History
In 1886 the Purdue Student Army Training Corps formed a five-member drum corps to play music for the cadets during their morning conditioning runs. While operating without a director until 1904, the band had started playing at Purdue football games and had grown to over 50 members. However, during this time it played sporadically, as there usually wasn't anyone available to direct them. Additionally, they received almost no training and had to provide most of their own equipment.
In 1904, Paul Spotts Emrick, a freshman from Rochester, joined the band. His experience as a conductor resulted in his election as band president and director the next year. During his senior year at Purdue, the band became the first to break ranks and form a letter on the field—the famous Block "P".
Emrick stayed on as director after his graduation in 1908. In 1921 Emrick commissioned the Leedy Manufacturing Company of Indianapolis to construct the world's largest bass drum. The "Big Bass Drum" has been a part of the marching band ever since. In 1935, during a Purdue football game at Northwestern University the band donned lights on their uniforms while performing at halftime. With the stadium lights turned off for the performance, the band drew such awe from radio broadcaster Ted Husing, he referred to them as a "truly All-American marching band," hence the current title of the band.
Emrick retired in 1954, and to date the band has been under the direction of just five other men:
- Dr. Al G. Wright (1954–1981)
- William C. Moffit (1981–1988)
- Joseph Manfredo (1988-1989)
- Dr. David A. Leppla (1989–2006)
- Jay S. Gephart (July 1, 2006 – present)
In 1995 the "All-American" Marching Band was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy, the most prestigious award a college marching band can receive. Currently, the "All-American" Marching Band is the only band from a university without a school of music to have received this award.
Read more about this topic: Purdue All-American Marching Band
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