The old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” came to life through a Florida A&M University graduate’s self-published book: “Bands on ‘the Hill’: A Pictorial History of Bands at Florida A&M University.”
Dale Thomas, a St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands native, published the 236-page book through his company Harmonie Publications to capture the history of the band and instrumental music programs at FAMU through rare and exclusive photographs.
“I’m sort of like a history buff, so anything dealing with African American history, music or band history, that’s me,” said Thomas, currently an academic advisor at Tallahassee State College .
Thomas came to Tallahassee to attend FAMU in 1986, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music education before going on to earn master’s degrees in educational administration and leadership as well as library and information studies, both from Florida State University .
He taught as a band director in Oklahoma and Florida public schools, including R. Frank Nims Middle School , and he is also a former music librarian of FAMU’s music department, where he worked with the university’s Marching “100” band and symphonic band program.