Chancellor Crump, a double major at Tallahassee Community College, studies criminal justice and music education. He found his passion and love for music at a very young age.
Crump, a native of North Carolina, moved to Tallahassee when he was just 2 years old. That was the beginning of a new life for Crump.
He realized his love for music growing up watching his grandmother prepare Sunday dinners. As she would cook, he would make beats on her unused pots and pans.
“I remember using my grandmother’s pots to produce different sounds of music,” Crump said. “That’s the day I realized that I wanted to spend the rest of my life making music and creating sounds.”
After years went by, his grandmother noticed how passionate he was, so she spoke to her local church choir’s band director and Crump began to shadow him, learning new piano and drum techniques.
Crump then became good enough to play on his own, so he dedicated his time playing for his church, Life Deliverance Ministries.
In addition, he earned a spot to travel with his choir receiving a lot of recognition from all across Florida. He won third place in the 2016 music masters drum battle hosted by well-known bishop Td Jakes.
Crump believes that music gives him an outlet to let go and be free.
“Music gives me a way to express myself without talking,” Crump said. “It helps to release my feelings and put them into keyboards and drums.”
Even with the challenges that Crump faces as a college student he finds a way to stay in touch with himself by playing instruments.
Leilanni Blount, a FAMU biology pre-med major and close friend of Crump, said music frees Crump from stress.
“Despite every obstacle Chance has gone through, music has been there to get him through it when he felt like he had nothing left,” Blount said. “Instead, of taking his frustrations out on his family and friends, he used music to cope with stress, which is a great method to have.”
Helen Crump, Chance’s grandmother, said she always knew he was something special.
“I’ve raised Chance since he moved to Tallahassee,” she said. “I am so proud of the young man he has grown to be and know that he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Crump is in the TCC to FAMU program and hopes that one day his dream will become his reality, and he will be playing for the Marching 100.