MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Frazier, Simmons (12th), Horhn, Simmons (13th), Watson, Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE AWARD-WINNING CAREER OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY "SONIC BOOM OF THE SOUTH" LONGTIME BAND DIRECTOR DOWELL TAYLOR.
WHEREAS, in honor of Black History Month, we join the Music Educators of Mississippi in recognizing the outstanding career of Band Director Dowell Taylor; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dowell Taylor, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, is a graduate of Callaway High School. He also attended Jackson State University, receiving the Bachelor and Master of Music Education Degrees. Mr. Taylor participated in the Jackson State University (JSU) "Sonic Boom of the South" Marching Band Tuba Section; and during his undergraduate years, he arranged more than 100 band selections, including the current JSU theme song "Get Ready," originally arranged by John Paul Jones. In 1975, he received the highest award a Bandsman could receive: the "Best All-Around Bandsman" Award; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from JSU, Mr. Taylor served as Director of Bands at Mary Holmes Junior College, West Point Mississippi; Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky (where he served as Department Chair); and from 1984-1992, as Director of Bands at Jackson State University conducting both the Symphonic and Marching Bands. During this period, the famous JSU "Sonic Boom of the South" Marching Band received numerous awards and citations, including national coverage in Jet Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, and People Magazine. The band was also featured as "Special Guest Band of Honor" at the St. Petersburg, Florida, Martin Luther King Battle of Bands; the 1991 NBA All-Star Basketball Game, Charlotte, North Carolina; and Motown's 30th Anniversary Celebration in Hollywood, California, in 1990. One of Mr. Taylor's most notable performances with the JSU Symphonic Band was in 1987, featuring Dr. Karen Laubengayer, Pianist and Professor of Music at JSU, performing George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," adapted for the band by Mr. Taylor; and
WHEREAS, during his retirement from the band field, Mr. Taylor received certification in Music Technology from the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TIME) in Pasadena, California; served as a Grant Evaluator for the Department of Education, Washington, D.C.; Music Director for the Mississippi Diversity and Majesty Awards Ceremony; Computer Literacy Instructor for a federally funded "Prevention Intervention" After-School Program; a Web Designer; and Minister of Music/Organist at the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi. Mr. Taylor has been featured as Guest Conductor with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra presenting Richard Smallwood's "Total Praise" and regularly performs on keyboard with his Jazz Trio and Quartet. He also performed at the National Black Caucus Reception in Washington, D.C., and his Gospel Choir performed for Governor Ray Mabus' Inauguration Ceremony in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2009, he developed an undergraduate degree program in Music Technology at Jackson State, which recently received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2012, after a twenty-year hiatus from the band field, Mr. Taylor accepted the appointment to the position of Interim Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Music Technology at Jackson State University. In December 2012, the position was made permanent. Since his appointment, the "Sonic Boom" has been featured in numerous media outlets, including a two-page coverage of the band's preseason camp in ESPN The Magazine; a CNN special on the Morning Show featuring Robin Meade; The Honda Battle of the Bands Showcase of eight of the top bands in the nation; and "The American Journey," a CNN production chronicling the journey of what it takes to become a member of the famed "J5" Drum Majors. Mr. Taylor has served as Adjudicator and Clinician throughout the United States, as well as Guest Conductor for the HBCU National Consortium for Band Directors Conference, Atlanta, Georgia; the Miami, Florida, Music Festival; the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina; the Atlanta, Georgia Music Festival; the Memphis, Tennessee, Honors Band; and the Jackson Public Schools All-City High School Music Festival. In February 2013, Mr. Taylor served as an Adjudicator for the Jackson Public Schools High School Band Festival. On February 19, 2013, Mr. Taylor served as Band Clinician for the Tucker High School Concert Band Program of Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Taylor received the JSU Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1992. In 1998, 2000 and 2003, the Jackson Music Awards, Incorporated, named him the "Local Musician of the Year." In 2008, The Dowell Taylor "Big Band," a 40-piece jazz ensemble, performed for the annual Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children's New Year's Eve Fundraiser Gala at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. On December 10, 2010, the Mississippi Jazz Foundation honored Mr. Taylor for his contributions to the field of Music Education and the Jazz Music Genre; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Taylor is a Licensed Real Estate Broker who holds membership in CMEA, MENC, CBDNA and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He is also a Recording Engineer and certified Pro Tools Operator. He recently engineered four selections on the Jackson State Jazz Band's 2010 recording project, and "Images of Isabella's Dream," a composition commissioned by Belhaven University of Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson State Professor Dr. Ivan Elezovic composed "Images of Isabella's Dream." Both projects were recorded in Jackson State's recording studio. Mr. Taylor has presented at national conferences, including the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE), Orlando, Florida; "Turning Teachers On To Technology for the Twenty-First Century"; the National Black Music Caucus, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and "Black College Bands, Where Do We Go From Here?" On January 8, 2012, he presented the topic, "Issues Involving the Integration of Technology into the Music Curriculum" at the International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii. He is married to Dr. Vivian Taylor, and they have one son, David, a Patent and Trademark Attorney with the Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the career of this respected Music Educator who has brought honor to his university and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the award-winning career of Jackson State University "Sonic Boom of the South" longtime Band Director Dowell Taylor; and on the occasion of Black History Month, extend our best wishes to Dowell Taylor and the Jackson State University Music Department for their many contributions to the culture of the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dowell Taylor and the President of Jackson State University, forwarded to Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.