logo
Former Tuba player returns to lead this CIAA Marching Band

Former Tuba player returns to lead this CIAA Marching Band

Miami Herald15-07-2025
Livingstone College alumnus Sir Davis is returning back to his HBCU in Salisbury, NC in a big way. The former Blue Thunder marching band member has been named the Executive Director of Band and Band Operations, bringing with him a renewed vision focused on discipline, innovation, and student success. His path now returns back to the competitive CIAA landscape and the East Coast HBCU Culture.
Davis, who graduated from Livingstone in 2011, was once a tuba player in the Blue Thunder. Now, he's stepping into leadership with a clear mission: restore the storm and reestablish the band's reputation for musical excellence.
'When I was a student here, we prided ourselves on excellence. That foundation shaped me. Now it's time to pass it forward and raise the bar,' Davis said.
Since earning his degree, Davis has become a respected music educator across the region. Most recently, he served as the band director at Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte. There, he revitalized the school's jazz program and led students to perform at the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia and New Jersey-a first-time experience for many of them.
'I took a group that didn't think they'd ever get to that level-and they did. That's the kind of transformative experience I want to bring to Livingstone.'
Davis joins Livingstone at a key moment. The HBCU band is set to debut brand-new uniforms, funded through generous support from alumni and community donors. With fresh resources and passionate leadership, Davis plans to build a competitive and well-equipped program.
He's focused on excellence in every area-from halftime performances to concert ensembles. He also aims to elevate the band's profile by building partnerships with regional high school programs and preparing the Blue Thunder for events like the HBCU Battle of the Bands.
'I want people to say, 'Have you seen Livingstone?' That's the energy we're bringing back.'
For Davis, it's about more than just music.
'This program is about relationships, discipline, and high expectations. I want our students to carry themselves with integrity-on and off the field.'
Davis's deep ties to Livingstone give him a unique edge. As a student, he was involved in nearly every campus music outlet: jazz band, symphonic band, gospel choir, and local ministry. That experience, he said, makes this role especially meaningful.
'It's full circle. This campus shaped me, and now I get to shape the next generation.'
Davis hopes to instill a standard of musical excellence without excuses.
'No matter the resources, you show up, you give your best, and you make no excuses. That's the standard I want Livingstone to represent.'
The post Former Tuba player returns to lead this CIAA Marching Band appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

time10 hours ago

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

LOS ANGELES -- The man charged with ordering the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas is asking the Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss his murder charges. Duane 'Keffe D' Davis filed an appeal with the court Tuesday after a lower court judge upheld his charges. Davis, the only man ever to be charged in Shakur's killing, was arrested in September 2023. Other conspirators in the drive-by shooting have since died. The 62-year-old has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell-all memoir, 'Compton Street Legend,' that he provided the gun used in the shooting. His attorney, Carl Arnold, said Davis' constitutional rights were being violated. 'Mr. Davis cooperated with law enforcement over the course of more than a decade, relying on repeated assurances that his statements would not be used against him — yet those very statements now form the core of the State's case,' Arnold said in a statement. Arnold first filed a motion to dismiss the case in January of this year, alleging constitutional violations because of a 27-year delay in prosecution. He also said Davis had immunity agreements granted to him by federal and local authorities. A district court judge upheld his charges, saying he was not protected from prosecution because he had not provided proof of those immunity deals and that the decades-long delay was not intentional. According to the appeal, Davis was interviewed in 1998 and 1999 by federal prosecutors under the agreement that his statements would not be used to prosecute him. At the time, he denied knowing who was involved in Shakur's killing. He was interviewed again in 2008 and 2009 under the same conditions that he would not be prosecuted with his statements, according to the appeal. It was then that he described his 'alleged involvement in the murder and identified the alleged shooter," the appeal said. Arnold said prosecutors had not presented any evidence connecting Davis to the slaying other than his own statements, which is not enough for a trial. He asked the Nevada Supreme Court to grant their motion to dismiss the case, or recognize that he was granted immunity from prosecution for the statements he made during law enforcement interviews. Davis remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. His trial is scheduled to begin in early February 2026. Shakur's death at 25 came as his fourth solo album, 'All Eyez on Me,' remained on the charts, with about 5 million copies sold. Nominated six times for a Grammy Award, Shakur is still largely considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time.

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges
Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

Boston Globe

time13 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

The 62-year-old has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell-all memoir, 'Compton Street Legend,' that he provided the gun used in the shooting. His attorney, Carl Arnold, said Davis' constitutional rights were being violated. 'Mr. Davis cooperated with law enforcement over the course of more than a decade, relying on repeated assurances that his statements would not be used against him — yet those very statements now form the core of the State's case,' Arnold said in a statement. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Arnold first filed a motion to dismiss the case in January of this year, alleging constitutional violations because of a 27-year delay in prosecution. He also said Davis had immunity agreements granted to him by federal and local authorities. Advertisement A district court judge upheld his charges, saying he was not protected from prosecution because he had not provided proof of those immunity deals and that the decades-long delay was not intentional. According to the appeal, Davis was interviewed in 1998 and 1999 by federal prosecutors under the agreement that his statements would not be used to prosecute him. At the time, he denied knowing who was involved in Shakur's killing. Advertisement He was interviewed again in 2008 and 2009 under the same conditions that he would not be prosecuted with his statements, according to the appeal. It was then that he described his 'alleged involvement in the murder and identified the alleged shooter,' the appeal said. Arnold said prosecutors had not presented any evidence connecting Davis to the slaying other than his own statements, which is not enough for a trial. He asked the Nevada Supreme Court to grant their motion to dismiss the case, or recognize that he was granted immunity from prosecution for the statements he made during law enforcement interviews. Davis remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. His trial is scheduled to begin in early February 2026. Shakur's death at 25 came as his fourth solo album, 'All Eyez on Me,' remained on the charts, with about 5 million copies sold. Nominated six times for a Grammy Award, Shakur is still largely considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time.

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges
Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

Associated Press

time13 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man charged with ordering the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas is asking the Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss his murder charges. Duane 'Keffe D' Davis filed an appeal with the court Tuesday after a lower court judge upheld his charges. Davis, the only man ever to be charged in Shakur's killing, was arrested in September 2023. Other conspirators in the drive-by shooting have since died. The 62-year-old has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell-all memoir, 'Compton Street Legend,' that he provided the gun used in the shooting. His attorney, Carl Arnold, said Davis' constitutional rights were being violated. 'Mr. Davis cooperated with law enforcement over the course of more than a decade, relying on repeated assurances that his statements would not be used against him — yet those very statements now form the core of the State's case,' Arnold said in a statement. Arnold first filed a motion to dismiss the case in January of this year, alleging constitutional violations because of a 27-year delay in prosecution. He also said Davis had immunity agreements granted to him by federal and local authorities. A district court judge upheld his charges, saying he was not protected from prosecution because he had not provided proof of those immunity deals and that the decades-long delay was not intentional. According to the appeal, Davis was interviewed in 1998 and 1999 by federal prosecutors under the agreement that his statements would not be used to prosecute him. At the time, he denied knowing who was involved in Shakur's killing. He was interviewed again in 2008 and 2009 under the same conditions that he would not be prosecuted with his statements, according to the appeal. It was then that he described his 'alleged involvement in the murder and identified the alleged shooter,' the appeal said. Arnold said prosecutors had not presented any evidence connecting Davis to the slaying other than his own statements, which is not enough for a trial. He asked the Nevada Supreme Court to grant their motion to dismiss the case, or recognize that he was granted immunity from prosecution for the statements he made during law enforcement interviews. Davis remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. His trial is scheduled to begin in early February 2026. Shakur's death at 25 came as his fourth solo album, 'All Eyez on Me,' remained on the charts, with about 5 million copies sold. Nominated six times for a Grammy Award, Shakur is still largely considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store