Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers Featured in Commercial With Shaquille O'Neal

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- The Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers is featured in a commercial with former National Basketball Association Star (NBA), Shaquille O'Neal. The spot made its debut last Sunday.

Shaq, who in late March became the style ambassador for JCPenney's Big & Tall business, engaged with the Crimson Pipers during the commercial's filming. The commercial features Shaq at "the Penney Parade" with the Marching Band right behind him demonstrating one of its more famous routine dances usually seen when making their entrance at Cleve Abbott Memorial Stadium.

O'Neal, who played 19 seasons with six different teams is currently serving as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT.



ABOUT THE BAND PROGRAM

The Marching Crimson Pipers -- "We are the Marching Crimson Piper Band...and we are the Best Band in the Land!"

This is the slogan of the high-stepping Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers (MCP). As a part of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the Tuskegee University Band Program consists of four band components:

Marching Band
Concert Band
Jazz Ensemble
Basketball Pep Band

The MCP have enjoyed a long history of excellence, including major appearances in the highly acclaimed Honda Battle of the Bands. This SIAC portion of the Annual Invitational Showcase is usually held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA and features Marching Bands from 10 participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's). The event attracts and thoroughly entertains nearly 65,000 fans.

The Marching Crimson Piper Band marches over 150 members, including piperettes, flag line and drum majors.



For nearly 100 years, the Marching Crimson Pipers, known for their unique marching style, powerful music arrangements, intricate dance steps and quality presentations by the dancing piperettes, flag line and soulful drum majors, have performed at:

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL (Calhoun Foods Battle of the Bands)
Crosley Field, Cincinnati, OH
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA (Honda Battle of the Bands)
Governor's Inaugural Parades, Montgomery, AL
Legion Field (Birmingham Stallions, World Football League), Birmingham, AL
Mardi Gras Parade, Mobile, AL
Peanut Festival Parade, Dothan, AL
Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Stagg Bowl (NCAA Division III Championship Football Game), Phenix City, AL
Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL
Tangerine Bowl, Orlando, FL
Texas Stadium, Dallas, TX
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
and numerous other stadiums, parades and functions throughout the nation.

The Honda Battle of the Bands program includes two components. The Celebration Tour provides an opportunity for 45 participating schools from around the country to earn a $1,000 grant for their halftime performances at selected football games during the fall.

At the end of the Tour, the 10 bands that demonstrate the most showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction will be invited to the Invitational Showcase. Each of the 10 schools selected will receive an additional funds toward its scholarship fund. The invitees will include the two top bands from each of the four HBCU athletic conferences (CIAA, SWAC, MEAC, SIAC) and two independent schools.



The selection process is based solely on a three-tiered process. Thirty-three percent of the vote will be from the on-line fan voting at http://www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com . Thirty-three percent will be from the commissioners of the four conferences and school presidents, and thirty-three percent will be from the band directors. Commissioners, presidents and band directors are not allowed to vote for their own school(s). All on-line surveys must be completed and submitted by the deadline.

The Marching Crimson Pipers of Tuskegee University, now under the direction of Mr. John Q. Lennard, historically brought a large number of fans to the Georgia Dome, which seemed to fuel the Crimson Pipers' already dynamic program and performance.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS