Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 have performed with Prince for his Super Bowl halftime performance and they marched in the parade on a freezing January as a part of President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. Now, they are a part of the promotion for the upcoming film about Michael Jackson “Michael” which is set for an April 24 release.
“The 100” kicks off the “HBCU Marching Bands initiative, a promotional campaign which aims to bridge HBCU band culture and Jackson’s groundbreaking artistry” with a video clip of head drum major Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede – the first female to hold the position – to the Michael Jackson hit “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” – a song that earned Jackson the first of his 13 Grammy Awards. The song also earned Jackson an American Music Award.
Speaking on the university and the famed Marching 100, FAMU president Marva Johnson said via statement, “at FAMU, excellence is not a goal. It is our tradition. Michael Jackson transformed culture, broke barriers, and demanded a standard of artistry the world had never seen. That spirit lives in every step our Marching 100 takes on the field. We don’t just honor legacies — we produce them.”
Head of digital marketing for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Briana McElroy spoke on Jackson and HBCU’s saying “for Michael’s fans everywhere, his legacy of performance and artistry is enduring. That legacy lives powerfully within HBCU communities, where music, movement and excellence have long been expressions of culture and identity. Partnering with these HBCUs honors that legacy while creating space for the next generation to lead, perform and inspire.”