Michigan Marching Band

Though there is evidence of one or more bands formed at the University of Michigan between 1844 and 1859,[7] that evidence is scant and no direct tie has been demonstrated to provide a clear and continuous link between those early groups and the Michigan Marching Band of today.[8]

On November 13, 1896, twenty-two Michigan students responded to an invitation by Harry dePont to organize a band for the university. Ray P. Warren was elected as the group's first conductor. DePont volunteered the band to provide the music for the Law School's upcoming observance of Washington's Birthday, and thus the band's first public performance was on-stage in University Hall at that celebration on February 22, 1897. University president James Burrill Angell was satisfied with the band's performance and granted dePont's request for rehearsal space in Room A of University Hall. By 1898, the band was being referred to as the "University of Michigan Band" and had become an integral part of the Michigan tradition by playing at the football games.[9]

In these early years, the university provided no financial support for the band. The ensemble disbanded in early 1903 amid a series of leadership changes, but reunited that fall before performing in its first "snow bowl" at the game against the University of Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. The following year, on October 18, 1904, the band reintroduced the playing of "The Victors" at Michigan football games. Eugene J. Fischer became the band's conductor with the start of the 1906 season.[10]

The 1920 Michigan Marching Band from the Michiganensian yearbook 1921.

The Nu Chapter of the band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, was established to promote and serve the University bands in 1925. Around this time, the university purchased Morris Hall and allocated it as the band's permanent "home." By 1926, membership in the band had grown to nearly 100 musicians prior to Fischer's departure. Nicholas Falcone was appointed as his successor in 1927.[10] That same year, construction of Michigan Stadium was completed and dedicated.[11] The band became an adjunct part of the University in 1929.[10]

Michigan Marching Band performs Yellow and Blue at halftime of the Chicago game, 1920

During the Michigan-Ohio State football game in 1932, the MMB performed the first "script Ohio." That field formation was subsequently embellished by the Ohio State University Marching Band, which continues to perform it today.[12] The band performed at the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago in October 1933.[13]

Revelli formally aligned the band with the University of Michigan School of Music in 1940. By this time, the band had been named as "All-American Band" by national sportswriters for two consecutive years.[14] The band was able to continue performing during the years of World War II. By the end of the war, the band's home had been relocated to Harris Hall in 1946 and membership in the band stood at 131 men in 1947. During that season, the band first appeared on television in the game against Michigan State on September 27. That was followed by the band's first appearance at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 1948[10] where a new, high-step style was introduced after seeing it used by the Ohio State University Marching Band in November.

The band performed at the Michigan-Army game in Yankee Stadium on October 14, 1950, winning rave reviews for its performance. Life Magazine featured the band's New York City performance in its October 30, 1950, edition that included the classic Alfred Eisenstadt photograph of children marching behind drum major Dick Smith.[15] 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. [10] In 1953, the Alumni Band began to join the regular band playing and marching at the Homecoming pre-game and halftime shows.[16] George R. Cavender returned to the University of Michigan in 1952 as Assistant Director of Bands. MMB classics "M Fanfare," "Temptation" and "Hawaiian War Chant," all arranged by MMB member Jerry Bilik, were introduced in the 1950s. 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 famous "Snow Bowl" game against Ohio State in late November,[18] and soon departed on a cross-country train excursion to perform in the 1951 Rose Bowl.

Several music albums recorded by the Symphony Band, but credited to "University of Michigan Band," starting in 1961 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.[7][19] The band received new uniforms, percussion equipment, and fiberglass sousaphones in 1962.[20] The annual Band-O-Rama concert was first held in November 1964.[21] The concert serves as a showcase for several University bands and plays to a capacity crowd in Hill Auditorium. The band first performed the "Floating Block M" formation in 1969 that is still used during the pregame performance. The band performed its acclaimed "Peace Show" at the nationally televised Michigan-Ohio State football game in 1969.[22] The band performed in the 1965 Rose Bowl and at the 1965 East-West Shrine Bowl.[10] The MMB also performed at the 1970 Rose Bowl following the 1969 season.[23]

In 1970, Carl Grapentine became the "Voice of the Michigan Bands" and is now also the "Voice of Michigan Stadium."[24][25] The performance block had grown to 210 members.[23] Dr. Revelli retired from the band in the summer of 1971, succeeded by Cavender. Women were allowed to join the marching band starting in 1972. The MMB performed as part of the halftime show at 1973's Super Bowl VII, collaborating with Woody Herman and Andy Williams.[26] A new facility, named Revelli Hall, was built to house the marching band. The MMB's practice field formally known as Wines Field was renamed Elbel Field. The band unveiled new uniforms during the 1975 season, and acquired new brass sousaphones for the 1978 season. With the growing success of the football team under coach Bo Schembechler, Band Day was discontinued. Cavender retired in 1979 and was succeeded by Glenn Richter.[10] The MMB performed at the 1972,[27] 1977,[28] and 1978[29] Rose Bowl games, as well as at the 1976 Orange Bowl game. 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.[30]

Eric Becher succeeded Richter as the MMB's conductor in 1980. Membership in the band continued to grow. The band appeared on the television special, A Bob Hope Celebration on October 22, 1981.[31] In 1982, the MMB performed in Super Bowl XVI[32] and was selected as the inaugural winner of the Sudler Trophy,[33] receiving the award during halftime of the 1983 Rose Bowl game. The MMB also performed at the final game of the 1984 World Series[34] in Tiger Stadium[35] and survived a mob attack in the riot that followed.[36] In 1989, Jerry Luckhardt became the MMB's conductor.[10] The MMB performed at the 1981,[37] 1983,[38] 1987,[39] and 1989 Rose Bowl[40] games. The band also performed at the 1981 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, the 1984 Sugar Bowl, the 1986 Fiesta Bowl, and the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl.

Dr. Gary Lewis became Director of the MMB in 1990. MMB Halftime shows during this time regularly featured the 225 members of its "Performance Block." The Elbel Club was founded by alumnus Donald Shepherd in 1990 with the goal of providing ongoing financial assistance to the band. On November 20, 1992, the MMB appeared as musical guests on the ABC television variety show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.[41] The band received new uniforms in 1994. Jeff Grogan directed the band for the 1995 season. Dr. Kevin Sedatole was appointed as Director of the MMB in 1996, with Grogan remaining as Assistant Director.[42] Dr. James Tapia was appointed as Director of the MMB in 1999.[43] The MMB performed at the Rose Bowl in 1990,[44] 1992, 1993, and 1998. The band also performed at the 1991 Gator Bowl, the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl, the 1994 Holiday Bowl, the 1995 Alamo Bowl, the 1997 Outback Bowl, the 1999 Citrus Bowl, and the 2000 Orange Bowl.

In 2001, long-time Director of Bands Dr. H. Robert Reynolds retired and was succeeded in that position by Dr. Michael Haithcock. Jamie L. Nix was hired as the 13th Director of the MMB that same year. Also in 2001, the MMB elected Karen England as its first female Drum Major.[45] On January 2, 2007, having performed at the Rose Bowl the previous day, the Michigan Marching Band attended the arrival of President Gerald Ford's body in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The MMB honored President Ford's funeral procession with somber performances of "The Yellow and Blue" and "The Victors."[46] Dr. Scott Boerma succeeded Nix as director of the band that same year.[47] The MMB performed at the 2004, 2005, and 2007 Rose Bowl games. The band also performed at the 2001 Citrus Bowl, the 2002 Citrus Bowl, the 2003 Outback Bowl, the 2005 Alamo Bowl, and the 2008 Capital One Bowl.

In 2013, Dr. John Pasquale became Director of the MMB. 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.[48][49] Dr. Andrea Brown was hired as the band's Associate Director, becoming the first female Associate Director at the University of Michigan.[50] The MMB performed at the 2011 Gator Bowl, the 2012 Sugar Bowl, the 2013 Outback Bowl, the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the 2016 Citrus Bowl, the 2016 Orange Bowl, the 2018 Outback Bowl, the 2018 Peach Bowl, and the 2020 Citrus Bowl. 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.[51]

• Forever Valiant (2017)[56]
• This is Michigan (2012)[57]
• 2008 Season Highlights (2009)[58]
• Gameday Faves: Michigan Wolverines Classics (2009)[59]
• The Maize Album (2009)[60]
• The Blue Album (2008)[61]
• 2005 Season Highlights (2005)[62]
• The Victors Valiant (2003)[63]
• 2002 Season Highlights (2002)[64]
• It's All About Blue (2000)[65][66]
• Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue (1998)[65][67]
• A Saturday Tradition (1993)[65][68]
• Fire Up... It's Saturday (1985)[65][69]
• 1983 Rose Bowl Highlights (1983)[70]
• Halftime Classics (1978)[65][71]
• "Revelli's Michigan Stadium Echoes" 1935 — 1971 (Unknown date after 1970)[72]
• MICHIGAN (1972)[73]
• The Yellow And Blue / The Victors-March (1926)[74][75]

• Various Artists: Gameday Faves: Classic College Fight Songs (Volume 2): "The Victors - Michigan Wolverines (Live)" (2008)[76]
• Destiny's Child: Destiny Fulfilled: "Lose My Breath," drum cadence sample (2004)[77]

• The Band Director (1973)[78]
• Marching For Roses (1971)[79]
• Pow Pow (1960)[80]
• Here Comes the Band (1951)[81]

• Love, Simon: "Bad Romance," "What Is Love" (2018)[82]
• Deliver Us from Eva: "The Victors" (2003)[82]
• Bicentennial Man: "The Washington Post" (1999)[82]
• The Waterboy: "Entry Cadence," "Temptation," "Hawaiian War Chant" (1998)[82]
• The Sixth Man: "Let's Go Blue" (1997)[82]