The Sonic Boom of the South was heard loud and clear when the Jackson State University band appeared with Grammy-winning R&B superstar Usher
The Sonic Boom of the South was heard loud and clear at Allegiant Stadium as the showstopping band from Jackson State University (JSU) made a special appearance with Grammy-winning R&B superstar Usher during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show on Feb. 11.
Sharply suited in black uniforms with crisp white lapels and splashes of their signature blue, the Sonic Boom took command of the field in Las Vegas at the nation’s most-watched football game, with early rating projections at roughly 100 million viewers—placing a huge spotlight not only on the school but on the unique showmanship of marching bands from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
JSU Director of Bands Dr. Roderick Little said it felt “surreal.”
“It’s not every day you are invited to participate in such a monumental moment. The reality of the situation did not hit us until we began rehearsals in Vegas,” Dr. Little said. “I cannot think of anything more exciting or rewarding than walking onto the field, hearing the roar of the Super Bowl crowd, and immersing ourselves in the spirit that Usher brought to his performance.”