The AOB notched a Grammy this year and set their storied program apart in the process.
The Grammy award-winning Tennessee State University “Aristocrat Of Bands”…It sure does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Hello, and welcome to another edition of VFTS (View From The Sidelines). we’ve got a LOT of ground to cover on this platform before the 2023-24 football and Band season starts, but I wanted to take a quick look back at a truly monumental accomplishment for the craft as a whole. There are certain programs in the greater HBCU bands ecosystem that could be considered ‘blue blood’ programs. Those are programs whose reputations and time in existence are EQUALLY lengthy and storied. There are also programs that have reached a certain degree of mainstream visibility over those years. Programs like the ‘Marching 100‘ of Florida A&M, The ‘World Famed Tiger Marching Band’ of Grambling University, The ‘Sonic Boom Of The South‘ of Jackson State University, etc. The Tennessee State University ‘Aristocrat Of Bands‘ is a program that’s worthy of that ‘blue blood’ status within the culture. Real talk, the “Band Of Firsts” moniker isn’t just for show; Just check out their website. The program’s most recent accomplishment isn’t just an example of another milestone ‘first’; it’s a case study of how HBCU Bands and Band Culture often bleed into the collective mainstream consciousness of entertainment and beyond.
The Crats are the first HBCU Marching band (or ANY marching band) to WIN a GRAMMY outright. Yeah…THAT Grammy…HBCU Band programs and mainstream visibility aren’t a new thing; The craft has become the ideal cross-section representing the excellence of the HBCU experience, as well as a MAINSTREAM performance and entertainment phenomenon. Our programs have done everything from international centennial celebrations to Wrestlemania entrances (Big Shout Out to HBCU Pulse and the Ocean Of Soul for the footage), to music videos, to the silver screen. Even with the level of exposure the craft has gotten over the years, THIS milestone is unique; There’s ALWAYS a special place for historic firsts, and there hasn’t been a ‘first’ that’s been THIS visible for the CULTURE of HBCU bands, for a LONG time. There’s also something pretty apparent about the direction of our programs after witnessing this achievement; The competitive standard for the culture is only getting higher. This doesn’t just apply to high-profile mainstream appearances. It applies to what the HBCU Band and Culture experience was built on; Saturdays…mono y mono…head to head. That’s the fiber that one of the most visible manifestations of the HBCU experience was built on. It’s one of the major elements that makes the HBCU Football GAMEDAY experience one of the most remarkable in all of collegiate sports.
I’m excited to see what the 2023-24 season has to offer. I can’t wait to experience the sights and sounds that come with another year of seeing the competitive performance art form that our unique version of the craft has morphed into. With that excitement comes the realization that there are some programs that are setting the bar for what’s possible in the craft, as it relates to audiences outside of our ecosystem. To say that the Aristocrat Of Bands is at the tip of that spear, would be a GROSS understatement. If you haven’t already, pick up the album. More importantly, show some love for just how remarkable an accomplishment this was in the greater landscape of what Historically Black Colleges & Universities are, and the opportunities they provide for students to truly impact lives beyond our campuses.
Finally, the HBCU Marching Band is arguably the biggest tool at the disposal of institutions fortunate enough to field a program. The potential for visibility is off the charts IF you can nurture and INVEST in the students and talent that often matriculate within these organizations. This Grammy is a potent reminder of just HOW visible that marketing tool can be, for the institution of a given program.
Again, welcome back to View From The Sidelines, and stay tuned for more HBCU Band-Related content as the 2023-24 season rolls on!!!
#VFTS #PreserveTheHistory #ProtectTheCraft