Webster’s Dictionary defines an “artist” as a person who creates by using skill and imagination to make things that people look at, listen to, or enjoy. It is amazing to watch a true “artist” at work. It is even better when you put a pair of “artists” together.
On Thursday, July 23rd, two of the best “artists” in their field, one being Ric Godley of ATL Godleyworks, who is considered one of the best radio and social media broadcasters in the state, and the other, Trey Porchay, Band Director of Jonesboro-Hodge High School, who, through his motivational and teaching talents, revived the dormant JHHS band program and become award winning performers in just three short years got together to speak about the progress of the “Tropical Thunder” and hopes and plans for the future.
The broadcast can be viewed by clicking here, or by visiting: https://youtu.be/yYADmr15LIs?si=Its2azmdTE5W55S0&sfnsn=mo
For the complete transcript of the broadcast, see below.
(Godley) Welcome in, ladies and gentlemen. I am Rick Godley with Roux 102. That is the radio station that carries Jonesboro Hodge Tiger football. We put the “focal on the local,” and today we’re in Jackson Parish at Jonesboro Hodge High School (JHHS), where I have the privilege of sitting next to JHHS Band Director, Trey Porche.
Trey, thank you so much for taking the time and visiting.
(Porchay) Yes, sir. Thank you for having me.
(Godley) Well, let’s start with bands plural because people think maybe there’s only one band, but there are bands. Explain what that means.
(Porchay) Yeah. I teach both the middle school bands and the high school band. We have beginner bands, intermediate band, high school band, and something new. We started last year with a jazz band. So, we have a bunch of ensembles going on here at the high school.
(Godley) How long have you been here?
(Porchay) About four years now.
(Godley) Four years. Trey Porche gets here from Arkansas, you say?
(Porchay) From Arkansas.
(Godley) Give me your musical background. Where did it come from? And what’s your experience there? And why do you think music grabbed hold of you and now you’re just sharing that gift with the world?
(Porchay) Most definitely. I love getting that question. So, my music journey started off at my grandmother’s house on the pots and pans, and from there, just going to church and watching all the musicians and having an ear for music. From there, it carried on until high school, and I had the privilege of going on a scholarship and band at Henderson State University. That led me here to be able to teach. Music provided opportunities for me to be successful, and I want my students to have this same opportunity whether it’s college, the workforce, or wherever they are led to go.
(Godley) Well, it defines success because, as I think I see you in our limited time knowing one another, your success is going to be measured by the success of whomever you’re pouring yourself into. Am I reading that correctly?
(Porchay) Yes. Being successful, I think some people define it as a paycheck, but I don’t define it as a paycheck. We’re providing opportunities for our students. I feel that this is a successful band program. We’ve had a 100% graduation rate. So far, all our seniors have gone to the college of their choice. I’m proud of that. And this year we’ve had three students go on to play at the collegiate level: one at Grambling State University, one at Arkansas Baptist College already with a full-ride scholarship, and one at Louisiana State University.
(Godley) When you got here four years ago, what was the number of people in the band?
(Porchay) So when I got here, there were zero band members and zero instruments. So it was definitely something to walk into, but it was a blessing. It was a blessing. Everything that we’re doing is from scratch. We’re building it up. Obviously now we have students, we have instruments, and we’re just continuing to build and grow.
(Godley) Well, I got to see the fruit of Trey’s labors when I was here to do a football game last October against Haynesville, and at halftime I watched this band out there, and it was doing a precision line dance with exuberance and excitement, and it was on point. I asked my broadcast partner Ben Ledbetter, “What’s going on out here?” I was amazed. It may have been small in number, but it was mighty in spirit. What’s your philosophy? And how do these young students buy in? Because they obviously have bought in.
(Porchay) Like I tell my students, I’m more concerned about the person that’s playing the instrument than the instrument itself. So they understand that somebody cares for them, and we want the best for them. We are a family, and the students obviously want that love. We work hard because when you put the work in, there are awards and the students are seeing that.
(Godley) I see a renaissance reemerging, or if you will, another phoenix rising. You understand that one? You started with zero? What are you up to now? How many?
(Porchay) we’re still growing uh still developing but we’re hoping to have about 35 band members this year. And with the numbers we do have, we plan to do big things and great things.
(Godley) If I were a wagering man, I’d put my money on you. I know that because back in the 1980s during the Ruston Bearcat and Jonesboro Hodge Tiger football rivalry, I have a memory that J-Hodge used to have a huge marching band that dressed out about 80. Is that your goal, or are you not even going to put a limit on it?
(Porchay) Not a limit. I know I will say that there’s rich history here at this school with the band program, and my goal is rather the number size is that years later we can look back and see there was a foundation laid down and there are some great things happening.
(Godley) Oh, they’re definitely happening. That’s why I’m here, and I wanted to talk with Trey Porche, the director of the band at Jonesboro Hodge High School. Do you need any more instruments? I know you went on a uniform campaign, and what’s the most pressing need that we as a community can respond to you to help you grow and serve into the generation of the future?
(Porchay) There are various things that we could use. We are in the process of getting our students uniforms. We go to different competitions. We’ve traveled outside the state and done a lot of things we’re grateful for with what we do have, but I know that these students look forward to putting on that Jonesboro Hodge High School uniform. That does take money. So we do do fundraisers so people can participate. If you would like to make a monetary donation, we would tremendously appreciate it. We take cash, checks, or money orders for uniforms and instruments as well. A lot of times the community has donated instruments to us, and we thank you. Our program is growing, and we do need more instruments.
(Godley) Awesome. What’s the price of a uniform? Maybe somebody watching this in the future says, “You know what? I got an extra hundred or two I’d like to give.”
(Porchey) I don’t have the exact number off my head, but I would say about $850 per uniform.
(Godley) I’m here with Trey Porche. All right. Brag upon the youth that you see coming in because I think in this world of distortion that we happen to live in, that is sowing discord and despair, you get to see some good things going on and and we need to we need to focus on what you see and support that.
(Porchay) I would say I have some of the most talented and gifted students. Again, we started from scratch. So, most of my students, if not all, had absolutely no musical background coming in. So, to see what they’re doing now at these different performances, competing with bands who have been established for years, says a lot about their hard work, their dedication, their gifts, their talents. We’ve won trophies and plaques, even coming in first place at one competition.
(Godley) What motivates you? I mean, obviously it’s not the paycheck, even though I mean we all need one, but something else must motivate you.
(Porchay) Most definitely. First off, I just give it to God. I’m here because of God, and I’m here to do his work. So to know that I’m doing his will pushes me every day. And I have a passion again for music, and I love the youth. Even at church, I work with the youth. So those things just come hand in hand, and to be able to do music and work with the youth and again to see them go to the next level, to be able to think, hey, I helped, or our program helped you to get there. It’s a feeling like no other. And so we just want to keep that going.
(Godley) So when did you see the opportunity at Jonesboro Hodge to be director of the bands, and did you know where you were going when you applied?
(Porchay) I was in Arkansas at the time, and there were many opportunities there, but I believe God led me here. I know he did as we are see seeing the fruits now. I remember interviewing and talking with Dr. Leonard, just knowing this is it. Seeing the work that needed to be done, I believe some people may have run from it, but I knew I was supposed to be here, so it was worth for me to do.
(Godley) It seems like it is an appointed time. I mean, Coach “Blank” has got the Tigers back on an upswing here. This is the resurrection, or the renaissance, again, of the band, so you’re all in here at the right time at the right place doing the right thing.
(Porchay) Yes, it is a great time to be at Jonesboro-Hodge High School. We have the football team doing great things. Our ladies’ track as well, and our basketball, baseball, softball, cheerleading, and dance teams are all up and coming. We just want to add to the spirit here.
(Godley) You’re doing precision lined routines. Brag on that. It’s impressive. Talk about the aspect, the physical side of this. You’re not just playing instruments standing still.
(Porchay) Yeah, it does take a lot. You have to be musically inclined, but it is physically demanding. We have band camp coming up where we begin that process. We exercise and start to get in shape because it takes a lot. Not just for halftime; we do parades. I know we were in the Mardi Gras parade in West Monroe. That’s a 4-hour parade. You have to be able to not only carry an instrument, but have the wind to play. That takes endurance. So it definitely takes a lot of work and uh a lot of work ethic to get there. I noticed also the flag line tryouts. You are seeing an interest in that as well, as the band is starting to percolate. The flag line is kind of new to our program, but it’s growing this year. Our young ladies received first place at competition. So, it’s just amazing. We had a lot of great comments concerning them, and so we’re just trying to be bigger and better. It is under the direction of Mrs. Willie Tobe and Mrs. Anderson. I’m thankful for their help because they allowed me to work primarily with the band. I can tell the vision, and they take it off and do an amazing job.
(Godley) Do you come up with the choreography yourself for the band?
(Porchay) For the band, yes. They do it for the band for Flags. Sometimes the students are like, “Hey, Mr. Porchay, I think this would be cool.” You know, they keep up with the latest trends. So, they try to “show me what’s what.” I may not catch on as fast as they do, but yeah.
(Godley) Of the collegiate bands, with world-famous bands, Ohio State comes to mind. Wisconsin, and of course Grambling and Southern, but what are the bands that you have high in your rank that you’re trying to get the “Tropical Thunder” to?
(Porchay) Well, because we are a diverse band and we have students going different places, I try to expose them to just music culture in general. I don’t want to lend to just a particular school. So, they do core and what is called show style so they can be diverse, well -rounded.
(Godley) You know, one of the things Ben Ledbetter told me was, “Trey’s doing it right. He’s starting them playing at the middle school”. That reminds me of the proverbial proverb, train up a child in the ways they should go. Is that what your motivation is? You get them young, and then they’re going to be seasoned by the time they get to high school.
(Porchay) Most definitely. The sooner you can touch an instrument, the better. Again, I started off on pots and pans as a kid. You don’t have to learn how to read notes. Just start somewhere. Church is a great place to begin. Also, listen, listen, listen. Use those ears cuz it makes it much easier. If you don’t have a background in music, that’s fine. We’ll make it happen. But the sooner the better.
(Godley) What you’re saying is you just got to have a want to.
(Porchay) If they don’t want to, you can’t do anything with them. But if they have a want to. I think we as a
community should provide the resources so that you can be equipped to to take that want to and just most definitely launch it.
(Godley) Most definitely. What else could we possibly say to bring Tropical Thunder to epic proportions sooner rather than later?
(Porchay) Just stay tuned. You can follow our band page on Facebook, Instagram, and now on YouTube. You can also follow our band page on the Jonesboro-Hodge High School Facebook page. The support from our school administrators, parents, and the community makes a world of difference. From donations to comments online, and then just showing up. We have amazing support when we travel. We’ve traveled again out of state and to see not only parents, but our community in the stands supporting the band; it makes a world of difference.
(Godley) I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I would dare say that as an opportunity for your band to raise funds for all of the above- uniforms, instrumentation, travel costs, etc.- would you have the students perform for a stipend or monetary donation?
(Porchay) Most definitely. Whatever the community wants, we are here for it. We had a performance at the end of the school year with the jazz band.
(Godley) Awesome. Trey Porche, the director of the Jonesboro Hodgej High School and the Jonesboro Hodge Middle School. Continued success my friend.
(Porchay) Thank you. Thank you for having us.
(Godley) You’re welcome. There it is. All things local. We are in Jackson Parish at Jonesboro Hodge High School and the Tropical Thunder Band. Keep an eye on them; help them grow, ladies and gentlemen.