Langston to participate in Battle of the Bands

LANGSTON, Okla. (AP) -- For the British, there was the Battle of Hastings; for the Allies, it was the Battle of the Bulge.<br/><br/>For Langston University, it will be the Battle of the Bands.<br/><br/>Langston's

Tuesday, November 14th 2006, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

LANGSTON, Okla. (AP) -- For the British, there was the Battle of Hastings; for the Allies, it was the Battle of the Bulge.

For Langston University, it will be the Battle of the Bands.

Langston's marching band will participate with 40 bands from historically black colleges and universities in January during the Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Those selected were chosen by a voting process that includes online fans, college presidents, band directors and college and university commissioners.

Band director Albert Jackson lobbied band directors and commissioners for the school's first invitation two years ago but didn't do anything this year.

Jackson says he wanted the band's reputation and exposure to help build interest this time around.

Participants get an expenses-paid trip to Atlanta and $10,000.

They'll also get another $2,200 from a Battle of the Bands DVD, plus a percent of royalties.