Since 1980, the Band of Blue Alumni Club has recognized individuals who have contributed and influenced the growth of the MTSU Band of Blue. On April 30th, the Middle Tennessee State University BOBAC held its annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Among this year’s inductees were Erik T. Johnson, Tony Cox, and Lalo Davila.
Erik Johnson
Erik T. Johnson is the president and founder of Innovative Percussion, Inc., a leading manufacturer of drumsticks and keyboard percussion mallets. He received a Master of Music with an emphasis in Percussion Performance from The University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Percussion Performance from Middle Tennessee State University. For the past 21 years, Mr. Johnson has been involved with a variety of marching ensembles. From 1995 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010, Erik was on the instructional staff with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, serving on the design team as the front ensemble arranger and coordinator. Since 2003, Mr. Johnson has served as the front ensemble arranger for the Aimachi Band from Nagoya, Japan. In his tenure with Music City Mystique, Erik has acted as the front ensemble coordinator and arranger and as a member of the design team since 2003. Erik has been affiliated with the Aimachi Indoor Percussion Ensemble since 2006 as a member of the design team and as the front ensemble arranger.
Lalo Davila
Lalo Davila is currently Director of Percussion Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Corpus Christi State University and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. Lalo has performed with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, Six Pence None The Richer, Clay Walker, Vickie Carr, Sherry Lewis, The Panhandlers Steel Band and Max Carl and the Big Dance. Currently, Lalo performs with several Latin groups including "Orkesta Eme Pe". Known as an outstanding clinician and adjudicator, Lalo has conducted clinics throughout the United States, Mexico, Cuba and Japan. Lalo is the author of Contemporary Rudimental Studies and Solos.
Tony Cox
Tony won a scholarship for membership in the Middle Tennessee State University Band of Blue, graduating with a degree in Music Industry in 1988. He then moved to Greenville, North Carolina, to attend East Carolina University where he worked as the drum line graduate assistant for the Marching Pirates and percussion studio. While studying at ECU, Tony completed his music education degree, student taught and graduated with a MM in Music Education. In 1991, Tony was selected to be the Director of the ECU marching band and teach the music business classes. Currently, Tony is the band director at Mt. Juliet High School. Since 1993, the Band of Gold has had a continued standard of success as a superior band. The band has won numerous championships, awards and recognition at the local, state and national levels.
