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Over 55,000 Fans Attend 15th Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta

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Grammy Award-winning artist NE-YO performs at the 2017 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.

Fans from all over the world gathered to watch the Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta—55,000 in total. This marked the 15th HBOB, and the final time that the event will be held at the historic Georgia Dome, which is set to be demolished later this year.

Eight marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) assembled at the event for a display of showmanship, precise instrumentation, and crafted choreography. Each of the eight participating HBCUs received grants from Honda to help fund and support their music education programs.

>R&B recording artist Ne-Yo performed at the Invitational Showcase, which also included a surprise performance by Alabama A&M alumnus and American Idol star Ruben Studdard. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the event, a show-stopping routine by the Alabama State Honey Bees and a special laser light show also figured into the evening’s entertainment.

For the third straight year, Honda used the Battle of the Bands to spotlight an exceptional individual who has positively affected the lives of others in their community. Dr. N. Jean Hudley received the 2017 HBCU Power of Dreams Award for her role as founder of Boys2Men Home & Sanctuary for Youth, Inc. (B2M), a nonprofit she created to help underserved young men ages 13-25.

“Dr. Hudley’s work is a shining example of how fostering the dreams of our youth strengthens communities and makes our world a better place,” said Alexandra Warnier, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility for Honda. “Honda’s long-standing partnership with the HBCU community is a testament to the power of dreams, and we’re proud to support the students that make this program such a success each and every year.”