Leroy Hawthorne, Jr.:  

Life Since high school I have been devoted time to studying violin, and jazz guitar and piano at Grambling State. I became an official pro musician in 1978. I did 5 years in the Guard. I married in 1982 and now have 4 children. I work at GSU as a Humanities and Guitar Instructor, local church musician, and freelance as a studio musician/producer. I am on 2 major recently released CDs with The Polyphonics, and Johnathan Williams. College Majoring in music education was an experience in it self. Dunbar Hall was the place for studying under the music curriculum and creating your own thing. During those 4 1/2 years I met some of the best instrumentalists, singers and arrangers from all over the U.S. With them, I performed in several ensembles including orchestra, string ensemble (on my major instrument-violin), jazz ensemble (guitar, bass, piano), and symphonic band (trumpet, electric bass). Though I performed in college groups like Leech & the Gang and Collector's Item, my best experince was being in the pit band for the musical "Purlie". I did student teaching at Southwood High in Shreveport under the late Leon Anderson. In the Spring of 1980, I did my senior recital and graduated with the largest class of music education majors ever at GSU. I also met my wife to be, the former Gurtie Osborne, whom I married 2 years later. Workplace After college I had a multitude of employment opportunities away from Louisiana, but did not pursue many of them. Though I enlisted in the LA National Guard my senior ye...Expand for more