By Wilton Jackson
When Richard Myers hears sirens, sees flashing lights from police cars and watches a squad of charter buses park along the curve of the back gate of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, he knows Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South marching band is on the scene.
Myers is the voice of JSU’s acclaimed band. Using binoculars, he gazes at the renowned “Jackson Five” (J5) drum majors, including senior Ariel Woods, gathering members of the band in preparation for its weekly war of showmanship — featuring elite musicality, discipline and marching precision — on Saturday afternoons.
In August, Jackson State director of bands Roderick Little selected Woods as one of the J5 drum majors for this year, only the fourth woman in the program’s history to earn a spot among the elite group. Woods’ three female predecessors include Tamara Myles (2001-2003), Pachen Sturgis (2005-2006) and DeyShaun Roberts (2017).
Woods is also one of two female drum majors, besides Oluwamodupe Oloyede of Florida A&M University, among marching bands at Division I historically Black colleges and universities.
“Every time I put on that uniform with the old English ‘J’ on the front, I feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants,” Woods told Andscape.
JSU head drum major Christian Houghton agrees. “It feels like it’s us [J5] against the world,” he said.
Shortly after the 300-member band assembles in parade formation, Houghton and assistant drum majors Woods, Devin Ard, Jared Coleman and Desi Jenkins lead the way into the stadium. Inside the press box, Myers announces the arrival of the Sonic Boom as the drum majors signal the War and Thunder drumline to execute a call-and-response roll off into the band’s theme song, “Get Ready” by The Temptations.
The 1966 Motown hit has served as the band’s theme for half a century, and for Woods, entering the stadium, nicknamed “the Vet,” to the song never gets old.
“I’ll forever cherish that moment,” Woods said. “Seeing the baby Tigers saying my name and how much they look up to me, it’s a crazy feeling and one that I absolutely love.”
Earning the role of drum major in an HBCU band comes with supreme notoriety, especially in a program with great tradition and popularity as Jackson State. In 2021, the Sonic Boom of the South performed during the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
In December 2023, the band finished as the runner-up to the North Carolina A&T Blue & Gold Marching Machine in the Division I ESPN Band of the Year competition. In February, the marching ensemble performed with R&B star Usher during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. On New Year’s Day in 2025, the band will perform in the 136th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
“These kids are always in the eyes of the public,” said Carl Cunningham, president of the Sonic Boom Alumni Association and a former trombone player. “When I marched, we had video cameras capturing moments. Now, with social media, these kids [like Ariel] are like celebrities.”
Woods is no stranger to the challenges, commitment and discipline required to lead a group of her peers. The Dallas native began preparing herself to be a drum major in high school.
In 2019, after watching countless videos of the band, Woods attended one of Jackson State’s weeklong high school band camps and soaked up the knowledge of what band life could feel like as a member of the Sonic Boom. Despite attending a high school that didn’t implement the high-step marching style used by most bands at historically Black colleges and universities, Woods knew that marching at JSU was her goal.
“I admired the discipline of members in the Boom and how strict things were,” Woods said. “We didn’t march the JSU style, but I was a sponge to everything. This was where I wanted to be.”
Two years later, she earned a spot in the band playing alto saxophone. Woods continued developing her skills on her instrument, and cultivated her leadership skills in her section despite being a bit of a “quiet storm,” according to Little.
“She [Woods] was reserved in her earlier years,” Little said. “If she didn’t have the opportunity to be in front of the band, you probably wouldn’t have a conversation with her.”
Despite Woods’ shy demeanor, members of her section believed in her and drum majors such as Houghton vouched for her command, dedication and love of the band. As a result, Woods auditioned to become one of the Jackson Five.
On her first attempt, Woods didn’t make the cut.
“[Ariel] had potential but she needed some development in other areas,” said James Wesby, a former drum major (1992-95) who spent his first year in the band as a War and Thunder percussionist. “It’s hard to be a female drum major. But when she didn’t make it the first time, she didn’t stop.”
However, failing to make J5 was only a small part of her challenges.
Woods, who is pursuing a degree in communications disorders, struggled to balance academics with the demands of the band. Even more, shortly after JSU’s runner-up performance in the ESPN band showcase, on Dec. 16, 2023, her mother suffered a stroke, which restricted her mobility, so Woods went home to Dallas to care for her.
“I struggled in the beginning with my grades, sometimes settling for Cs versus As and Bs,” Woods said. “Having to go back home after competition [during winter break] to help my mom regain her fine motor skills and eventually helping her stay motivated being six hours away [when school resumed] was a lot for me.”
Little said seeing Woods conquer those challenges revealed her determination.
“When she told me what happened with her mother, I thought she was going home [from school],” Little said. “But she toughed it out, stayed around, and those things speak volumes.”
After last season, Woods auditioned for a spot in J5 a second time. After participating in Jackson State’s “march back,” an opportunity for band members interested in becoming a drum major to march alongside the J5, she knew that she was ready.
“Her leadership and showmanship were top-tier,” Houghton said. “To get up in front of a bunch of people and teach the dance routines in clear and concise movements truly spoke to her leadership. That was J5 worthy.”
Picking drum majors is not easy. Little selected the first four drum majors earlier this year,which left one open slot. After tryouts, Little said, Woods often came by his office to discuss her passion to lead the Boom.
“Her persistence, her showmanship, being personable, those are the traits I’ve seen in past JSU drum majors under my tenure,” Little said. “Christian [Houghton] was advocating for her, and she embodied those traits.”
Woods also had a good sense of humor, Houghton said.
“While the dynamic of work we do is important, I like to work around funny people and those with good energy, and she has that,” he said.
During halftime of the 2024 SWAC football championship game in Jackson on Saturday, the Sonic Boom performed a special Christmas field show.
Woods aligned herself to the left of Houghton, zoning into the moment.
“I’m focused on making sure everything is perfect and looking the way it’s supposed to,” she said.
With Houghton leading the way, Woods and the other three drum majors fell in sync with the movements.
Anytime the Boom gets to face off against Southern University’s Human Jukebox marching band, Woods cherishes it. When she was in high school, Woods watched videos from halftime shows, zero quarters and fifth-quarter battles in the bleachers during the BoomBox Classic, the unofficial name of the annual competition between Jackson State and Southern.
Woods’ favorite performance this season came during JSU’s homecoming when each drum major imitated singer Michael Jackson and led the band in a song as a tribute to the King of Pop.
While Woods earned her place in J5, there were still instances where she doubted her ability to lead and needed reassurance from her fellow drum majors, and from former female drum majors such as Myles. But during the Boom’s homecoming field show, with lights and cameras on her, she re-created Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” persona as if she had orchestrated the choreography herself.
“It was such a surreal moment, dressing up like MJ and seeing the crowd’s reaction to my attire and dance routine,” Woods said.
Wesby agrees. “As an assistant [drum major], you usually blend in with the head drum major,” he said. “But the spotlight was on her. All eyes were on her. It was like she came out of her shell and became the Michael [Jackson] inside of her in the most beautiful way.”
As Jackson State (11-2, 8-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) prepares to face South Carolina State University (9-2, 5-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Woods will get another opportunity to leave her mark on the Sonic Boom this season and serve as an example for other women to compete for drum major.
“With female drum majors [like Ariel], we’re experiencing an evolution that we never thought would exist,” Wesby said. “I never envisioned a world where we would have female drum majors when I marched in the Boom. … Young girls want to be like [Ariel].
“She has a chance to continue her story, not only as a drum major, but as future CEO, president or leader in this country. She took advantage of her opportunity [as drum major]. There’s no other experience at JSU that will give you a chance to handle 300-plus personalities and bring them all into one like multiple colors of a Picasso painting. The sky’s the limit for her.”