10,000 fans show for 1st Rocket City Battle of Bands at AAMU

Photo: Miles College Purple Marching Machine Band

Johnson High wins Battle of the Bands

In 1st Rocket City event, school beats Butler and Lee; AAMU, Alabama State, BCU, Miles College and Texas Southern University compete.

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER, Huntsville Times

Johnson High School - already known as one of the best marching bands in North Alabama - got some extra bragging rights Sunday evening when it won the first Rocket City Battle of the Bands, edging out its local rivals Butler and Lee.

The high school bands got to perform before an audience of nearly 10,000 people at Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M, as well as before five university bands. The event was part of A&M's annual homecoming festivities.

"It's been an amazing day," said Johnson High senior Kiara Horton, captain of the dance team. "That's a big crowd. But when I dance, I don't see anyone. It's like a blur. I'm in my own zone."

Event organizer Derick Moore, who runs AFG Enterprises in Atlanta, said he and partner Yasin Shahid wanted to put on the show at A&M because of their history with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Moore said he attended A&M and graduated from Alabama State University, and he played percussion in both marching bands; Shahid is an A&M alum who played saxophone in the band.

Photo: Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcat Band

Other colleges represented at Sunday's Battle of the Bands besides their alma maters were Bethune Cookman College, Texas Southern University and Miles College. "It was an excellent, excellent event," Moore said when the battle was over. "We utilize the premier college bands, the feature bands for the HBCU schools. There were no losers."

Officially, there were no winners of the colleges, either. Moore explained that it was an exhibition - not a contest - for the four-year schools.

A&M will end the weekend with money in its pocket. Moore said, the event will yield up to $15,000 for the local college's band instrument fund.

"We plan to do it again next year, but even bigger," Moore said. "We spoke to athletic director Betty Austin, and she said she'd like to have us back."

Johnson High's dance captain hopes to be back, too.

"I'll definitely come back to see my alma mater compete," Horton said. "And maybe I'll be on the field dancing for one of the colleges."