While most 5-year-olds are busy running around the playground, Keith Jacobs has a passion for marching to the beat of a drum. The Daytona Beach kindergartner became an internet sensation last year when his mother, Teah Culver, recorded him marching in the Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) homecoming parade in October.
“It was told to me that the world would know Keith by the time he was 5, that he would be recognized,” Culver said. After posting the video on TikTok, it quickly garnered over 100,000 views by the following day, and the numbers kept growing.
The viral video caught the attention of talk show host Tamron Hall, who invited Keith to appear on her show Little Dreamers, Big Dreams on February 20. During the episode, Keith showcased his stepping and drumming skills while an excited audience cheered him on.
Keith’s love for music seems to have started in the womb. Culver, who is also a singer, recalls playing specific songs while pregnant and feeling Keith respond to the rhythm. She has videos of him as young as 3 months old reacting to music and would often bring him along to choir rehearsals.
“Call me crazy, but I swear he had a rhythmic tap even at that time,” Culver remembers. “So, it literally started from birth, and when I saw it, I just began nurturing it.”
The musical influence comes from both parents. Keith’s father, Kevin Jacobs, is a former high school drum major and was part of the drumline at Bethune-Cookman University.
Keith is particularly fond of marching bands and the distinctive sounds of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Though he gained attention performing with B-CU, Culver mentions that Keith enjoys music from a variety of HBCU bands, including Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, and Norfolk State University. He’s also expressed interest in learning to play the drums, trombone, and trumpet.
“Music is his happy place,” said Culver, adding that Keith has a deep love for all things musical.
Keith has big dreams for the future. According to Culver, he aspires to be both an astronaut and a band performer.
“He said he wants to entertain and do stuff, but mostly, he wants to be an astronaut,” Culver recalls. “I asked him, ‘What are you going to do? March on the moon?’ and he responded, ‘Yeah.’”
Culver is working on establishing a business for Keith called Major Five, with the number five representing his age when his musical journey began. She’s dedicated to supporting his interests, helping him thrive, and making sure he continues to develop his passion for music.
“This isn’t just a child beating on instruments,” said Culver. “This is a child who was never trained but developed skills on his own. As his mom, I want to nurture that talent, put him in the right environments, and teach him that it’s not just about playing an instrument, but exploring different avenues within it.”
Keith also participates in local high school band youth nights and drumline competitions.
Culver continued, “I’m trying to show him now, even at 5, that one day, he could teach others, have his own business, and entertain himself. I’m thinking long term but also letting him express himself, while still giving him room to be a kid and have fun and freedom.”
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