Fans, coaches, athletes reminisce about the historic Orange Blossom Classic

MIAMI – At the age of three, Chico Wesley lined the streets of northwest Miami with crowds of parade goers to get a peek at the pageantry and showmanship that the Orange Blossom Classic was sure to bring. He wanted to see and hear performances by Florida A&M University’s marching band, as well as those from local high schools, and the colorful parade floats.

“I saw a drum major dancing in the streets,” said Wesley, now 53 and a legendary WHQT Hot 105 FM radio personality.

“I decided right then I wanted to be a drum major in FAMU’s band.”

Despite his early aspirations, Wesley became known as “Chico the Virgo” in 1974 on FAMU’s WANM radio station, graduated from the university in 1976, and married that drum major’s daughter, Veronica, who has been his wife for 17 years.

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FAMU v. Kentucky State, Orange Blossom Classic (Miami) December 6, 1975


Sorry for the poor quality of the picture--color and digital had not been invented for the mainstream during this era.

The sound of the Marching 100 was from the creative genius of Rich Powers, who served as Chief Composer and Arranger for the FAMU Music Department with a young Lindsey B. Sarjeant, Associate Composer and Arranger. Powers had a way to arrange music to get the maximum power from the lower and upper brass winds without overblowing (like Southern U. and most SWAC Marching Bands) and without distortion in tonal quality of the various instruments.

Under the direction of Dr. William P. Foster, the Marching 100 marched only 196 pieces during this era, and larger bands twice the size of the hundred could not compete with a Powers/Sarjeant musical arrangement of the top song of the day played by the FAMU Marching 100.

The Orange Blossom Classic was where FAMU legends were made on the gridiron and with the bands, and was a top recruiting tool for the University.

I have no ideal which of the drum majors is Chico the Virgo.

-beepbeep