JTC 24: A Degree a Decade in the Making

Fred Dunlap III, fondly known as "Huggy Bear," is a total percussionist – he can play a full drum set, the marimba, orchestral percussion and hand drums.

"Among all the instruments in the percussion family, I get the most work on the drum set." Dunlap said. "However, I enjoy playing melodic percussion the most, specifically the marimba and vibraphone.

"As a percussionist, we are always responsible for timekeeping and rhythmic contributions, but playing melodic percussion allows us to show our other facets of being a total musician and contribute to the melody and harmonic texture."

He earned his undergraduate degree in music at Fayetteville State University, a historically Black university in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2009. He arrived at the University of Mississippi the following year with plans to pursue a master's degree in music performance, but he had no idea that it would take 14 years.

For the next two years, Dunlap completed his coursework and performed with several ensembles, including The Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, LOU Symphony Orchestra, World Percussion Ensemble, UM Steel Orchestra, Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and the Vertigo Percussion Group.

"I already had a pretty strong musical foundation from my undergrad studies; however, the University of Mississippi helped me to take things to the next level of quality and increase my musical diversity," he said.

Outside the campus ensembles, Dunlap played drums with the Bill Perry Trio, a jazz and hip-hop instrumental trio led by Bill Perry Jr., son of the late blues legend Bill "Howl-n'-Madd" Perry, and Keith "Dr. Prana" Fondren. He also played with a band known as Cadillac Funk, which was an amalgamation of musicians of different backgrounds from the Oxford music scene, led by Andrew "Cadillac" Yurkow.

"The music was mostly funky blues and bluesy funk, and our No. 1 goal was to always keep the party going," Dunlap said.

He played with many other local musicians, including Effie Burt, The Soul Tones and Tate Moore, and appeared in venues all around Oxford, including Proud Larry's and Ajax as well as the bygone Two Stick, Parrish's and Foxfire Ranch.

Dunlap credits his work with The Legit Jazz Sextet for his musical growth outside of Ole Miss.

"The band leader, Casey Lipe, was a wealth of knowledge, and we played a repertoire of unique songs and styles that I had never played before," he said.

In 2012, Dunlap attended the Jazz Education Network Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, with The Mississippians Jazz Ensemble.

"We had been to jazz festivals and had travel performances before, but this was unique because we were selected to perform along with so many distinguished groups from all over the country," he said. "In addition to performing for jazz lovers and educators, the best part for me was getting to witness and hang with members of all the other ensembles and universities from around the country.

"Many of us stayed up and jammed until 3 or 4 a.m. in the hotel lobbies and conference rooms. It is an experience I will never forget."

Dunlap was selected as featured soloist for the 2012 Black History Month Concert that celebrated 50 years of the university's integration, an annual concert produced by George Worlasi Kwasi Dor, the university's McDonnell-Barksdale Chair of Ethnomusicology and professor of music.

"Fred Dunlap is a professional musician with a wealth of experience, knowledge and the skills to play any style of music," said Ricky Burkhead, professor of music and percussion.

Upon completion of his coursework in 2012, Dunlap departed Oxford to go on tour as a percussionist with Gary Burnside, a Mississippi Hill Country blues artist and the youngest son of the late blues singer R.L. Burnside, and Randy Paul, a rock 'n' roll band leader from Charlotte, North Carolina. His master recital, the remaining requirement for his graduate degree, stayed on the back burner while he traveled and performed.

It remained on hold when Dunlap was offered a job as an adjunct professor at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, where he taught music until 2021. While Dunlap enjoyed teaching, he knew that he needed to complete his master's degree to become a tenure-track professor.

So in 2023, Dunlap dusted off his classical chops and returned to Oxford under the guidance and support of Burkhead and Michael Worthy, associate professor of music and director of the Mississippians Jazz Ensemble.

"Fred returned to finish his Master of Music in performance after about a decade away," Worthy said. "During this time, he gained a wealth of experience as a professional musician. He was able to 'return to the throne' behind the drum set in the jazz ensemble and coach an undergraduate jazz combo for the fall semester.

"He is a fantastic person, and it is a joy to make music with him."

After graduation, Dunlap plans to continue to work as a freelance musician. This fall, he will board a cruise ship as a traveling percussionist, and he continues to play with Gary Burnside and Randy Paul, among others.

He also will serve as percussion manager and assistant orchestra manager for the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, and will return to Mississippi this summer to perform at the Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, set for June 28-29.

"My time spent at the University of Mississippi was very special to me and was an integral part of my musical growth," Dunlap said. "I consider it a second home, and I look forward to any and every time I have an opportunity to return to Oxford."

See more photo from Fred Dunlap III's Journey to Commencement