Southern University announces interim director of bands after firing last leader

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University's associate director of bands will step in as the interim director after the former leader of the famed Human Jukebox was fired earlier this week following allegations that he requested kickbacks in exchange for the band performing for public school kids.

Kedric Taylor will serve as the interim director while former director Lawrence Jackson will act as a consultant to the band department, according to a news release Friday evening from university spokeswoman Janene Tate.

University officials fired Nathan Haymer as director on Tuesday after an internal investigation into the kickback allegations, which was prompted by a recent lawsuit. Haymer said in a statement that he was disappointed in the decision and denied the allegations.

Southern University fires popular band director, he says he is disappointed with decision.

Taylor participated in the band for the four years he attended Southern University, and he has worked with the band department since 2014, Tate said Friday. As associate director of bands at Southern, he was Cresponsible for music arrangements, band rehearsals and direction of the saxophone and wind ensembles.

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