In 2019, Alcorn State University raised the bar by offering Jeremiah Travis at age 5, a full band scholarship after he graduated high school for his excellence in snare drumming. Gone are the days when scholarships were only awarded to academic geniuses or sports stars. It is now time for drummers to shine, and Jeremiah Travis aka Lil’ Drummer Boy is one of them.
Travis has been drumming since he was a little tyke and had already mastered the art of percussion at such a young age. He plays with the big boys at St. Helena College and Career Academy in Greensburg, Louisiana – a band filled with members at least 10 years his senior.
And that’s not all, when he’s not wowing the crowd during halftime performances, he’s beating his drums alongside his cousin Kenya Brooks – a fellow percussionist at St. Helena.
The young prodigy’s skills and work ethic have not gone unnoticed. Chesteron Frye, the band director at St. Helena, mentioned that Travis is always looking for an opportunity to play, even during breaks. He’s so dedicated that he even practices during his free time, drumming on floors and getting other drummers to join in.
And his percussion instructor, Brandon Dorsey, is in awe of his natural talent and passion for the craft. Even when he thinks Travis may not be able to play a certain drum part, he surprises him by playing it with ease!
