On Feb. 9, Gerard Hills won the first GSU Idol contest during halftime of the Grambling vs. Southern basketball game. As the winner of GSU Idol, he will serve as the opening act for Tigerfest next week. “Opening up for Tigerfest is very humbling. I feel blessed, and I hope to represent the school well,” Hills said.
Hills is no stranger to big time performances. The Meridian, Miss., native has been performing in front of audiences since the tender age of 6. He has performed at church functions, Phi Mu Alpha gatherings and even opened up for Bayou Classic 2005 in Houston.
As long as he has been alive, Hills has had a deep love for music. His father, Gerald, used to manage local bands in the Meridian area. His dad would call his son out of his sleep, telling him to go down to the family’s basement and tell the groups what songs to play.
To Gerard, music is an escape from life and a way to express himself.
“Music is my air and my getaway,” he said.
The younger Hills come from a deep musical background, and so does his family. Besides managing groups, his dad plays the piano and the bass guitar, and his sister Peoria plays the piano and the trumpet.
Gerard Hills himself plays the saxophone and his first two years at GSU, he was in the band and is currently now in the choir, where he sings tenor.
Students and onlookers will see something very unusual and interesting at Tigerfest. On the stage, Hills will be accompanied by back-up singers and back-up dancers.
“The reason why I’m doing this [is] because I want to step out the box and show versatility,” he said.
He is confident that he will be a hit with the GSU crowd. He has been working really hard and seems up to the challenge.
“I just wanted to get out there and just have some fun,” said Hills.
Outside of his music realm, Hills has a double major in biology and chemistry and maintains an impressive 3.34 grade-point average. After college, he plans to attend medical school and receive a medical degree and a Ph.D. in virology.