MEDIA ADVISORY–Vanderbilt marching band goes Motown for Sept. 27 game

Nashville, Tenn.–This Saturday, Sept. 27, Vanderbilt University’s Spirit of Gold Marching Band will perform a selection of Motown favorites–and feature two musicians linked to Motown’s heyday–for a special halftime performance during the Commodores’ game against Georgia Tech.

Robert Knight will perform his uptempo romantic classic Everlasting Love, a top 20 hit on both the R&B and pop charts in 1967. Knight, a Franklin, Tenn., native, sang with The Paramounts in the 1960s and is now a Vanderbilt employee.

Bob Babbitt, a veteran studio musician for many R&B and Motown classics, played electric bass on such hits as My Girl for The Temptations and I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) for The Four Tops. He’ll be accompanied by the 180 members-strong Spirit of Gold in a medley of the tunes he helped make famous.

Friday between 5-6 p.m., Knight and Babbitt will join the Spirit of Gold at Vanderbilt Stadium in a special rehearsal for Saturday’s show. Knight, Babbitt, and Dwayne Sagen, Vanderbilt’s director of bands, will be available for interviews.

WHAT:Special Motown-themed halftime performance by Vanderbilt’s Spirit of Gold Marching Band. Motown hit makers Robert Knight and Bob Babbitt featured.

WHEN:Saturday, Sept. 27, Vanderbilt vs. Georgia Tech.
Special rehearsal on Friday, Sept. 26, 5-6 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsal at Vanderbilt Stadium. Enter at Gate 1.

Media Contact: Kara Furlong, (615) 322-NEWS kara.c.furlong@vanderbilt.edu

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