iberia, Louisiana
06:13 And he's done a tremendous job
06:15 And his growth over the summer to now his leadership, you know
06:20 Most times when people see the drum major they think about dancing and to think about you know directing the band
06:25 But for Southern University, we think about leadership
06:28 Not only does he lead the band with the mace he leads in academics as well
06:33 So he's not just a drum major that goes out and do the backband and comes back up and you know much down the field
06:38 He actually leading the band and academics as well. So the Todd is doing a great job leading his peers
06:43 And leading the other leaders in the band to victory
06:47 All right. Well, congratulations new Iberia boy. You might be kin to me man. I got some roots in new Iberia as well
06:55 I'm ready generate Louisiana. So okay. All right. Yeah, man, so that's pretty good
07:01 Talk about what's happening. Well, will we see the dancing dolls?
07:06 You can't have a human human jukebox without the dancing dolls
07:10 The fabulous dancing dolls are excited. They have a lot of energy that they are ready to display on this weekend
07:19 We excited about the girls because you know, we have some new young ladies on the team and they are you know
07:25 This is that first performance. So they looking forward to it
07:27 The fans are looking forward to seeing who's the new captain, you know, everybody want to know who's the new captain?
07:32 Who's the new captain? Oh, you know who's the new members on the team?
07:35 So the young ladies are definitely ready to grace the field with their presence
07:40 They're gonna be phenomenal. I seen them, you know
07:43 Just in passing and gave me chills just looking out of it, you know, some of the things that they're doing
07:49 I'm excited about what they're gonna bring to the field on this weekend. So fabulous dance noise definitely will be in the place
07:54 All right, any new routines that you guys gonna give to the people anything that any new wrinkles?
08:01 Well, we came up with a new
08:04 Design for our field show and I think a lot of people don't appreciate
08:09 New enough. I think we we get caught up in the dance routines
08:17 Glitz and the glamour and we forget
08:19 What made marching bands?
08:21 Exciting and important. It's the drill the showmanship, you know
08:25 That's right that portion like to go out there and keep those lines straight to have those students marching with a high knee-lift
08:32 Continuing to keep a good characteristic tone on the horn, you know, just being able to do that
08:37 That's hard. And I think the appreciation for it has gone down tremendously
08:41 And so we're continuing to push the envelope on. Hey guys, we're not just a stand band
08:46 We are a marching band and I think that's a message that we want to send to everyone
08:51 You know a lot of people like to go out and stand in place and play a lot of songs
08:55 But we're actually gonna do formations. We're gonna actually do some exciting
09:00 Drills that you know, we know had nobody has done because we created so it's gonna definitely be an exciting
09:07 formation that people can look forward to a few matter of fact and
09:11 You can't lead a field without showcasing your beautiful sound the band sounds wonderful
09:18 So we're gonna definitely showcase that sound and we definitely gonna rock the house
09:21 All right. Look man. I heard that Texas Southern
09:25 Dr. Simmons was talking some some noise man. He said you guys better bring it
09:33 We're at home they gonna have to bring it for us to us so
09:38 Well
09:43 Mr. Simmons definitely was a part of our staff here. So, you know, I will say this he automatically knows what's coming
09:51 He automatically knows how we come and it ain't no if man's a bus about it that we are coming
09:56 I don't want to take Deon quote, but we're coming
10:02 Look man, I can't wait. I will be there
10:05 Ready to hear you guys a lot of people don't know the fact that when you guys
10:12 You have you down the field?
10:14 Processions right and also you have your feature when you have the dancing girls and it's got to be up tunes right there
10:22 But you also have one of those
10:24 Slow ballots that you guys got to play as well to show some
10:29 precision in
10:31 slower time
10:33 Will that be a part of the routine coming up as well?
10:36 Yes, most definitely. That's when I was talking about about showcasing our sound
10:40 You know, you can't have a band without having all the emotions of music
10:46 I watched the Whitney Houston documentary. I say man, it was really good, but it took you on an emotional roller coaster
10:53 Man that it was able but I felt it is like you was like, oh really I know this and this
11:00 Oh, that's how that came by then. It was like real then they bring it back up
11:04 So that's what we like to think about in the show like a movie, you know putting on a production
11:08 So yeah that we definitely will have a feature to where
11:11 Everyone can feel the emotion and just kind of like let out everything that they've been dealing with in life
11:16 Whatever life has handed you, you know through music
11:19 We all feel that we can get through those things cuz man, that's the art of feeling it
11:23 So it is the things that we feel from within so we definitely looking forward to
11:26 Showcasing that side of the program as well our fans
11:30 Yeah, what what's gonna happen with my boys on the systems?
11:34 Tubas, how they gonna they gonna bring it man. What?
11:38 It's thunder and lightning in there
11:40 They really they feeling it this year the tools are all right, what about the megaphones the trumpets and the
11:50 Trombones man, those guys like to blare. They like to blast it. What's happening?
11:56 Well, now our trumpets have a really really nice rich sound trombones are developing right now
12:02 And I would definitely say French horns are chirping
12:05 That's good man, um
12:11 couple of tidbits talk to me about I know you guys are going to
12:17 Play in the Bayou classic that's every year right? But is there anything any other special appearances?
12:24 That the band is going to have this season that we need to know about
12:28 Well, I would definitely say
12:31 Some of our appearances will come but we plan at every game this semester. We would not miss one game
12:38 So we definitely gonna make all of the games
12:42 I
12:44 Would definitely say that we will have a few performances that are not on the calendar
12:48 That we are planning as of now and it's gonna be nice
12:52 It's gonna be a big event that people could come out and enjoy later on in the season
12:57 So I think they should be looking for that because it's gonna come out soon
13:00 Okay, I know sometimes you guys are invited to do the Saints games and we actually doing the Pelicans as well
13:09 Oh, we know you guys doing the Saints the first week. I told first Sunday in October
13:14 I think it's like the third or the fourth
13:16 Okay. All right. I think I'll be in that in the building there man, so they'll be good
13:21 Last but not least
13:24 When we hear your band
13:29 Tell people right now
13:32 This is your chance. Tell them right now what they're gonna expect from the human jukebox on Saturday
13:41 I
13:43 would definitely say
13:45 From the human jukebox you want to accept the fact that we will be in the place
13:51 I want you to know that we're gonna keep that traditional sound that's not gonna change
13:56 But we definitely gonna be innovative and we're gonna definitely continue to be creative
14:01 No, no one, you know, we don't want to see the same
14:04 Rendition, we want to see a new rendition but with the same quality of sound with the same quality of
14:13 Enthusiasm I would call it from the band the fans feed off of our band and we're gonna bring the energy in the stadium
14:20 It's almost like when you see that blue and gold come through the gates. It's like oh that goes Southern
14:25 See those University the human jukebox in those tubas glistening
14:30 Yeah, it's just gonna send that message to everyone like all right, they here. So when the band actually play they first note
14:36 You're gonna be looking forward to a treat
14:40 It ain't Halloween yet
14:43 Okay, all right ain't no tricks ain't no tree it's all gonna be trees. All right. Got you. Got you. Um, I
14:49 Always wanted to know this man because a
14:54 Couple of buddies of mine, you know because I played at 35 in New Orleans. Okay drum major drum age. All right
15:02 and
15:04 basically
15:06 Why is it that some of the bands haven't considered like?
15:11 Probably a couple of times out of the year in the stands to feature an audit
15:17 one artists like
15:20 Featured let's say Whitney Houston this week
15:23 We're gonna play some like multitude of Whitney Houston tunes or we're gonna do Prince or we're gonna do
15:29 Whomever have you guys ever considered doing something to that nature?
15:33 We actually did in
15:36 2021
15:38 Or it might have been yeah, 2021
15:40 We did a home show against Florida and him where our whole show was
15:45 Five heartbeat. Oh, really? Yeah, we did a whole five Harvey show
15:49 And we've made the five hearts on the field and we had the actual five
15:54 Heartbeats they might not have been the originators, but they definitely
15:59 And they did a great job you got to pull that show up it's really nice
16:05 And I mean, I think group should
16:07 emulate that more because it's more pieces at art, but we actually kind of like
16:12 emulated the movie a little bit try to be different, you know, cuz
16:15 My motto has been not just doing a traditional halftime show, but putting on a show, you know
16:21 More entertained by something that they haven't never seen before more so did you know a lot of it's like one person in art is
16:30 Like man, why y'all won't do the Circles?
16:31 I'm like, do you know like everybody in the crowd are tired of seeing us do the Circles, you know
16:35 You know, it is like that one person though that a bait your head up and believe in that you need to go back
16:41 And when you do the Circles didn't everybody like that go Southern go with these Circles again
16:46 As the director you got to be mindful of those type of people and you know
16:52 It's not wrong with that. If you want to see this do the Circles we got plenty of drills
16:55 What we've done the Circles you can go back and watch it, you know
16:59 but in order for us to continue to
17:01 Keep our foot on the gas being one of the number one bands in the nation
17:07 You got to be innovative creative. You got to keep creating
17:10 Create another double, you know
17:13 You got to keep running the bar and raising the bar so that people will be able to say okay, man
17:19 That's nice. That's new. So we did a five heartbeat show. So look follow us this season. That's all I tell you
17:25 I'm not gonna give it away but follow us this season. We got a few things about sleeves that we want to do
17:30 All right. Did y'all have it?
17:33 junior
17:35 Hey, I could have got him I would have sold out
17:37 We actually got one coming oh we got one coming so man stay tuned I want to give it away
17:47 you know, I won't let our opponents know what we're doing, but
17:51 Definitely stay tuned. All right. Look the national battle the bands it will be at NRG Stadium
17:59 You guys will be against some great
18:02 bands like Florida a.m. As well as
18:06 Texas Southern University, they will be there as well and
18:10 You know, it's just gonna be one of those experiences that a lot of people have to take
18:16 pride in to see how well
18:20 organized
18:21 These bands are but how?
18:23 Entertaining they are as well
18:26 Look man being an ex-musician
18:28 well, you can't ever be ex-musician, but you know just
18:33 Listening to you guys and in loving what I hear makes all the world a difference from old band here like myself
18:41 you know, so
18:43 Guys, if you guys have a chance to take a look, let's here's the lineup you have
18:50 Was it Mississippi Valley State?
18:53 You have Southern University you have what?
18:56 No, you don't have but nothing other than the aristocrats themselves from Tennessee State as well
19:03 They will be there. Of course. I said, Texas Southern you have Virginia State and you have Lincoln as well
19:09 and Langston
19:12 Apologize and you have Norfolk State
19:14 That's going to be in the house. So
19:17 It's a great lineup. It's gonna be a great entertaining
19:20 Affair, I think last year was awesome
19:24 And I know it ended with the amigos and unfortunately the young man lost his pet his life a few months later
19:30 But this year guys just be there you can buy your tickets online. You can go to
19:36 National battle of the bands
19:40 Dot-com and be able to purchase your tickets to see dr. Taylor as well as the human jukebox and
19:48 Lovely dancing dolls. All right doc. Anything anything else? Did I leave out anything?
19:54 Well, I guess I can't lead a platform without saying
19:58 The often imitated never duplicated
20:01 Southern University human jukebox will be in the place. Don't miss it. Get your tickets now. You don't want to miss this grand event
20:09 Yeah, it's gonna be good. All right, that's dr. Taylor of the human jukebox
20:15 I'm counting T mostly HBCU legends. Thank you doc. Appreciate you. Thank you for having me. All right. See you on Saturday. Thank you
20:23 All right doc. Appreciate you man. No problem