Famed musician Dr. Julian E. White was feted with a surprise Drum Major Appreciation gala at the Marriott Hotel in Tallahassee, Florida.
Presented by the Marching 100 Drum Major Foundation, family members, friends, frat brothers, associates and colleagues joined the soiree to salute his accomplishments, friendships and legacy.
“This is my uncle, friend and role model,” said nephew Marcel White. As a retired Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Chairman of the Music Department at Florida A&M University (FAMU), Dr. White’s vita includes the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc. National Service Award, the highest award bestowed upon a member of the fraternity. His most recent honors include the City of Jacksonville renaming a portion of Moncrief Road the “Julian Earl White, Ph.D. Parkway,” and The William M. Raines High School named its music suite “The Dr. Julian E. White Fine Arts Complex.
Under Dr. White’s leadership, the FAMU’s internationally acclaimed “Marching 100” rendered performances at three Super Bowls, The Grammys, The ESPY nationally televised awards ceremony, CBS Game Day, and the Inaugural Parade for President Barak Obama. Dr. White also served as Drill Designer for the McDonald’s All-American High School Band. His drill creations were featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona.
A Jacksonville native, the 1959 graduate of Old Stanton is married to the former Dennine Mathis who serves as Flute Professor at Florida A&M University. They have one son, Julian Earl White, II who is a trumpet performance major at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Dr. White has two daughters Tonja Mathews and Phaedra White, and two grandchildren John Burt and Mallory Mathews.
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