Clark Atlanta University Mighty Marching Panthers Kickoff SuperBowl LIII
02/11/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sam D. Burston
404-880-6316
sburston@cau.edu
ATLANTA, GA – February 11, 2019 – The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Mighty Marching Panthers marching band participated in a number of events leading up to the 53rd Super Bowl hosted in Atlanta, Ga.
The Panthers were invited to a special kickoff event hosted by City of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and radio station V-103 at the Atlanta City Hall on Wednesday, January 30. The event was filmed in conjunction with the NFL and aired on NFL Total Access Network on Friday, February 1, 7:00 PM EST.
The Panthers also starred in the NFL’s official ‘Welcome to Atlanta’ featuring an arrangement of Jermaine Dupri’s classic ode to Atlanta by CAU alumnus and Professor Phil Davis, with original drum and drumline parts composed by CAU Assistant Director of Bands Torre Goodson, and world-renowned drummer Lil John Roberts. The recording features members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on strings, Torre Goodson on quints and snare, Lil’ John Roberts on drums, and CAU students Armahni Clark, Bennett Ikueme, Trevaundre Evans, Jalen Smith and Isaiah Hardin on horns.
The video weaves marching band and drumline performances with prominent Atlanta landmarks, including Clark Atlanta University in the Atlanta University Center (AUC), the Jackson Street Bridge, Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Krog Street Bridge, and the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Killer Mike, Jermaine Dupri, Ryan Seacrest, Chilli of TLC, athletes Chipper Jones and Dominique Wilkins appeared among the special public figure and celebrity cameos throughout the video.
The short film premiered on NFL Network early Sunday morning, reaching over 65 million people at airtime. It has accumulated over 200,000 views across social media since SuperBowl Sunday, including 192,000 views from the NFL’s Twitter account.
About Clark Atlanta University
Established in 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of the Nation’s foremost research institutions, offering students from around the United States and several foreign countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of Atlanta, one of the world's great international cities, CAU’s nearly 4,000 students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from forensic debate to on-air broadcasting, to cancer research with world-renowned investigators. From the arts to zoology, CAU combines nearly 300 years of tradition with a solid focus on academic excellence to produce leaders who will shape the future of the global community. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.