Paris Gotch Became a National Trumpet Name Through Texas Southern’s Ocean Of Soul

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Gotch brought a strong musical foundation with him before entering the national HBCU band spotlight. In high school, he was also known as Razamon B and was a former student of Upbeat Academy in the Greater New Orleans Area. That early background helped shape the sound, confidence, and brass-driven identity that would later follow him into the Ocean Of Soul.

Gotch’s time at Texas Southern was brief compared to some, but the impact was undeniable. From 2019 to spring 2022, he became one of the most important figures in the trumpet section. He led the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 trumpet sections and played a major role in helping the group grow during one of the most difficult periods for college bands: the pandemic era.

His 2020 pandemic session, known as the “12 Soldiers,” became a defining group. That section helped lay the groundwork for the trumpet classes that came after, including 2022 and the sections that followed into the present era. The 2020 trumpet section is remembered as one of the strongest and most together groups of its time, with a sound that many consider powerful enough to stand beside or even surpass several respected sections from the 2010s.

Paris Gotch helped rebuild the section next to other well-known Ocean Of Soul trumpet players such as Emmette Davis, Jared Whitehurst, Ross Steward, and Joshua Hunt. Their work helped restore strength and identity to the section, pushing it toward becoming a true powerhouse in the SWAC.

Gotch’s presence was not limited to leadership alone. He was also one of the most visible trumpet players on social media between 2020 and 2022. His clips went viral, spreading throughout the HBCU band community and helping establish him as one of the most talked-about trumpet players of that era. For many fans and younger musicians, those clips became their introduction to Pierre The Great.

His influence also showed through the players who came after him. Paris Gotch helped mold trumpet players such as Micky Levon, who entered as part of the freshman class of 2021. Levon later became a trumpet section leader himself in 2024 and eventually played with Beyoncé. That progression speaks to the kind of mentorship and foundation Gotch helped provide during his time at Texas Southern.

What made Gotch stand out was not just technical ability. It was timing, leadership, presence, and cultural impact. He was part of a section that had to rebuild during a moment when the world was still recovering from the pandemic. Instead of allowing the section to fade, he helped hold it together and push it forward.

Recently, Paris Gotch posted another clip under his @Pierrethegreat93 and @theprinceoftrumpets tags that began gaining viral attention again. The moment served as a reminder that his name still resonates. His impact did not disappear after leaving the Ocean Of Soul. It continues through social media, through the players he influenced, and through the larger HBCU band community that still recognizes his contribution.

Paris Gotch, also known as RichType Pierre Tha Great, became a national household name on trumpet because of what he represented. He represented New Orleans brass tradition, Ocean Of Soul pride, SWAC excellence, and the power of leadership during a challenging era. His time at Texas Southern may have been short, but his legacy remains one of the most memorable trumpet stories connected to the Ocean Of Soul in recent years.