The Michigan Marching Band (also known as the University of Michigan Marching Band or the MMB) is the official marching band of the University of Michigan.[1] The band performs at all Michigan Wolverines football home games, select away games, and numerous concerts, pep rallies, and parades.[2] A student musical ensemble,[3] the MMB evolved from the original Michigan Band of twenty-two players in 1896 to today's band of over 400 members.[4][5]
History
Pre-1900
Though there is evidence of one or more bands formed at the University of Michigan between 1844 and 1859,[6] there is no continuous link between those early groups and the organization of a 22-member university band by Harry dePont on November 13, 1896.[7] At the start, the dePont-organized band received no financial support from the university.[8] The band's first performance was for the Law School's observance of Washington's Birthday on February 22, 1897.[7] University president James Burrill Angell granted dePont's request for rehearsal space in Room A of University Hall, and by 1898 the band was being referred to as the "University of Michigan Band" and performed at football games.[9]
1900–1929
The ensemble disbanded in early 1903, but reunited that fall. Eugene J. Fischer became the band's conductor with the start of the 1906 season.[8] During Wilfred Wilson's subsequent tenure as director, membership in the band grew to nearly 100 musicians and the university allocated permanent space for the band's use in Morris Hall. Nicholas Falcone was appointed as conductor in 1927.[8] The band became an adjunct part of the university in 1929.[8]
1930–1949
During the Michigan–Ohio State football game in 1932, the MMB first performed a "script Ohio" formation. That field formation was subsequently embellished by the Ohio State University Marching Band, which continues to perform a similar field routine today.[10] The band performed at the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago in October 1933.[11]
On August 26, 1935, while Bernard Hirsch was serving as Acting Conductor during Nicholas Falcone's medical leave due to hearing loss, the university offered Falcone's position to William D. Revelli, who accepted.[12] By 1942, the band had been "voted 'All-American Band' by the nation's sportswriters" for two consecutive years.[13] The band was able to continue performing during the years of World War II.[8] The band's home was relocated to Harris Hall in 1946.[8]
1950–1969
Life featured the band's New York City performance in its October 30, 1950, edition that included an Alfred Eisenstadt photograph of children marching behind drum major Dick Smith.[14] During Homecoming Weekend in November 1950, sixty-five former Michigan bandsmen attended a reunion which resulted in the formation of the University of Michigan Band Alumni Association.[8] In 1953, the Alumni Band began to join the regular band playing and marching at the Homecoming pre-game and halftime shows.[15]George R. Cavender was appointed as Assistant Director of Bands for the University of Michigan in 1952.[16] The band was featured on a color broadcast of the "Today Show" with host Dave Garroway in October 1955.[17] The MMB performed in the so-called "Snow Bowl" game against Ohio State in late November,[18] and later traveled by train[19] to perform in the 1951 Rose Bowl.[20]
Starting in 1961, the Symphony Band recorded several music albums released by Vanguard Records that were credited to "University of Michigan Band." These albums documented the continued, functional specialization of the various ensembles comprising the Michigan Bands at that time. The Varsity Band played at basketball games and campus affairs. The Symphony Band performed in more traditional concert settings. The Marching Band performed at football games.[6][21] The band received new uniforms, percussion equipment, and fiberglass sousaphones in 1962.[22] The annual Band-O-Rama concert was first held in November 1964.[23] The band performed its "Peace Show" at the nationally televised Michigan-Ohio State football game in 1969.[24] The MMB also performed at the 1970 Rose Bowl following the 1969 season.[25]
1970–1989
In 1970, Carl Grapentine was appointed the band announcer, becoming the "Voice of the Michigan Bands" (and, since 2006, the "Voice of Michigan Stadium").[26][27] The performance block had grown to 210 members.[25] Dr. Revelli retired from the band in the summer of 1971 and was succeeded by Cavender. Women were allowed to join the marching band starting in 1972.[28] The MMB performed as part of the halftime show at 1973's Super Bowl VII, collaborating with Woody Herman and Andy Williams.[29] A new facility, named Revelli Hall, was built to house the marching band.[8] The MMB's practice field formally known as Wines Field was renamed Elbel Field.[30] Cavender retired in 1979 and was succeeded by Glenn Richter.[8] The MMB performed at the 1972,[31]1977,[32]1978,[33] and 1979 Rose Bowl games, as well as at the 1976 Orange Bowl game.[34] The 1978 Rose Bowl performance featured the first public performance of the John Williams' musical score to the movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[35]
Eric Becher succeeded Richter as the MMB's conductor in 1980.[8] The band appeared on the television special, A Bob Hope Celebration on October 22, 1981.[36] In 1982, the MMB performed in Super Bowl XVI[37] and was selected as the inaugural winner of the Sudler Trophy.[38] The MMB also performed at the final game of the 1984 World Series[39] in Tiger Stadium[40] and survived a mob attack in the riot that followed.[41] In 1989, Jerry Luckhardt became the MMB's conductor.[8] The MMB performed at the 1981,[42]1983,[43]1987,[44] and 1989 Rose Bowl[45] games.
1990–2019
Dr. Gary Lewis became Director of the MMB in 1990.[8] On November 20, 1992, the MMB appeared as musical guests on the ABC television variety show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.[46] Jeff Grogan directed the band for the 1995 season.[8] Dr. Kevin Sedatole was appointed as Director of the MMB in 1996, with Grogan remaining as Assistant Director.[8][47] Dr. James Tapia was appointed as Director of the MMB in 1999.[48] The band performed at the 1990 Rose Bowl.[49]
In 2013, Dr. John Pasquale became Director of the MMB.[55] He replaced Dr. Scott Boerma, who announced his resignation as director following the 2013 Outback Bowl to take the position of Director of Bands at his alma mater, Western Michigan University.[55][56] Dr. Andrea Brown was hired as the band's Associate Director, becoming the first female Associate Director at the University of Michigan.[57] In 2015, the band collaborated with conductor Alan Gilbert and the brass section of the New York Philharmonic for a halftime performance consisting of 1,000 performers.[58]
2020–present
The Michigan Marching Band announced an entirely virtual season for the 2020-2021 academic year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[59]
On September 11, 2021, for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Michigan Marching Band performed a tribute show entitled "We Remember," in conjunction with Durant Design.[60] The show featured selections from John Williams' Summon the Heroes; West Side Story's Mambo; Billy Joel's New York State of Mind; Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind; Hamilton's Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story; Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land; and John Philip Sousa's Stars & Stripes Forever.[61]
^Shaw, Wilfred Byron; Donelly, Walter Arthur (1958), "Student Life and Organizations", The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey, vol. 4, Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, p. 1873, archived from the original on 2019-05-07, Thus, in 1914, the Band gained official recognition and became a unit of the University.Alt URL
^Michigan Ensian, vol. 93, Ann Arbor, MI: UM Libraries, 1989, pp. 288–289, In addition to preparing and performing new pre-game and half-time shows for all home games, the Michigan Marching Band plays numerous concerts, pep rallies, and parades
^"Performance Opportunities | U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance". smtd.umich.edu. Retrieved 2019-05-06. Open to all U-M students, including those at Dearborn and Flint, the Michigan Marching Band has thrilled hundreds of thousands of fans with exciting performances for more than 100 years...
^ ab"Touchdown, U.S.A." Vanguard Stereolab. 1961. Retrieved 2019-05-08. ...in 1844 occurred the first known mention of the band... in 1859 a group of fifteen music-minded students organized themselves...
^ abShaw, Wilfred Byron; Donelly, Walter Arthur (1958), "Student Life and Organizations", The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey, vol. 4, Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, pp. 1871–1872, archived from the original on 2019-05-07, Much of the early data on the Band has been lost, however... Unfortunately, all too little is known about the Band between the time of the Civil War and the turn of the century... According to a short history written by Henri P. dePont ('02), who played the cornet, the first genuine University Band was organized in the fall of 1896.Alt URL
^"Kick Off, U.S.A.!". Vanguard Stereolab. 1964. Retrieved 2019-05-08. This fluid group divides itself into different units. The University of Michigan Marching Band plays at all the home football games and travels with the team to off-campus games.
^"Band-O-Rama: True Blue! | Happening @ Michigan". 2018-10-21. Retrieved May 6, 2019. A tried and true U-M tradition, Band-O-Rama: True Blue! celebrates its 54th anniversary with a mixture of classic repertoire from many musical genres including traditional favorites for fans of all things blue.
^ ab"U-M Band Is Tuning Up For Trip To Rose Bowl", Ann Arbor News, p. 13, 16 December 1969, retrieved 2019-05-01, For 210 band members, the trip to the Rose Bowl will take work and concentrated effort.
^Raskauskas, Stephen (February 20, 2018). "Classical radio host Carl Grapentine announces retirement from "dream job" at WFMT". wfmt.com. WFMT. Retrieved May 3, 2019. ...Carl has been the "stadium voice" of the University of Michigan Marching Band for forty-eight seasons – his voice being heard on national telecasts of sixteen Rose Bowls and numerous other bowl games. In 2006, he also assumed the responsibilities of game announcer at Michigan Stadium.
^Schackman, Grace; Cummings, Wil. "A Century At State and Huron". Ann Arbor District Library. Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
^"Shuffling The Cards - Band Rivalry Mellows", The Stanford Daily, p. 17, 24 September 1973, retrieved 2019-05-01, ...the LSJUMB gained national notoriety at the 1972 Rose Bowl when several members of the Stanford band ran through the Michigan marching formations during a practice session, tossed footballs around and allegedly threw rocks at some of the Michigan bandsmen.
^Music at Michigan, vol. 10, The University of Michigan School of Music, March 1977, p. 18, retrieved 2019-05-01
^Music at Michigan, vol. 12, The University of Michigan School of Music, April 1979, p. 8, retrieved 2019-05-01
^"Michigan Band Plans Premiere", Pasadena Star-News, pp. A7, 30 December 1977, Conductor of the University of Michigan marching band George Cavender is proud of what he has lined up for the 1978 Rose Bowl, which will feature the first public performance of the musical score to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
^Aardal, Kristen (1985). Michigan Ensian. University of Michigan. p. 179. Due to their reputation for excellence, the band again performed at a Detroit Lions game at the Pontiac Silverdome and provided entertainment at Tiger Stadium the night Detroit clinched the World Series.
^Blackwell, Katie (16 October 1984), "A great day for Tigers... ...but not for Detroit", The Michigan Daily, retrieved 2019-05-02, The crowd attacked the bus that carried the Michigan Marching Band, breaking every window.
^Cobb, Adam (January 17, 2017). "UCLA Band - Chapter 9 – 1982 to 1992". uclaband.com. UCLA. Retrieved May 3, 2019. 1983 The Rose Bowl... Following the Michigan Band's performance at halftime...
^Mike Powell / Allsport (January 1, 1987). Michigan Band(JPG) (Photograph). Pasadena, CA: Getty Images. 360994. Retrieved May 3, 2019. The Michigan band plays during their 15-22 loss to Arizona State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
^"The Victors", The Michigan Daily, p. 3, 5 January 1989, retrieved 2019-05-03, The drum section of the 225-member Michigan Marching Band warms up before marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
^"Detroit comes a-LIVE! for Regis and Kathie Lee", Detroit Free Press, p. 34, 21 November 1992, retrieved 2019-04-30, ...Gifford entered the arena... with Philbin at her side and the marching band behind.
^Nesbit, Joanne (1996-03-19), "Sedatole named Marching Band director; Grogan will assist", The University Record, retrieved 2019-05-06, Kevin Sedatole will assume the duties of director in July. Jeff Grogan, who has served the band as interim marching band director this past year, will become the assistant director.
^Koivu, Lisa (2001-09-05). "Woman Up Front". michigandaily.com. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2019-03-07. LSA senior Karen England of Greenville made her debut as the band's first female drum major Saturday.
^Bambery, Zoe (2007-11-01), "New Man on the Ladder | The Michigan Daily", The Michigan Daily, retrieved 2019-05-06, Nix left his post after last season to study for a doctoral degree at the University of Miami.
^ abStoppelmann, Danielle (2013-01-23). "Marching Band Gets New Leader". michigandaily.com. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2019-03-06. John Pasquale, assistant director of bands and associate director of marching and athletic bands, was named Wednesday as the next director of Michigan Marching and Athletics Bands, the Band announced on its Facebook page Wednesday. Pasquale will replace Scott Boerma, who resigned from the position on Jan. 8. to accept a position as director of bands at Western Michigan University, his alma mater.
^"New York Philharmonic Brass Section to Play Halftime Show". usatoday.com. USA Today. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2021-02-05. The performance is at the Wolverines homecoming game against Northwestern on Oct. 10 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Michigan announced Friday that New York Philharmonic music director Alan Gilbert will conduct the brass section during the show.
^"Drum Majors". umbaa.org. University of Michigan Band Alumni Association. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
^Shaw, Wilfred Byron; Donelly, Walter Arthur (1958), "Student Life and Organizations", The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey, vol. 4, Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, p. 1872, archived from the original on 2010-01-01, [Roy P.] Warren was elected director.
^ ab"History". MichiganMarchingBand.com. Michigan Marching Band. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
^It's All About Blue (Media notes). Dr. James R. Tapia, Director. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue (Media notes). Kevin L. Sedatole, Director. Regents Of The University Of Michigan. 1998. UMMBCD006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^A Saturday Tradition (Media notes). Regents Of The University Of Michigan. 1993. UMMBCD001.
^Fire Up... It's Saturday (Media notes). Eric A. Becher, Conductor. The University Of Michigan Marching Band. 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^1983 Rose Bowl Highlights (Media notes). Mark Custom Recording Service. PC 23719.
^Halftime Classics (Media notes). George R. Cavender, Conductor. University of Michigan School of Music. 1978. SM0008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Revelli's Michigan Stadium Echoes" 1935 — 1971 (Media notes). William D. Revelli, Director. The University Of Michigan. CA-RM 111484.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^MICHIGAN (Media notes). George Cavender-Director. Five Star Records. 1972. FSRS-3302.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"School of Music, Theatre & Dance Programs". books.google.com. 1996. Retrieved 2019-05-08. In December of 1925, the Michigan "Varsity" Band traveled to Detroit to record Varsity, Victors, and The Yellow and Blue.
^The Yellow And Blue / The Victors-March (Media notes). Wilfred Wilson, Director. Camden, NJ: Victor Talking Machine Co. 1926. 19971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Two Film Shows Set In Center Series", The National Jewish POST and OPINION, p. 2, 15 November 1963, retrieved 2024-04-13, "Pow Pow" produced in 1960 is a lark, through the rain, with telephoto lens, dissecting the University of Michigan marching band. The band's purposefulness, high seriousness, and utter dedication are shown as never before.
^Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. United States Copyright Office. 1952. p. 18. Retrieved 2019-04-30. Summary: A behind-the-scene story which shows the practice and drilling required to train the University of Michigan's 150-men marching band for their performance at each football game.