Legacy of Directors
director of bands
Dr. Chad E. Hughes
(1911-1953)- Arriving to Morehouse (Atlanta Baptist Seminary, at that time) in 1911, Harreld served as the director of bands and head of the music department for 42 years. A graduate of Chicago Musical College, he was an experienced and renowned violinist and organist, as well as a pianist and flutist. Harreld also established the Morehouse College Glee Club in 1911, the Spelman College Glee Club in 1925, and served simultaneously as the head of Spelman's music department for a time.
Kemper harreld
Wendell P. Whalum
(1953-1965) - A Morehouse alum (class of 1952), Dr. Whalum received an M.D. from Columbia University in 1953, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in 1965 from Iowa University. He was a very prominent vocalist, organist, and he also played trombone. Dr. Whalum served as director of bands, the glee club, and head of the music department from 1953 until 1975, when he relinquished his position and took a seat in an endowed chair. In addition, it was under his directorship that the Morehouse College marching band was established. He was also founder of the Marching Band.
Cornelius V. Troupe Jr.
(1965-1968) - No information is available
Ted Mcdaniel
(1968-1977) - Dr. Theodore McDaniel was also a graduate of Morehouse College, and a student of Dr. Whalum. While attending Morehouse, he was a student conductor in the marching band, beginning his freshmen year. After graduating in 1967, he went on to receive a Master's degree from Iowa University in 1968, then returning to Morehouse in the fall as director of bands. Morehouse's jazz ensemble was established under Dr. McDaniel's direction in 1971, and he was the first to invite Spelman students to become members of the bands, either as instrumentalists, or majorettes/color guard. Dr. McDaniel took a leave from 1973-1975 to obtain a Ph.D. from Iowa University. After leaving Morehouse in 1977, he went on to direct at North Carolina A&T University, and Ohio State University, where he is currently director of bands and professor of African-American studies.
William T. Dargon
(1973-1975) – William Dargon graduated from Morehouse in 1970. He received his Masters from American University and his PhD in Musicology is from Duke. He was co-director with Uzee Brown until 1975.
Dr. Uzee Brown
(1973-1976) - Dr. Brown is currently head of the music department at Morehouse. He was a student of Dr. McDaniel's at Morehouse, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in music. He also holds a Master of Music in Composition from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. Dr. Brown's primary instrument is trombone, but he works mainly as a vocalist professionally. While Dr. McDaniel took leave to pursue his doctorate's degree, Dr. Brown co-directed the bands with William Dargon. Dr. Brown also served as an assistant to Dr. McDaniel for another year when he returned to Morehouse. Since then, Dr. Brown has since achieved more professionally than can be explained, served as head of Clark Atlanta University's music department for a period in the 90's, and held the same title at Morehouse, where he still remains presently.
In 1975 he was assistant to Ted McDaniels.
Roderick A. Smith
(1977-1990) – Roderick Smith graduated from Morehouse in 1875. In 1977 he then went on to attain his Masters in music education. He came back to Morehouse in 1977 and for 2 years, 1986 – 1988, he was assisted by Thomas Melver. He also was a well-known jazz player and alto saxophonist throughout Atlanta.
blake k. gaines
(1990-1995, 2010-2014) - Blake Gaines is a New Orleans native that attended Southern University and Jackson State University (receiving his bachelor's in music education from the latter after transferring), and earned a master's degree in music education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mr. Gaines' primary instrument was french horn, but he is also an accomplished jazz bassist. He first joined the Morehouse staff in 1990, and returned again in 2010 after leaving in 1995. Most recently, Mr. Gaines has taken over as director of bands at Mississippi Valley State University.
Bill McGhee
(1995) - No information is available
Dr. Timothy Turner
(1996-2004) - Timothy R. Turner is Chair and Director of Bands in the Department of Music at Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Turner received both his B.M.Ed. and his M.A. degrees from Memphis State University and his D.M.A. with emphasis in Music Education at the Rudy E. Scheidt School of Music at the renamed University of Memphis. His Bachelor’s degree is in music education, while his Master’s degree is in Individual Studies concentrating on the performance aspects of orchestral, jazz, commercial music and studio recording. Although his emphasis is in music education, Dr. Turner is a certified recording and music production specialist with his focus being composition and MIDI technology. While completing his studies, he was a student of noted composer/educator James Richens, acclaimed Jazz musician/composer Eugene Allen Rush and conductor and mentor Dr. Sidney Jean McKay. Turner is a band/orchestral conductor/clinician for World Strides/Heritage Music Festival Company, several school systems, honor bands (Jazz and symphonic), and band programs in the mid-south and southern region of the country.
As a free-lance studio musician, Dr. Turner has performed with legendary names such as Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Eden and a host of others. He is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference Association, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the National Black Music Caucus, and the American Federation of Musicians. Dr. Turner is also a member of the society of Pi Kappa Lambda and also the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternities.
melvin jones
(2004-2010) - Another Morehouse Alum - class of 2001 - Melvin Jones served as director of bands from 2004 to 2010. Joining the faculty at age 24 after receiving a master's degree in music from the Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Jersey, Mr. Jones was the youngest band director in Morehouse College's history. Mr. Jones has toured and performed professionally in various settings with some of the world's biggest artists, beginning such a career during his undergrad years. Currently, he continues to perform nationally and releasing music of his own.