Future Alumnus Joshua White Makes Music

As the old saying goes: When opportunity knocks, make sure you’re ready to answer. When Future Alumnus Joshua White ‘24 got the chance of a lifetime--to perform the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers-- he did not hesitate.

White, a trombone player in the Hampton University Marching FORCE, donned a Hampton Pirates jacket while playing, representing his “Home by the Sea” on the Lakers court.

This isn’t the first significant opportunity that the trombonist has had recently. Earlier this month, White had the chance to perform with Grammy-nominated artist Hank Bilal II after Hampton Alumna Gwendolyn P. Harris and her client, Jesse Thompson, visited the Hampton University Marching FORCE on a visit organized by Director of Bands Dr. Thomas L. Jones, Jr. After Thompson spoke to the students about music and the music industry, they took questions, and White took the opportunity to show them some of his videos. From that interaction, White was granted the chance to perform at the Jazz Legacy Foundation After Party.

Afterwards, White shared his thoughts. “The performance went really well, and by the time I reached the climax of the song, the audience was well energized, and even LeBron James was seen on camera smiling as I was playing the anthem. It was an honor to be able to represent our university on such a massive stage and in front of some of the best basketball players in the world.“

White also shared that he is the first trombone player in Lakers franchise history to perform the National Anthem, which makes his performance even more historical.