OUR History
The Globally Renown Talladega College Great Tornado Band was established in the year of 2012. The Band was established as a result of the vision of the College’s President Dr. Billy C. Hawkins and supported by the College’s Board of Trustees. In that year Dr. Hawkins and the Board of Trustees hired Mr. Bonds to be the Director of Bands. In the first year of existence the Band reached 150 members. Since 2012 the band grew to approximately 250 plus members.
Only one person has had the honor of serving as Director of Bands thus far. Miguel Bonds formed the first marching ensemble of Talladega College. Two of Mr. Bonds distinctive attributes is to recruit and retain band members. He also had impressive numbers of Band members graduating. Under his leadership, The Great Tornado Band was the only Band in the United States to be able to raise 1 million dollars in three weeks. Mr. Bonds believes his greatest accomplishment was the ability to recruit, teach and make the organization: 1 Associate Director of Bands (Adrian P. Thompson) and 4 Assistant Director of Bands (Quinton C. Thompson, Darrius J. Swain, Tyler D. Coleman and Titus F. Waters).
The band has quite a few accolades that they are very proud of:
Only one person has had the honor of serving as Director of Bands thus far. Miguel Bonds formed the first marching ensemble of Talladega College. Two of Mr. Bonds distinctive attributes is to recruit and retain band members. He also had impressive numbers of Band members graduating. Under his leadership, The Great Tornado Band was the only Band in the United States to be able to raise 1 million dollars in three weeks. Mr. Bonds believes his greatest accomplishment was the ability to recruit, teach and make the organization: 1 Associate Director of Bands (Adrian P. Thompson) and 4 Assistant Director of Bands (Quinton C. Thompson, Darrius J. Swain, Tyler D. Coleman and Titus F. Waters).
The band has quite a few accolades that they are very proud of:
- Honda Battle of the Bands
- Queen City Battle of the Bands
- Mardi Gras
- Halftime Performances for the NFL
- Opened up for Frankie Beverly and Maze
- Senior Bowl Halftime Performance
- Presidential Inauguration Parade
- The first Band to ever be on the front Page of every Newspaper in the World for 1 week