Purdue All-American Marching Band
Purdue’s Department of Bands is unique in that there is no school of music at Purdue. The band first appeared on the West Lafayette campus in 1886. The band is recognized throughout the world thanks to its many televised appearances. Among them are 75 consecutive appearances as the host band for the Indianapolis 500 race. The band is known for many "firsts." Among them the band was the first to break ranks and form a letter on the football field (block P in 1907) and the first band to place a bandsman on the moon (Neil Armstrong in 1969).
The Purdue Military band began as a drum corps for the Purdue Student Army Training Corps. By 1895 the band had grown slightly and was reorganized under the leadership of Lt. S. W. Miller, 5th U.S. Infantry. At the time the band was supported by contributions from the faculty and students. In the 1900-1901 school year G.A. Young, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, became the band director. As a student organization the band had to depend on donations and fees for some events. Paul "Spotts" Emrick was elected band director in 1905 by the band members. After graduating, Emrick returned to Purdue to teach Electrical Engineering. In the 1909-10 Debris yearbook Emrick is listed as having the title of Director of Music at a school that does not have a music department. Emrick continued to put his stamp on the band until he retired in the mid 1950s.
Al Wright, a high school band director, was hired to replace Emrick. He had many similarities to Emrick. Like Emrick he would establish traditions that remain today and demand the very best from his students. However, Wright was a showman and not from a military background. Wright changed the name of the band from the Military Band to The All-American Band. He did many things to promote the band to get it before a national audience. In 1955 he was able to have the band named Band of the Week for an NBC radio program. As a result the entire program crew came to West Lafayette and broadcast from the Hall of Music to a national audience. Under Wright the band continued to grow to more than 350 members in the 1950s. By 1966 the band had expanded to 420 members!
J. Richard Dunscomb became the third Director of the Band in 1981 upon Wright's retirement. Dunscomb decided not to direct the marching band himself so William Moffit was hired to direct the All-American Marching Band. Moffit had developed a marching style called Patterns of Motion which he brought to Purdue. Moffit introduced many innovations such as a new marking system to make sure that band lines are straighter. He introduced the tradition of singing "Back Home Again In Indiana" prior to the start of each home football game.
David Leppla served as director from 1990 to 2006. He received his Ph.D. from Ohio State where he was a member of the marching band staff. Prior to coming to Purdue Leppla was an instrumental music director in the Public and Private schools of Ohio for 13 years.
Jay Gephart joined the Purdue faculty in the fall of 1995. Professor Gephart established a capital campaign that rose an unprecedented 2.7 million dollars for Purdue Bands. Purdue's All-American Marching Band looks forward to many years und the direction of Jay Gephart.
Chronology of the IU Marching Hundred
| 1896 | Formation of the first band at IU (twenty-two men) |
| 1899 | L.M. Hiatt appointed director |
| 1911 | John S. Taylor appointed director |
| 1912 | Russell P. Harker appointed director |
| 1914 | Department of Bands established. Karl F. Brand appointment |
| 1915 | Archie Warner appointed director. IU Band becomes The Band of the First Regiment of the Indiana National Guard |
| 1916 | IU Band travels to Mexico to entertain American troops of the AEF under the command of Gen. John Pershing. IU Band receives the highest unit ranking of the state militia. During WWI, the IU campus was converted into a training center for soldiers, and the IU Band plays an important role in the drilling of soldiers. |
| 1917 | American soldiers return from war in Europe--IU Band roster lists 125 musicians. |
| 1923 | The IU School of Music is organized--band members receive academic credit for service. |
| 1924 | Grover Cleaver appointed director |
| 1925 | John Philip Sousa visits the IU campus and declares the IU Band to be "the snappiest marching and playing band in the country." |
| 1927 | The famous trip to Harvard University--the IU Band spells out "HARVARD" in a continuous drill during the halftime performance. Mark Hindsley appointed director |
| 1928 | Marching Hundred first used as the name for the IU Band |
| 1929 | V.E. Dillard appointed director |
| 1931 | Alpha Zeta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi established at IU. |
| 1933 | Marching Hundred performs at the Chicago World's Fair. Battle of the Bands with Purdue University |
| 1935 | Marching Hundred holds record for the fastest marching cadence--152 beats per minute. Frederick B. Green appointed director |
| 1937 | Marching Hundred travels to Texas to celebrate its centennial. Marching Hundred recognized as a "best band at the national level--many bands attempt to copy letter formations and precision drills |
| 1939 | Marching Hundred performs at the Kentucky Derby. Marching Hundred travels to New York Polo Ground (IU vs. Fordham) |
| 1940 | Presidential Candidate Wendell Willkie chooses the Marching Hundred as his official honor guard. Girls' Fife and Drum Corps accompanies the Hundred on road trips. Major Roy H. Hagarty named director |
| 1941 | Band activities slow because of World War II. Gerald Doty named director |
| 1945 | The IU Band resumes normal activities after the end of WWII |
| 1948 | Daniel Martino named director. Four concert units are formed within the Department of Bands |
| 1949 | Rho Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma established at Indiana University |
| 1949- 1952 | The Marching Hundred makes three consecutive appearances at the Indianapolis 500 and Kentucky Derby |
| 1953 | Marching Hundred represents Indiana at Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. (130 members) |
| 1956 | Dr. Ronald Gregory named director. Marching Hundred appears at Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears professional football games |
| 1960 | Herald trumpets added to the Hundred |
| 1964 | Marching Hundred becomes the first Big Ten band to perform at the Orange Bowl Parade and in the Orange Bowl (stadium) |
| 1967 | Frederick C. Ebbs appointed director. Marching Hundred performs at the Rose Bowl |
| 1972 | RedSteppers added to the Hundred. Ray E. Cramer named director |
| 1973 | First women (marching members) added to Hundred |
| 1979 | Marching Hundred performs at the Holiday Bowl |
| 1983 | Wilbur England named director |
| 1986 | Marching Hundred performs at the All-American Bowl. Stephen W. Pratt named director |
| 1987 | Marching Hundred performs at the Peach Bowl |
| 1988 | Marching Hundred performs at the Liberty Bowl |
| 1990 | Marching Hundred performs at the Peach Bowl |
| 1991 | Marching Hundred performs at the Copper Bowl |
| 1993 | David C. Woodley appointed director. Marching Hundred performs at the Independence Bowl |
| 1996 | The IU Department of Bands begins a year-long centennial celebration of the Marching Hundred |
| 1998 | The IU Department of Bands adds a fourth faculty member; Dr. Douglas Stotter is named as Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Director of the Marching Hundred |
| 2005 | The IU Department of Bands adds a new fourth faculty member; Dr. Brian Doyle is named as Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Director of the Marching Hundred |
| 2006 | The IU Department of Bands adds a new fourth faculty member; Dr. Paul Popiel is named as Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of the Marching Hundred |
| 2007 | The Marching Hundred is awarded the Sudler Trophy, naming it the outstanding college marching band in the country |