Alcorn Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite needs your vote

Alcorn Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite needs your vote

Alcorn Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite needs your vote  

Vying to attend 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands to honor long-time band director Samuel Griffin

Alcorn State University’s Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band is among 32 of the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands vying for an opportunity to participate in the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase and to honor the retiring long-time band director Samuel Griffin. The Showcase will be held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Fans can begin voting immediately by visiting www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com through October 25, 2012.

“Alcorn is excited to have this opportunity to compete with the best bands around the nation and showcase our talents and the University spirit at the Honda Battle of the Bands,” stated Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II. “Sounds of Dyn-o-Mite is a point of pride for the University and for many generations of Alcornites, and we encourage the Alcorn family and friends to support the band and Mr. Griffin by voting daily until October 25.”

Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band is one of the most renowned HBCU college bands to ever march. Its unique and catchy name was given to the band by its former director, Mr. Samuel Griffin, who led the band for over 45 years. Under Griffin’s direction, the band has grown both in number and popularity. As a tribute to his outstanding service, Griffin received an award and a resolution from the University that in the month following his retirement, the band room will be renamed in Griffin’s honor and he will also become Professor Emeritus.

Now, under direction of Dr. Renardo Murray ’95, the band consists of 200 members and over 160 instruments that are complemented by drum majors, also known as the Fantastic Four, and the ever-popular Golden Girls dance troupe.

Many bands are known for separate components. Some can march and play but cannot dance. Some can dance but cannot play. Some don’t have talented dance troupe members, but Alcorn’s band has it all. The band has performed before thousands in many stadiums – the Soldier Field in Chicago, the Astrodome in Houston, Los Angeles Coliseum, Texas Stadium in Dallas, Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, Ladd Stadium in Alabama, the Orange Bowl in Miami and the Superdome in New Orleans just to name a few.

Sounds of Dyn-o-Mite perform at civic functions regularly throughout the state of Mississippi. They have also participated in inaugural parades for Mississippi governors. In 1977, members of the band participated in President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural parade.

For the 2013 program, Alcorn and 32 other bands will receive a $1,000 grant for their music programs, with the final eight schools advancing to the Invitational Showcase receiving an additional $20,000 grant from Honda. The final eight bands are chosen through a voting process incorporating online fan votes, band directors and the presidents of HBCU schools.

In addition to the spirited musical performances and dance team choreography and pageantry, this year’s Honda Battle of the Bands offers fans a unique opportunity to create their own ultimate experience through a continually expanding digital and social media presence. New for 2013, fans visiting the www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com Web site can enter for a chance to win a personally-customized trip to the 2013 Invitational Showcase presented by Verizon Wireless and official banking sponsor, SunTrust Bank and a chance to take home an all-new 2013 Honda Accord.

For an interactive experience, including access to the latest 2013 program updates and to share photos, videos, memories and trivia, fans of Honda Battle of the Bands can go to:

· Twitter – @The_Honda, #HBOB2013 (https://twitter.com/The_Honda )

· Facebook – (https://www.facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands )

· YouTube – (https://www.youtube.com/hondabotb )

· Instagram – #HBOB2013

To support Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite and for more information on the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands, including updates, polling status, photos and video footage, and details on any and all questions about the program, please visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com .