Marching to the beat

Photo: Giving back--SCSU 101 and FVSU Marching Bands perform at Festival to help raise money for high school marching band program.

Festival raises money for marching band

By Timothy Cox, The Augusta Chronicle

Spencer Gartrell said he wasn't alarmed Sunday afternoon as he watched more than a thousand people pour into Butler High School Stadium to see bands perform - void of football teams.

"What many people don't realize is that when it comes to black college football games, people generally come to watch the bands compete, not the football teams," said Mr. Gartrell, a co-organizer of the first CSRA Battle of the Bands festival.

"Historically, it's been that way," added Angelo Hatcher, Mr. Gartrell's business partner.

"It even happens at a Josey-Laney high school game. It's all about the bands," he said.

Sunday's festival's proceeds help fund the CSRA All-Star Marching Band, founded three years ago by Mr. Hatcher.

Ticket proceeds help cover costs of uniforms, transportation, instruments and other costs associated with successfully funding a marching band made up of area middle and high school musicians, Mr. Hatcher said.

In addition to the all-star band, Sunday's festival lineup featured bands from South Carolina State University, Fort Valley State University, Beach High School of Savannah and local units from Glenn Hills High School, South Augusta Marching Unit and the Garden City Panthers.
Eddie Ellis, South Carolina State's band director, and Spike Nealy, his assistant, appeared in the movie Drumline, which filmed in Atlanta at Morris Brown College.

"The movie finally gave credibility to the black college marching style," Mr. Ellis said, adding that he has since witnessed major colleges adopting a similar format, focused on drums and choreography.

Photo: An enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the action. Bands from around the area participated in the festival.

Mr. Nealy, a former James Brown percussionist, said the movie has generated a renewed interest in drums for young musicians.

Sherry Puryear, Glenn Hills' band director, applauded Mr. Hatcher's efforts.

"His work assists all the band directors county-wide, because he keeps our kids active throughout the summer," she said.

Many area school bands and students don't perform during the summer, she said.

As founder of Step-A-Rama, a local college step show, Mr. Gartrell said he also supports Mr. Hatcher financially.

"It's because of his dedication to young people, this is why he deserves the financial help," said Mr. Gartrell.

He added that he hopes the festival will generate $30,000 to aid Mr. Hatcher's group.
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Reader Comments

dang, how i wish i could have come home that weekend!--i bet it was something else!
Posted by istp on Mon Oct 1, 2007 8:01 AM

I was there my wife, sons and daughter....it was their first time seeing and hearing a black college, university band that had over one hundred members. Our black children need to see the positive side of being black, and our HBCUs are our back bones in this country. Mr. Hatcher keep pushing..........Jellyroll, Laney and Josey get on board please...
Posted by belapris55 on Mon Oct 1, 2007 10:26 AM