DSU Band Director Randolph Johnson Announces Retirement

Delaware State University has announced the retirement of Director of Bands Randolph J. Johnson, who has been the director of bands at DSU for a total of 20 years. 

Mr. Johnson has worked a total of 40 years as a music educator and has had two separate tenures at Delaware State University.  He was first hired as director of bands in 1990 and worked in that position until 2001.  He returned to the University in 2007 and will retire from his career as director of bands and a music educator at DSU.

He is most proud of the academic achievements of the students in the band.  Throughout his 20-year career, the band has had a graduation rate of more than 70 percent.  Within the last year, two students recruited to the University by the band received the Presidential Academic Award at Commencement.  This award is presented to the senior with the highest GPA in the graduation class.  Under his leadership, the DSU Band has been an organization that promotes the education and citizenship of its members. 

Mr. Johnson has more than 60 of his former students who are band directors throughout the country, including the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.  Many of his former students are doctors, judges, lawyers, teachers and some are even professional performing musicians.

In addition the outstanding band performances at DSU’s Alumni Stadium, some of the highlights for the band during Mr. Johnson’s tenure are performing in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade, as well as for NFL games, NBA games and NASCAR races.  The band has also had two performances in the London Parade in London, England, performed in Paris, France, and toured Europe, which included visiting the countries of The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Mr. Johnson is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a graduate of Southern University.  He began his professional career as a graduate assistant with the world famous Southern University Band in 1976.  Prior to his arrival at Delaware State University, he was a high school band director for 11 years in the states of Kansas, Mississippi and his home state of Louisiana. In 1988, Randolph received his first appointment as a university director of bands at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  He was also employed by Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as marching band director and jazz band director before his first tenure at DSU.

After his departure from DSU in 2001, Mr. Johnson was appointed supervisor of music for a school district in the state of New York.  Prior to his return to the University in 2007, Randolph was employed by Alcorn State University as the Jazz Band director and the coordinator of Music Education for the Music Department.  During his years at Alcorn State University, all 12 of the Music Education majors who took the praxis exam passed and received certification as music teachers in the state of Mississippi. Combining those stints with his DSU tenures, Mr. Johnson has worked a total of 40 years as a music educator.    

Mr. Johnson gives special thanks to his wife Diana for her continuous support.  She has allowed him to seek out his dream in being a college band director, a very demanding and time consuming occupation. Without an understanding spouse, success would not have been possible.  They have one child, a son named Kevin who lives in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville, Georgia, with his wife, Chandra.

Randolph would like to thank the Administration of the University for giving him the opportunity to reach his goals.  Particular thanks go to DSU President Harry L. Williams and Associate Provost Dr. Bradley Skelcher for their support of the students and the band program.  Mr. Johnson gives a special thanks to all current and former band staff members.  Without their dedication and hard work, the band would not have been successful. 

Randolph also thanks his brother, Mr. Roy J. Johnson, who arrived at Delaware State University with him in 1990 and served in the position of associate band director at DSU for four years.  He would also like to thank the DSU alumni and the community for their support.  But most of all he would like to thank the 2,500 band members who performed in the band during his 20 years at DSU.  These dedicated students helped to enrich the University and also enrich the life of Mr. Johnson.   

Randolph plans to turn over his baton in August to the new director of bands at the University.    

Randolph wants everyone to know that “The Hat” will be retired as well.

The University will begin a national search immediately to fill the position of director of University Bands.