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The sun comes up over Meridian, Mississippi. Terry Boler pins on his silver police badge. His radio hums to life as he patrols the local college campus. He is Officer Boler. He works hard to keep his city safe.
But when the sun goes down, his uniform completely changes. He trades his heavy police radio for a keyboard.
Terry is the guy sketching beautiful chords behind the biggest new voice in music. He plays the keys like a steady second heartbeat for his childhood best friend, Jamal Roberts.
Jamal Roberts Brings Out MSU Police Officer as Surprise Keyboardist!
Most newly crowned reality TV winners immediately fire their old bands. When Jamal won American Idol Season 23, his whole life flipped upside down. He could have hired the most expensive, flashy musicians in Hollywood. He had giant cameras in his face. Massive, high-paying gigs in Manhattan started calling his name.
But Jamal refused to change his circle. He looked right back at his roots.
Jamal and Terry have been playing music together since they were just teenagers. Long before the giant spotlight, they were just two kids learning chords in the local church pews. Jamal was a P.E. coach blowing a whistle in a gym. Terry was walking his daily police beat. They were just a tight band of hometown brothers showing up to play, no matter who was actually listening.
“Liar” by jellyroll Jamal Roberts hometown hero concert‼️
Today, the stages are much bigger and the crowds are incredibly loud. Yet, the music sounds exactly the same. Jamal stayed fiercely loyal to the guy who was there in the dark.
Jamal went from an unknown gym teacher to a national superstar but he never let Hollywood erase his hometown. His loyalty leaves us with a truly inspiring lesson. True success is not just measured by how high you finally climb. It is measured by exactly who you choose to bring up the mountain with you.
