SU’s band to perform at historic event for 1st black chief justice

Southern University’s ‘Human Jukebox’ Marching Band will perform at Thursday’s historic investiture of Bernette Johnson as the first African-American chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

A 50-member contingent of band will march on Royal Street in New Orleans to the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court Building, said Director of Bands Lawrence Jackson. The band’s march, about two blocks to the courthouse, will begin at 11 a.m.

Jackson said he and the students are overwhelmed by the invitation to play “at such a historic event. This is another one of those awesome moments that our students will be able to talk about for the rest of their lives.”

Southern’s marching band, considered by many band aficionados to be one of the best in the country, will perform a trumpet fanfare, the National Anthem and a number of other selections prior to the formal installation ceremony and during the recessional at the end of the program.

Earlier this month, Southern’s marching band performed during the pre-game of Super Bowl XLVII game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.