According to the Associated Press, Tennessee State University’s (TSU) Aristocrat of Bands made history on January 24.
The potential winners for the 65th Grammy Awards were released, and TSU was nominated twice, making them the first collegiate band ever to receive even one Grammy nomination. The news has people acknowledging and speaking about the unique importance of HBCU bands. The winners will be announced on January 5 at the Los Angeles ceremony.
The first nomination that TSU’s marching band received was in the Best Roots Gospel Album category for their ten-song album “The Urban Hymnal.” The praised album includes features from Jekayln Carr, Kierra Sheard, and even Fred Hammond. The second nomination is in regard to their collaboration project with J Ivy, a spoken word musician.
Director of Bands, Dr. Reginald McDonald, acknowledged just how intrinsic these Grammy nominations were for Tenessee State University. He said, “This is a tremendous day in the history of our beloved Tennessee State University. This is not just a band accolade but a university-wide accomplishment. I personally appreciate our President Dr. Glenda Glover’s vision for our University.”
Professor Tammy Kernodle told the outlet about the broader impact on a culture outside just the particular HBCU that the successful marching band had. “In the culture at large, often HBCU bands are thought of primarily for the pageantry, the high-stepping style, the dance style,” Kernodle expressed.
“But this album reminds us that a major part of that aesthetic, and what helps define the essence and the uniqueness of that aesthetic, is what these bands play — the musicianship, the range of repertory that they mine, and how they bring a full scope of Black music history to those performances.”
She posited that HBCU marching bands are “the epicenter of student life, especially during football season. You went to the game not so much to see the football team as to see the band,” and that everyone always looked forward to the impressive halftime shows.
A student at TSU, Logyn Rylander, explained that the effects of the album on both her and the school are emotional because it’s so true to the culture of the university.
“Staying original, staying true to yourself: If I’m being fully honest, that’s what being an Aristocrat[TSU student] is about. We don’t ever switch up what we’re doing because we see another school doing it. We always stay true to who we are. And that’s something the album has allowed us to represent on a global scale,” She said proudly.
“Even if we don’t win that Grammy, we know people saw what we can do. I look forward to seeing what opportunities come knocking at our door. … Grammy or not, we’re still going to be the Aristocrats at the end of the day.”
