In Memoriam: Randall Hicks
In February, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra lost a dear member of our family—former Principal Timpani Randall Hicks. We dedicate our April 7 concert in loving memory of our dear colleague.
Randall F. Hicks
November 24, 1949—February 22, 2019
Randall F. Hicks was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. The only child of proud parents Fred Hicks, a Baptist minister, and the beautiful Billie Lawhorn-Hicks, a retiree from AT&T, travel agent and entrepreneur.
Advanced for his age, Randall began playing drums at a very young age. He was adored and affectionately called Randy. His father was an amateur pianist, and his mother, a jazz enthusiast, devoted her life to Randy’s development as a musical genius. Billie was the wind beneath his wings and the perfect stage mom, making sure that Randy made every rehearsal and audition.
Randy came from a musical family. His grandfather, Troy Lawhorn, was the musical director of their church choir and a musician. Randy‘s uncle, John Lawhorn, was an actor and musician who taught music throughout his career and was a guest artist with the Atlanta Symphony. Randy graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. He studied at Oberlin College and the Cleveland Institute. His principal teachers were Cloyd Duff of the Cleveland Orchestra and Salvatore Rabbio of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Randy joined the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as Principal Timpanist in the fall of 1971 and retired in 2015. He played under all the great music directors from Henry Lewis through Jacques Lacombe. As a freelancer, Randy played on the New York City Broadway scene for such shows as A Chorus Line, The Wiz, Porgy and Bess, Dancin’ and Jekyll and Hyde. Randy also appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and his jazz experience included performances with Clark Terry, Richard Davis, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Trini Lopez and Tony Bennett, among many others. In addition, he taught for several years at NJCU—his many students adored him!
Many of you may recall some of his NJSO performance highlights, including Phillip Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, Strauss’ Burleske for piano and orchestra with pianist Emanuel Ax, Nielson’s Symphony No. 4 and Randy’s favorites—any Beethoven symphony and all choral works. He was beloved by all chorus members who had the pleasure of encountering him on stage. Randy was a total musician comfortable in any genre. He especially loved playing jazz.
A true audiophile, he listened to music at home on whatever was the most advanced sound system technology through the decades. For those who were not familiar with his regular activities when not at the NJSO, Randy would exercise regularly, usually by skillfully jumping rope or taking an urban run. Randy’s most beloved hobby was his private time reading mystery novels of any era. He would find hideouts in all of the NJSO concert venues during breaks to keep up on his reading!
Passionate about soccer, jazz and classical music, Randy was a devoted son who shared a special bond with his mother.
Randy was preceded in death by his father, Fred, and his 99-year-old mother, Billie, passed away in May 2018. Left to cherish his memory are his 103-year-old aunt, Lillie Smith, Columbus, Ohio; aunt Phyllis Lawhorn, Atlanta, Georgia; Cousins Robert Coman, Detroit, Michigan; Troy (Brenda) Coman, Sun City, Florida; Michael (Carolyn) Lawhorn, Atlanta, Georgia, and a host of second cousins, including Warren (Valentia) Coman, and friends Ruth D. Hunt of Jersey City, New Jersey; Mendes and Claire Toussaint of Orange, New Jersey, and Denise Huggins of Jersey City, New Jersey.
When asked what went through his head during performances, Randy responded: “It’s a passion and spontaneity. Those two things are what draws us in as musicians. Being a timpanist, I’m literally hitting something. We have to be in touch—figuratively and literally—with the instrument and the music. Everyone’s a little different, and an instrument needs that human element to bring it to life. What the person in the audience is hearing or seeing is the engagement that’s happening. The person performing—it’s a passion that’s being drawn out of them.”