The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band is taking a bite out of the Big Apple. The student-band is marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in its history.
The band was originally supposed to march in last year’s parade, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic bands, were unable to perform.
Ken Ozzello, director of UA bands, said that marching in the parade is an opportunity for the Million Dollar Band to shine on its own, outside of football matches.
“Being a member of this band because of the success of football takes you really all over the country, and it’s nice to sort of add another premiere event to the band’s history. This is one that we’ve never done. And there’s no football game, all the focus is squarely on the band, so this one certainly is special,” Ozzello said.
Nearly all 400 members of the band are going to march in the parade. Ozzello said planning to move hundreds of students and their equipment from Tuscaloosa to New York has been a challenge.
“Yeah, it’s quite an undertaking. We are flying, we are using charter jets out of Tuscaloosa for the members. And then our equipment is actually going on an eighteen-wheeler. But it certainly has been a long and challenging process to get it sorted out,” Ozzello said.