Before Paris Gotch became known as RichType Pierre Tha Great, and before his name carried weight across the HBCU band world, he was building his foundation in New Orleans under another name: Razamon B. As a former student of Upbeat Academy in the Greater New Orleans Area, Gotch’s musical journey started with the kind of early development that would later help him stand out on one of the biggest stages in HBCU band culture.
New Orleans has always been a city where music is more than entertainment. It is identity, tradition, and survival. For Gotch, growing up in that environment gave him a natural connection to brass, rhythm, and performance. That background would later shape his presence as a trumpet player and help him bring a distinct New Orleans energy into Texas Southern University’s Ocean Of Soul.
During his time at Texas Southern, Paris Gotch became one of the most important trumpet figures to pass through the Ocean Of Soul. Leading the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 trumpet sections, he stepped into a major role during a challenging period. The pandemic changed how bands operated, practiced, performed, and built chemistry. Yet Gotch helped keep the section strong and focused.
His 2020 pandemic session, known as the “12 Soldiers,” became a key moment in the section’s modern history. That group was not just another class of players. It helped lay the foundation for what the trumpet section would become in the years after. The discipline, sound, and structure formed during that time helped influence later sections, including the 2022 class and the groups that followed.
Gotch was seen as the heartbeat of the trumpet section from 2019 to 2022. His leadership helped the section evolve into a powerhouse, even during a period when many programs were still finding their footing after the pandemic. His influence was felt not only through his playing, but also through the way he helped others develop.
One of the most important examples of that influence is Micky Levon. As part of the freshman trumpet class of 2021, Levon was one of the players Paris Gotch helped mold. Levon later became a trumpet section leader himself during the 2024-2025 season and went on to play with Beyoncé. That connection shows how Gotch’s leadership helped create a ripple effect that reached far beyond his own time in uniform.
Paris Gotch also played an important role in rebuilding the trumpet section alongside other respected Ocean Of Soul trumpet players such as Emmette Davis, Jared Whitehurst, Ross Steward, and Joshua Hunt. Together, they helped create a stronger identity for the section and pushed it into a new era of respect within the SWAC.
From 2020 to 2022, Gotch became one of the most viral trumpet players in the HBCU band community. His clips spread widely across social media, helping introduce his sound and presence to audiences outside of Texas Southern. His viral moments made him one of the most talked-about trumpet players of that period and helped build his reputation as a national figure in the band world.
Recently, Gotch reminded people of that legacy with a new viral clip posted under his @Pierrethegreat93 and @theprinceoftrumpets tags. The response shows that his name still carries power. Even after his time in the Ocean Of Soul, his influence remains active.
The evolution from Razamon B to RichType Pierre Tha Great is more than a name change. It represents growth, identity, and legacy. Paris Gotch’s journey shows how early training, New Orleans roots, HBCU culture, and personal discipline can come together to create a figure whose impact continues to inspire trumpet players in high school, college, and beyond.
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