NB Takes Soul to Newsday's Marching Band Festival
This year North Babylon’s High School Band celebrated the soul music of yesterday and today when they took their show entitled “Soul Patrol” to the Newsday Marching Band Festival on October 19. The band is under the leadership of Band Director Frank Rizzo, who wrote the drill design, and Assistant Director John Lazerick. The Kickline Advisors are Laura Gmelch and Nicole Raymond.
Under the field direction of Drum Majors Valerie Buenefe, Emily LaFleur, and Brian Manzo, the band opened with the Blues Brothers’ “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin.’” The band featured the North Babylon Kickline dancing to Robert Randolph’s “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That.” They were led by Kickline Captains Emily Ragusa, Cassie McLeod, and Rovina Simon. The band also played a rousing Ray Charles’ “Shake a Tail Feather,” featuring the Kickline and Drum Major Brian Manzo on Electric Piano. They closed their show with “I Feel So Good” by the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. This song featured Brian Manzo on Electric Piano and Mike Filapone on drums. With Mark Maurice on vocals, this number brought the house down.
Mr. Rizzo was proud of the performance and said, “I was truly amazed by how hard the students worked on this show. With only three days of camp and one period to rehearse a day, I couldn’t have been happier with the dedication and spirit of NB!”
