Before Taylor, all other drum majors in the SSU band program have been African American and only four of those have been women. He will join Aaron Franklin and head drum major Shai McKenney in leading SSU’s 125-member Powerhouse of the South. When asked what he expects from his drum majors, SSU director of bands Dr. Gabriel Arnold referred to the drum majors as his field generals. Before Simmons arrived, Bradwell had always been what many call a corps style marching band but once he arrived in 2018 he changed the style to a showtime or HBCU style marching band. “He joined the marching band his sophomore year and began to work really hard on becoming a great bandsman.