PERCUSSION
Gary "Ju Ju" Garlic
Gary L. Garlic aka “Ju Ju” is a Washington, DC native. He attended Norfolk State University and was Section Leader of the Million Dollar Funk Squad! Ju Ju is now a local Music Educator and performer residing in Norfolk, VA. As a music teacher, Ju Ju has received numerous prestigious awards including: 1st place Drum Line Nationals 2010 (as coordinator for I.C. Norcom Hit Squad), 1st place Band and Percussion Ensemble Music in the Parks 2012 and 2013 (as Band Director for Young Musicians of Virginia), and Favorite Music Teacher of Hampton Roads 2014, honored by the Virginia Symphony for “Music In Our Schools Month”. As a performer Ju Ju performs on both local and national stages, as a percussionist for Donna Summer 2008-2011 and as opening act for Earth, Wind, & Fire 2012 – 2013, among many other notable performances. Ju Ju conducts clinics and workshops throughout Virginia and continues to share the joy and education of music with musicians everywhere!
Gene Thomas
Gene Thomas is currently a Music Education major at Norfolk State University and a former member of the NSU Marching “Spartan Legion's” Million Dollar Funk Squad. A native of Chesapeake VA, Mr. Thomas has been involved in percussion instruction for the past 15 years, serving as an instructor at Woodrow Wilson High School, Lake Taylor High School, I.C. Norcom High School, and Oscar Smith High School. Mr. Thomas is currently the Percussion Coordinator for the Lakeland High School “Blue Steel” Percussion Line and serves as a competition adjudicator.
Earnest Powell
Earnest Powell has been involved in percussion for over twenty-four years. Prior to attending Virginia State University, he marched with a corps style high school band program, Dan River High School in Ringgold, Virginia. Earnest has been arranging and composing for Virginia State University for the last fourteen years and has been the percussion instructor at Virginia State for the last seven years. Earnest has an extensive background in hand drum percussion, earning him positions to travel internationally earning him a chance to perform for the Pope at the Vatican in Italy. Earnest also had the honor of being associated with the first drum line ever to perform in the White House. In 2010, the Virginia State University Drum Line performed for the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. He currently performs with several gospel and R&B groups across the East Coast.
Frank Leckrone
Frank Leckrone is a graduate of Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, VA. While a student at Norfolk State University, he became a member of the "Million Dollar Funk Squad” (MDFS) Percussion Line of the Marching “Spartan Legion”. Mr. Leckrone also served as section leader during his tenure in the “Spartan Legion”. He is currently the Percussion Coordinator of the “award-winning” percussion line of Bethel High School’s Marching Band in Hampton, VA.