Breaking News: Bus Carrying Morehouse Band Members Overturns
October 31, 2009
ATLANTA — A charter bus carrying members of the Morehouse College band overturned on Interstate 75 southbound Saturday causing several injuries, Henry County police said.It happened at about 10:15 a.m. near Interstate 675 in Henry County. Investigators said approximately 42 people were aboard the bus when it overturned.Officials said the bus was one of three going southbound to a Morehouse-Albany State University game in Albany. The other buses were not involved, police said.Channel 2 Action News reporter Ashley Hayes was the first reporter at the scene to gather details on what happened. Hayes e-mailed pictures of the overturned bus from her phone and even captured a shot of some students who made it out of the bus safely.Police said a car may have cut in front of the bus, causing it to go out of control and overturn, landing on its right side in a ditch about 60 feet off the road.
Investigators said at least 13 people were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The other 29 individuals complained of injuries at the scene, and were also transported by non-emergency means to be checked out at a local hospital.
Roads were wet Saturday, but officials haven’t determined whether it played a role in the accident.One southbound lane remained closed, but officials have opened two other lanes to ease the flow of traffic. Drivers should avoid the area if possible.“This morning’s rain has made for wet roads all across north Georgia. With more showers in the forecast, don’t expect them to dry out much today,” said Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz.Channel 2 has tried multiple times to reach officials at Morehouse College, but have been unsuccessful thus far.Stay tuned to wsbtv.com for the latest developments on this breaking story.
A&T Band makes history at NASCAR
October 27, 2009
NASCAR and HBCU are not typically found in the same sentence – let alone the same stadium. On Oct. 17th that all changed.
Source | A&T Register
For the first time in the history of the sport, a college band was invited to play at a race and A&T’s Blue & Gold Marching Machine was offered that honor. The band performed at the NASCAR Banking 500 for over 30 minutes in front of the crowd of nearly 140,000 at Lowes Motor Speedway prior to playing the Star Spangled Banner before a nationally televised audience of over 3 million viewers.
“The largest crowd we had previously played in front of was at the Honda, and that’s about 30,000 people, so this was just amazing,” said Band Director Kenneth Ruff. “This is the largest crowd we’ve played in front of. It was just a great opportunity to be the first HBCU band to perform at an event like this.”
This opportunity’s seeds were first planted back in 2000 when NASCAR began to develop the NASCAR Diversity Council. Within its diversity campaign, the sport has placed a particular emphasis on black colleges and universities. That effort was combined with the Carolina CollegeFest 2009 which was part of the pre-race festivities aimed at college students and a collegiate homecoming atmosphere.
60-Year-Old FAMU Alumnus Marches During Halftime Show
October 25, 2009
Reporter: Saundra Weathers [wctv news]
"I’m Patrick Arnold. Originally from Chattahoochee Tennessee now from Chicago. Fall 1966!"
He’s a 60-year-old FAMU alumnus marching to the beat of a different drum. Patrick Arnold once battled bands but now he is battling type two diabetes with a positive attitude and a pair of cymbals.
Its been more than four decades since he was a member of the band and Arnold is taking to the field once again and its not just to play for what he calls, the baddest band in the land its for his health.
"I found out as my doctor told me exercise is the best friend of diabetes," said Arnold. "So that’s why I do this because it’s an incentive for me to keep in shape."
Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams Jr. helps with bands at Jackson-Olin High School and Miles College
October 25, 2009
By Carol Robinson — The Birmingham News
By day, Sgt. Johnny Williams Jr. is the voice of the Birmingham Police Department.
But come 5 p.m., he brings on the band.
Williams, a 44-year-old veteran police officer and the department spokesman, spends his off-duty hours choreographing fancy steps and field formations for the bands at Jackson-Olin High School and Miles College.
As a former drum major and baritone player for the Alabama State University Marching Hornets, it’s something that comes naturally for the self-professed "band head."
His wife was a cheerleader at another college, but his son and two daughters play the trumpet.
In addition to his police work week of 40-plus hours, Williams puts in about five hours each weeknight with the two bands plus the weekend games, where he also announces for the Jackson-Olin band.
Annual battle of the bands is spirited but not competitive
October 22, 2009
By David Hill
Source: Washington Post
(MARYLAND) - When Prince George’s County public schools had their annual Marching Band Showcase last week, there were no winners or losers. And the participants wouldn’t have had it any other way.
"It’s just fun and not competitive," said Melajero Williams, 16, a senior at Largo High School. "So it won’t be like anybody’s feelings will get hurt."
Eleven county schools participated in the Oct. 14 showcase at High Point High School in Beltsville. The event gives band members a chance to entertain and interact with other bands they might not normally see during the year, said Kathy Rodeffer, the county’s instructional music supervisor.
"It’s an opportunity for bands to just perform for everyone in the community," she said.
The bands came from Bladensburg, Charles Herbert Flowers, Crossland, DuVal, Gwynn Park, High Point, Largo, Laurel, Northwestern, Oxon Hill and Surrattsville high schools.
ASU Hornets Compete in Battle of The Bands
October 21, 2009
MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama State University’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band has joined nearly 5,000 student musicians from 45 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in taking their first steps on "The Road to the Honda" in hopes of being one of the eight lucky bands slated to finish their journey in Atlanta at the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.
As in past years, the top HBCU marching bands are selected to participate in the invitational showcase by a combination of votes from HBCU’s presidents, band directors, students, alumni and the fans, said James Oliver, ASU’s band director.
Fans only have until Oct. 30 to vote online for the ASU Hornets at the invitational’s Web site: www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
SSU marching band eyes invitation to showcase
October 21, 2009
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Savannah State University needs support from fans to get them to the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase to be held on January 30 in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.
The bands invited to the event are selected by votes from HBCU presidents, band directors and fans. To vote for the Savannah State marching band visit www.hondabattleofthebands.com.
Fans can vote once per email address. Voting ends on October 30 at midnight. Eight bands will be selected for the showcase, which will be announced on November 9. All bands will receive a $1,000 award, but showcase bands will be awarded $20,000.
In 2005 and 2004, the Savannah State marching band was awarded $10,000 for each year.
The Honda Battle of the Bands was established in 2000 by American Honda Motor Company.
Vidalia High School band strives for ‘excellence’
October 16, 2009
By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat
VIDALIA — The Vidalia V-Town Surround Sound Band has a goal — be better than “excellent.”
On Oct. 3, the Vidalia High School band competed in a Battle of the Bands in Ferriday, and was rated excellent.
On Oct. 10, they repeated that performance at a battle in Madison
“I am excited for (the students). I have been here six years, and this is one of the best years we have had.”
This is only the second year the band has started competing in battles of the bands, in which marching bands are judged on everything from music selection and showmanship to marching style and performance.
Trumpeter Jordan Prisock, 13, said getting two excellent ratings at competition has been a rewarding experience.
“I knew we were going to place, but I didn’t know what,” he said. “I felt like all the practice paid off.”
Snare drummer Cedric Credit said being at the performances helped boost his confidence.
Istrouma High School to Host Battle of The Bands
October 12, 2009
Istrouma High will host their battle of the bands November 7, 2009 @ 6pm at the Istrouma High football field. This battle will feature some of the best bands in the state of Louisiana!.
For Contact Informatlion click “read more” Read more
Southern U marks Dancing Dolls’ 40th anniversary
October 10, 2009
By CAROL ANNE BLITZER The Advocate
Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 11:01 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. - When she was asked if she’d like to join a new dance team and perform with the Southern University Marching Band, Mauretta Wailes Hurst had one question: Was she wanted as a majorette, or a dancer?
It’s a distinction important to the Dancing Dolls, whose 40th anniversary Southern is celebrating this year.
"We were not baton twirlers," said Linda Watson Mitchell, another of the original eight members. "We were dancers. We did precise synchronized dancing."
They were chosen by Isaac Greggs, in his first year as the university’s band director - a job he held for 36 years. He knew them from his previous position as band director at the university’s Laboratory School.
A State-Times article from June 1969 reported that what Greggs wanted from the band was "a lot of pageantry, excitement and precision maneuvers."
