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Post by oldschool on Jun 20, 2019 18:52:28 GMT -5
Thanks bro ,that was a great read ,we have got to give this man an honorary degree , I think he would be very receptive of this idea ,especially if his parents are still living .
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on Jun 20, 2019 21:13:03 GMT -5
Maceo is a national treasure and has been inducted into the NC Music Hall of Fame and has been honored across the globe. I plan on sending an email to the powers that be, but we need to get this one right. Honoring him will be a win-win for us and will bring more acclaim to our institution. He's one of OURS and he's one of the cornerstones of the soul/funk music sound. Time to bring him home and salute him properly.
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on Jun 20, 2019 23:35:49 GMT -5
Totally agree with Freeze. By the way Maceo is from Kinston.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Jun 22, 2019 11:59:26 GMT -5
The reason Maceo isn't being recognized has more to do with lack of resources than disrespect. There isn't anyone assigned the responsibility of recognizing former band members.
The Blue and Gold Marching Machine is operating out of a makeshift band facility with a few paid staff members (full time & part-time) and a lot of volunteers. All the folks you see on the sidelines in Gold Coats ain't getting paid!
That small staff must handle recruiting, auditioning, scholarships, classroom teaching, administrative assignments, band and ensemble practices, instrument and uniform maintenance, halftime show design and development, travel arrangement, fundraising and budget management.
Right now the BGMM leadership is focused 100% on using the resources provided to put the best performance possible on the field every time they perform. That doesn't leave much time to recognizing alumni. Maybe one day they will form a Hall of Fame organization for the band like the Athletic Department and that organization will take on this responsibility. But for now, the band leadership is focused on the next band event... Band Camp in August.
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on Jun 22, 2019 18:48:55 GMT -5
The reason Maceo isn't being recognized has more to do with lack of resources than disrespect. There isn't anyone assigned the responsibility of recognizing former band members. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine is operating out of a makeshift band facility with a few paid staff members (full time & part-time) and a lot of volunteers. All the folks you see on the sidelines in Gold Coats ain't getting paid! That small staff must handle recruiting, auditioning, scholarships, classroom teaching, administrative assignments, band and ensemble practices, instrument and uniform maintenance, halftime show design and development, travel arrangement, fundraising and budget management. Right now the BGMM leadership is focused 100% on using the resources provided to put the best performance possible on the field every time they perform. That doesn't leave much time to recognizing alumni. Maybe one day they will form a Hall of Fame organization for the band like the Athletic Department and that organization will take on this responsibility. But for now, the band leadership is focused on the next band event... Band Camp in August. Honestly, Maceo's legacy and contributions to American music are far larger than what the band could honor him with. The responsibility to honor him should fall to the university, and not just the band.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Jun 23, 2019 13:06:52 GMT -5
The reason Maceo isn't being recognized has more to do with lack of resources than disrespect. There isn't anyone assigned the responsibility of recognizing former band members. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine is operating out of a makeshift band facility with a few paid staff members (full time & part-time) and a lot of volunteers. All the folks you see on the sidelines in Gold Coats ain't getting paid! That small staff must handle recruiting, auditioning, scholarships, classroom teaching, administrative assignments, band and ensemble practices, instrument and uniform maintenance, halftime show design and development, travel arrangement, fundraising and budget management. Right now the BGMM leadership is focused 100% on using the resources provided to put the best performance possible on the field every time they perform. That doesn't leave much time to recognizing alumni. Maybe one day they will form a Hall of Fame organization for the band like the Athletic Department and that organization will take on this responsibility. But for now, the band leadership is focused on the next band event... Band Camp in August. Honestly, Maceo's legacy and contributions to American music are far larger than what the band could honor him with. The responsibility to honor him should fall to the university, and not just the band. FYI, as the publisher of "The Loyalty Letter" the BGMM's unofficial weekly newsletter, I've reached out to Maceo on numerous occasions in recent years to get an interview for the newsletter. But so far, he has not responded. I did an article last year featuring Tyrone Jefferson, another former A&T Band Member that had played in James Brown's band and was his music director up until his death. I wanted to do an article on Tyrone and Maceo but never heard from Maceo. Tyrone was very eager to do the interviews and even met me for lunch! Over the years I've learned that some former Aggies are not open to interviews. For some reason they are not interested in talking with me (or anybody) about their time on campus and their life after A&T. And I respect that.
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on Jun 23, 2019 21:06:45 GMT -5
Saw a picture of him a few months back on Facebook decked out in his A&T gear. Perhaps someone who knows him can reach out?
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Post by oldschool on Jun 23, 2019 23:08:33 GMT -5
To me it's not about what the band can do to honor him ,or whether or not he wants to be interviewed .It's about honoring a man who spent time on our campus ,and went on to become one of the most recognized figures in the entertainment industry .
We owe it to our legacy as the premier HBCU in the nation to bestow an Honorary degree upon this man .
AGGIE PRIDE
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Jun 23, 2019 23:29:02 GMT -5
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Jun 24, 2019 6:32:09 GMT -5
To me it's not about what the band can do to honor him ,or whether or not he wants to be interviewed .It's about honoring a man who spent time on our campus ,and went on to become one of the most recognized figures in the entertainment industry . We owe it to our legacy as the premier HBCU in the nation to bestow an Honorary degree upon this man . AGGIE PRIDE Thanks! And Taraji is listed as well.
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Jun 25, 2019 4:49:15 GMT -5
I, like Dooms, had no idea that he attended A&T. My question to you Freeze is that is there something I'm missing in regards to road blocks or sentiments against him being honored? Has this idea even been approached to the university? I'm sure alot of the current faculty don't know he attended A&T as well. Both Parker Brothers attend A&T and marched in the Band . If I am not mistaken the left after there sophomore year . They would set in a lot at the Carlotta Supper Club and do jam sessions with other musicians .
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Jun 25, 2019 12:45:58 GMT -5
To me it's not about what the band can do to honor him ,or whether or not he wants to be interviewed .It's about honoring a man who spent time on our campus ,and went on to become one of the most recognized figures in the entertainment industry . We owe it to our legacy as the premier HBCU in the nation to bestow an Honorary degree upon this man . AGGIE PRIDE Thanks! And Taraji is listed as well. but i don't see jesse jackson, jr. listed and he has an a&t degree. albeit he fell from grace when he got caught up in illinois politics... Sent from my SM-G950U using proboards
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Jun 25, 2019 13:09:41 GMT -5
Thanks! And Taraji is listed as well. but i don't see jesse jackson, jr. listed and he has an a&t degree. albeit he fell from grace when he got caught up in illinois politics... Sent from my SM-G950U using proboards Yeah, I don't consider him notable in a positive way...
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Post by aggie2008 on Jun 25, 2019 17:04:53 GMT -5
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Jun 25, 2019 18:15:44 GMT -5
Out of the over 50K grads, there are numerous folks who have made major contributions to society. The first thing would be to have all of you posters who love the band and want to honor the Parkers, is to approach the band leadership about having the Parkers to participate in the Homecoming half time show. Have a live chat with the students. A workshop with band members. The band leadership can present their request to the administration and get the necessary funds to bring them back to campus. Melvin Parker was a great drummer. However, to honor the Parkers, vetting would be necessary. What else have they done that impacted society, as well as the university. If you are serious, maybe you can get it done.
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