SALISBURY, North Carolina - When the Livingstone College Marching Blue Bears take the field tonight at Alumni Memorial Stadium, their size alone will impress you. When they start playing "In the Stone," one of Earth, Wind & Fire's biggest hits, you're probably going to be blown away. In fact, you might think members from the Grammy-winning group's horn section have donned Livingstone uniforms and are out there on the field, too.Marching bands have long been the essence and ethos of the black college experience. More than a century ago, Alabama A&M's chancellor recruited W.C. Handy to join the faculty and direct the band, orchestra and vocal music programs. Over time, the tunes played by HBCU marching bands have evolved from classical music to more popular music - notably soul and R&B.
It's not uncommon for halftime shows to include songs by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Average White Band, Frankie Beverly & Maze, The Gap Band and other popular artists. Sometimes, even musical show tunes wind their way into the performances.
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