Sixty-five years is a long time to be a dynasty in the music field, and without a doubt, Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band has been more than that and some more.
In the Spring of 1989, the Marching 100 was invited to represent the United States in the French Bicentennial Bastille Day Parade in Paris (Bicentennial of the French Revolution) by Artistic Director Jean Paul Goude. The FAMU Marching 100 was the sole band from the U.S. invited.
Mr. Goude specifically requested that the Marching 100 play a medley of James Brown music, the Godfather of Soul. Within this window before the world, Jean Paul Goude wanted the French people and the world to be exposed to Black Music, music based on African rhythms and riffs. The band had made a lasting impression on Goude ten years earlier, while he lived in New York, and he had seen the Florida A&M band playing at the Super Bowl or some other game at the Orange Bowl. He thought the band was extraordinary and needless to say, it left a lifetime impression on him.
The legendary Dr. William P. Foster stated, "this was a tribute to black music."
The parade was basically about the rights of man, first--representing all countries with a touch of African music. There was an under theme--World Music and world music is based on African music and rhythms. The Bastille Day Parade would be a global showcase of the impact of African music on the world.
James Brown "influenced pop music like no one had before and he deserved recognition," said Goude. Folks had made careers off of one riff of James Brown music and he was the "Godfather of Soul" in American music.
Goude, in a documentary explaining why the FAMU Marching 100 was chosen, stated, "Afro-American music is the music that makes the planet dance." "Florida A&M University Marching 100 does it better than anyone else in the World."
The brilliant music arranger and composer, Mr. Lindsey B. Sarjeant, Assistant Director of Bands, Arranger made the rare transition in 1972 from recent graduate from FAMU (1971) to assistant university music arranger and composer under Mr. Richard Powell, a white guy from Puget Sound, Washington. Powell was a truly gifted arranger that was a somewhat music pioneer in arranging wonderful black pop music of the day (late 60's -70's era) for the Marching 100. He was also an excellent music composition instructor.
Mr. Sarjeant has been responsible for the powerful and dynamic, artistic sounds of the internationally famous Florida A&M University Marching 100 for nearly 40 years. He is an Associate professor at Florida A&M University and serves as Director of Jazz Studies, director of jazz ensembles and arranger for the famous Marching “100” Band, symphonic Band and jazz ensemble. He is a brilliant jazz pianist, composer, jazz lecturer, jazz historian, adjudicator and jazz keyboard clinician.
Video number 9 and 10 are very rare--back in the day with black and white television and video cameras. Studying the Marching 100 performances from 1946 to 2011 is a doctoral thesis in our social, political and economic evolution and black pop music culture. Like the Godfather of Soul revolutionized pop/soul music to the masses, so did the Marching 100 on the American and World stage.
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Credits:
1. Videographer: BAGHDAD11B, "JAMES BROWN RIFFS" PART 1: FAMU HOMECOMING 08'
2. Videographer: BAGHDAD11B, "JAMES BROWN RIFFS" PART 2: FAMU HOMECOMING 08'
3. Videographer: TAPEMASTER28, FAMU 1989 Band "Spend The Night"
4. Videographer: FAMU 1996 "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
5. Videographer: hhorns2002, "FAMU 2008 Segment on "CBS Evening News"
6. Videographer: ImmaaBeGaga, "FAMU 2007 Super Bowl performance with PRINCE
7. Videographer: TAPEMASTER28,"Never Would Have Made It 2008 (ATL Classic)" with Minister Genleah "Star" Crawford, former FAMU Marching 100 Trombonist.
8. Videographer: bayshawn, "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral, 2007"
9. Videographer: hhorns2002, FAMU Marching 100, "Tribute to Paris" Halftime Show 1989 -- in Paris, France
10. Videographer: TAPEMASTER28, FAMU Marching 100 "Congratulations" - 1989
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