Fernando Pullum

Fernando Pullum was a member of The Cavaliers mellophone section in 1975 and 1976 after starting his drum corps career as a member of the St. Andrew’s Hornets on the west side of Chicago. He joined the CAPE board of directors in 2020 and serves on the Organizational Culture Committee.  

Fernando earned his bachelor’s degree in music education (1981) and master’s in trumpet performance (1983) from the University of Michigan.  Fernando moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to follow his dream of becoming an educator and professional musician. He assumed the music program at L.A.’s Washington Prep High School. Under his tutelage, the program thrived. In 1989, Los Angeles Unified School District recognized Fernando’s music program as the first music magnet in South Los Angeles. He currently operates the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center in Los Angeles, providing over 1200 students with free arts instruction. (www.pullumcenter.org)

During the years that followed, 100% of Fernando’s students graduated with a high school diploma and only one student failed to enroll in college during the next fifteen years. Fernando has been recognized by many organizations and individuals throughout his tenure, including Oprah, VH-1, the John Lennon Foundation and the State of California as its teacher of the year. He has performed and recorded with many industry greats, such as Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackson Browne, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Eddie Murphy, Fishbone and more.

Over the years, Fernando’s students have performed for many dignitaries, including President Ford and Prince Charles. The students have performed with Jackson Browne, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and many other incredible musicians. They have opened the Playboy Jazz Festival four times and traveled to Cuba, Brazil, Spain, and New York. Six of his former students have won Grammys.

The members of The Cavaliers Drum &Bugle Corps were privileged to perform with the Pullum Center jazz band and trumpet legend Wayne Bergeron in a street performance in South Central Los Angeles’ Leinert Park area during the 2019 west coast tour that was one of the highlights of the season.  Fernando has also been involved in supporting the resurgence of the Hornets Drum & Bugle Corps in his old west side of Chicago neighborhood. 

Fernando resides in Los Angeles and his current passion, outside of the Pullum Center kids and his involvement with CAPE, is watching his daughter, Imani Pullum, perform in her burgeoning acting career.