An Icon Passes, Remembering FAMU’s William P. Foster
August 28, 2010
Florida A&M’s original band director has passed away. William Patrick Foster, long-time director and founder of the Florida A&M Marching 100, passed away Saturday morning. Foster, affectionately known as “Doc Foster” by band members both past and present, founded the Marching 100 and served as its director from 1946 to 1998. Foster is credited with creating the Marching 100’s signature sound, movement and rhythm, and arguably influencing the structure of HBCU marching bands across the country.
More details will be posted as soon as they are available. See the full story in Monday’s edition of The Famuan.
Photo By: Victor R. Gaines
Florida A&M arranger Lindsey Sarjeant reacts to the death of Michael Jackson
June 26, 2009
Lindsey Sarjeant, director of jazz studies at Florida A&M University and musical arranger for the school’s Marching 100, said Jackson had a very important role in his musical development.
“It was 1970 when I was in college and when the Jackson 5 first got started. The music they made, I grew up with,” Sarjeant said.
Sarjeant called Jackson’s death “heartbreaking.”
“You know you’re talking about a guy who single-handedly transformed pop music in the world. He was indeed the king of pop, regardless of his personal life, you can’t negate the genius of the man, and we have lost a great musician.”
Sarjeant, who has been arranging music for the marching band since he graduated in 1974, said Jackson was an iconic figure.
Full Article can be seen Here @ Tallahassee.com
FAMU Marching 100 Disappointed Over Not Dancing in Front of Obama
January 23, 2009
As the Marching 100 made its presence known down Pennsylvania Avenue, there were the many spectators….and of course, the president.
But one thing was missing.
FAMU Drum Player Dante Martin says, “We were originally supposed to stop for President Obama and do like a dance routine salute for him.”
But Senator Ted Kennedy’s seizure caused a delay in the parade, so once the parade finally began, it had to be rushed, meaning there was no time to stop and dance.
FAMU Saxophone Player Joshua Green says, “I was a little disappointed, I mean we practiced on it day after day after day, and it was freezing and my fingers almost fell off.” Read more
FAMU’s Marching 100 delayed by weather and a bus problem
January 19, 2009
Florida A&M Marching band members just finished a late breakfast in Henderson, N.C., just north of Durham, N.C.
Julian White, FAMU’s director of bands, said the rainy weather Sunday coupled with one bus problem has delayed the band. They were originally scheduled to be in Cambridge, Md. around 11:30 a.m.
White said one of the nine buses had an exhaust pipe come loose and it began to melt the rear bumper.
It took about two hours to fix the problem before the band went on through North Carolina.
White said he and his staff accounted for at least a two to three hour delay. However, the setbacks have not taken students’ excitement away.
“I just think it gets more exciting by the hour — getting closer and closer,” said Ellice Burley, 23. “Being a part of what’s going on … it’s history in the making.”
FAMU Marching 100 Marching on to Washington Despite Lack of Funds
January 15, 2009
WCTV- Source
FAMU’s Marching 100 did not raise the cash needed for its trip to Washington, but they’re going to march on.
Over the past few weeks, the band embarked on a massive fund raising campaign to collect about 180-thousand dollars by Thursday.
The band director says they did not raise all the money, but they’ll be heading out there anyway, and the band is one of five that was invited to perform in front of the President-Elect.
FAMU Director of Bands Dr. Julian E. White says, “We are extremely proud of that and so we have a little routine prepared that we think will be quite entertaining to the president and the citizens of Tallahassee, Florida.”
You can still help the band make up the rest of the money. To donate, call (850) 599-3413
FAMU band strives for six-figure goal to go to Obama’s inauguration
December 24, 2008
Expenses for Florida A&M University’s marching band to participate in Barack Obama’s inaugural parade have increased by $75,000.
Originally, $100,000 was needed for the Marching 100. That figure covered travel, lodging and food to go to Washington, D.C. for the Jan. 20 event. Now, $175,000 is needed, Carla Willis, vice president of university relations, said on Tuesday.
The earlier figure was attributed to expenses needed when the band participated in former President Bill Clinton’s inaugural parade, Willis said. The past 11 years weren’t taken into account, she said. But the increase hasn’t stopped donors. So far, more than $80,000 has been raised.
FAMU’s Marching 100 invited to inaugural parade
December 7, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Marching “100” has been selected to participate in the President’s Inaugural parade on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
In a telephone call on Friday to Dr. Julian White, director of bands and chair of FAMU’s Department
Famu obama of Music, was unexpected and changed the course of the band’s practice session. December 5, was a typical band rehearsal for FAMU Marching “100” as they created unique formations with high-stepping techniques. According to White, he received a telephone call during rehearsal congratulating him that the Marching “100” had been selected to participate in the inaugural parade.
“When I heard that we were selected, I immediately asked them to repeat it again,” said White. “I put them on speakerphone and put the phone to the microphone so that the entire band could hear the invite. As soon as the band members heard the invitation, they went berserk. They were screaming and shouting. They started calling and sending text messages to their family and friends informing them of the wonderful news.”
Bands battle in show like no other
November 23, 2008
ORLANDO — Legend says the ancient Scots marched into battle to the sound of Highland bagpipes within their ranks. The eerie, menacing sound of the pipes would pummel the enemy from as much as 10 miles away, instilling dread in foes long before the first clash of swords.But those Scotsmen might be quaking in their boots and kilts if they were here Saturday afternoon on the turf of the Citrus Bowl. It’s halftime at the annual Florida Classic football game, and the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats are taking the field.
Sure, the Marching Wildcats will play a hip-hop hit — Plies’ “Who Hotter Than Me.” But the song by the Tampa rapper boasts a defiant, martial beat, propelled by the brontosaurus stomp of the ‘Cats tuba section and the Roman centurion blasts of the trumpets in the 275-member band. Read more
Florida A&M alum’s Band Garner’s National Attention
October 9, 2008
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.”
Florida A&M’s Marching 100 Seeks Additional Funding
September 18, 2008
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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