The Southern Belles, Precursor of Southern University’s Dancing Dolls

Source: The Advocate

And “The Lord” said, “OK, I’ll let coeds march with my band.” And, the Southern Belles became a reality.

The year was 1961 and the Southern University Marching Band, known as the “Marching Counts of Sound,” was an all-male bastion. The dancing corps was the idea of coed Mary Freddie, of Lake Charles, who had studied dance at the Jacob’s Pillow School of Performing Arts in Lee, Mass., and performed professionally with the Duncan Dance Troup in Chicago.

She met with band director T. Leroy Davis, aka “The Lord,” during her junior year to present her proposal that the group perform with the band during halftime. After two meetings, including one with then-music department head Huel Perkins, Freddie set to work to create the Southern Belles.

The initial group consisted of Freddie, Avé Bonham, Rosalind Canada, Gracie Franklin, sisters Cheryl and Bennifer Hall and Charlie Jackson. They recently got together to share their memories.
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Florida A&M alum’s Band Garner’s National Attention

By Nick Sloan

Source: Kansas City Kansan

With the possible exception of gold-medal winning track star Maurice Greene, F.L. Schlagle High School in the Kansas City, Kan., might be most well-known for its marching band.  This year is no different: the band has gotten off to a quick start on its busy schedule this year.

The band made one of its first performances at the Apple Fest last weekend.  Band director Reginald May, a graduate of Florida A&M University, has led the band for years.

“We have a young band this year,” he said. “But we have a small nucleus of key leaders. It is good to have that mix.”

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Johnson C Smith’s 110 Member Band Hopes To Attend 2009 Honda BOTB

Source:  The Charlotte Observer

Darkness fell over Johnson C. Smith University as uptown’s skyline glistened in the distance and a cool breeze blew through the hilltop campus for a night of quiet study.

Yet any chance for calm was quickly broken. The International Institution of Sound, JCSU’s 110-member, high-stepping marching band, was about to start another three hours of practice.

At 7:10 p.m., the drumline pounded a marching beat, revving energy through the band as whistles from three drum majors sounded the order to march.

Rehearsed and stretched, hips swiveled, feet shuffled. Sweet brass filled the air, and the band — dancers and the flag corps in tow — snaked as one through campus to the practice field.

Students hung out windows, or off to the side, bopping to the beat.

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New SWAC Rules Silence Grambling Band

By Darryl D. Smith — Black College Wire 

The World Famed Tiger Marching Band sat silent, unable to play to the fans’ wishes.  The Southwestern Athletic Conference has started enforcing its rules regarding band performances. The rules were issued to the SWAC band directors on Aug. 19, according to a document obtained by The Gramblinite.

The document states that bands “shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals.”

When an “offensive team breaks the ‘huddle’ and approaches the line of scrimmage, the band shall cease playing.” The bands also cannot use drum rolls or beats, cymbals clashing, horn sounds or any other kind of musical instrument while the ball is in play.

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Florida A&M’s Marching 100 Seeks Additional Funding

Source:  The Famuan

The Florida A&M University Marching 100 is growing and needs more money to pay for all the travel and activities.

The band’s activities are financed through a variety of sources, including and activities and service fees. The 2008-2009 academic year is the final year of a five-year agreement under which the Marching 100 will receive money from the Florida A&M University Student Senate, according to Kamilia Landrum, Organization and Finance Chair, who spoke at the fourth session of the 38th Student Senate Monday.

Director of Band Operations Julian White said the band has received money from the FAMU Student Government Association since William P. Foster headed the band nearly 50 years ago. SGA members were unclear about the details of the agreement and are researching it.
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Marchingsport Forums Down

On Monday evening we experienced a Disk Error on the blackcollegebands.com server.  We are in the process of trying to recover data from the server and ask that you use Bandhead.org for Group and Forum Discussions until we can get the matter resolved.

We thank you for your loyalty, support and patience and hope to have things running back to normal shortly.

TxSU Band Pulls out of Game due to Ike, leaves Shaw alone in the spotlight

 

 Shaw University Platinum Sound Marching Band drummer Therrell Lyon is all business at a 2004 show in Fayetteville, N.C. 

By Edward Ortiz
SaccBee.com
Thanks to Hurricane Ike, the gridiron will belong to the high-steppers of Shaw University during the so-called “fifth quarter” of today’s Capital City Football Classic featuring two historically black colleges at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento.

The storm’s onset has forced the Texas Southern University band to pull out of the event, leaving Shaw’s Platinum Sound Marching Band alone in the spotlight.

That puts some pressure on Shaw since fans of black college football relish the unique musical and physical pyrotechnics as much as the athletic competition.

“The marching style that Shaw does is a very unique high-stepping style,” said Charles V. Brown, band director and professor of music for Shaw University. “This is done by raising the legs up to 90 degrees high and kind of strutting like a horse.”

Brown has been instrumental in building the band’s reputation as premier high-steppers, serving as director for the past 34 years and ushering in the recent incarnation of the band program for the past eight.

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Florida A&M Drum Majors Serve as Honary Guards at Young Bus Victims Funeral

Source:  WCTV.com

Cars filled the streets for a half a mile around Faith Christian Family Center.

The community came together to show their sympathy, and support, for Ronshay Dugans, an eight year old girl who died in a bus accident on Capital Circle.

A church that holds twelve hundred people, was packed from wall to wall, with standing room only, for those celebrating the life of a beloved little girl.

“I think of her as a teacher, and hopefully that people can reflect on Ronshay’s short time here on earth, and um, you know, the impact that she had, the joy of her life that she had,” said Family Friend, Dee Crumpler.

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At 420 Pieces, Florida A&M Bigger, Badder and in Demand

By: Matthew Richardson
The FAMUAN

Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 is taking advantage of its 135-person increase this semester by performing at some big named events.

The band was at the Miami Dolphins’ opening game Sept. 7. They performed the Dolphins theme song and rapper Plies’ song, “Please Excuse My Hands”.

The Marching 100 has performed for other NFL teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Because of its reputation, the band was offered a chance to perform for the Dolphins’ season opener. Read more

Joe Bullard, The Voice of FAMU’s Marching 100, Someone you should know.

Source: WCTV.com

There aren’t many people that have the name recognition that Joe Bullard does.He’s been a fixture in the Capital City and is just one of those good guys that always makes you smile.

Joe Bullard has been doing it since 1972. His voice you know. 96.1 is the radio dial. He’s an institution in Tallahassee, although he says it’s just a presence. Even if you don’t know Joe Bullard, more than likely, you’ve at least heard of him.

“Is that you? I didn’t think you look like that. You should be older, you should have more hair. My momma talked about you, my daddy knew you,” said Bullard.

Bullard spent 15 years on the air, then went to Columbia music for 14 and back again, ruling the Tallahassee airwaves ever since. He’s met Mariah, Beyonce, Prince, you name it, they all know Joe. Especially at FAMU.

Since the dawn of time, or 1976, Joe has been the voice of the Marching 100. While he’s a presence in the community, Joe is truly an institution on campus.

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