Most colleges have a marching band, but there is nothing like an HBCU band. The unity and showmanship, the captivating choreography, and the excitement from the crowd all come together to encompass the feeling of Black joy and HBCU pride.
The marching band is a significant part of the HBCU experience, dating back to 1946 when Dr. William P. Foster began incorporating dance steps into Florida A&M’s The Marching “100” band routines. As BestColleges reports, “He and the Marching “100” pioneered a new style that entertained audiences with high-stepping, horn-swinging showmanship infused with Black culture and Black excellence.” Today, almost all HBCUs have a marching band that embraces this innovative style and performance tradition.
Marching bands play a key role at HBCUs and in Black music and performance history. They bring in the crowd at football games for their electrifying halftime performances and are usually the main attraction for the homecoming parade. Many bands have also entertained audiences at events at the local, national, and international levels.
A competitive spirit is a big part of HBCU band culture so we have to ask, which HBCU band is the best?
You voted, we listened. Here are the results for this year’s Top HBCU Bands!
Spartan Legion – Norfolk State University
The award-winning Norfolk State University Spartan “Legion” Marching Band takes the top spot this year! The “Legion” was founded in 1975 and consists of 250 staff and student musicians, dancers, and flags from states nationwide, including, the Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. The “Legion” exhibits a presence evocative of the storied “Spartans”. They have had quite the performance year, having performed at Pharrell Williams’s Mighty Dream business forum, the celebration of Missy Elliott Boulevard, and the Rivers Casino opening in Portsmouth. NSU’s Spartan Legion also got to perform in the 2023 Rose Bowl Parade in California for the first time ever, and most recently at Mercedes Benz Stadium for the Battle of the Bands.
The Marching 100 – Florida A&M University
FAMU’s Incomparable Marching “100” is this year’s runner-up for the top HBCU band. The nationally acclaimed band has performed at NFL Super Bowl games, the Olympics, presidential inaugurations, and Bastille Day in France, and has been featured in films, documentaries, commercials, and numerous publications. They are also featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. This performance year, the Marching 100 performed at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fashion Show in Paris, the Chosen-1’s Invitational high school basketball tournament in Los Angeles, the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl game in Mobile, Alabama, and more.
Human Jukebox – Southern University and A&M College
Coming in third place is the Southern University Human Jukebox. The self-proclaimed “Often Imitated But Never Duplicated,” band prides itself on the unique ability to “execute precision drills better than any other marching ensemble in the country.” The Human Jukebox has performed internationally, at Super Bowls, Presidential Inaugurations, Rose Bowl Parades, and Radio City Music Hall, and has collaborated with famous artists and community activists. This past year the band performed at the historical LSU-SU halftime show and landed an exclusive deal with the premium athletic brand, Starter, to launch its brand new HBCU series for 2023.
Blue & Gold Marching Machine – North Carolina A&T State University
NCAT’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine comes in fourth place this year. Some accolades for this band include being winners of the Honda Battle of The Bands, 2003 Defeat the Beat Champions, the official band of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise, and the lead band for the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The band performs at a variety of school and community functions and consists of approximately 200 members from very diverse majors and concentrations. This performance year, The Blue and Gold Marching Machine performed at the Detroit Lions season opener, the Gotham City Invitational at E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, NC, the National Battle of the Bands in Houston, TX, and more.
Sonic Boom of the South – Jackson State University
Coming in fifth place is JSU’s Sonic Boom of the South. The “Sonic Boom” has performed many halftime appearances for the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, and Cincinnati Bengals and was featured in a television special for Motown’s 30th Anniversary and the 34th NAACP Image Awards. They performed at the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and was the featured performer for NBATV’s first-ever broadcast of a collegiate basketball game in 2021. This performance year, the “Sonic Boom” performed at the 2022 Celebration Bowl, the Southern Heritage Classic, the BoomBox Classic, and more.
