| Pride Of The Southland Band |
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The Pride of the Southland Marching Band is the official name of the University Of Tennessee 's Marching Band . HISTORY The Pride of the Southland Marching Band has been performing at halftime for over one hundred years, but has existed since 1869 when it was founded as part of the Military Department. It is one of the oldest collegiate band programs in the country. Its instrumentation in 1883 was entirely made up of Cornet s. The band continued to grow to between thirteen and seventeen members, and in 1892 , it was reorganized under Ernest H. Garratt. The band wore West Point style uniforms like the rest of the cadets in the Military Department and had a more varied instrumentation, including a clarinet. At the turn of the twentieth century, William A. Knabe was appointed as Band Director . He was the first “full-time” band director; Ernest H. Garratt had also served as an Organist , Choir master, musical director, and director of the Glee Club . UT won the first (documented) game at which the band performed in 1902 . By 1917 , the band had changed to World War I style Uniform s and doubled in size. The band grew along with the military units on campus. By 1935 , the band boasted eighty-five members, but remained all male due to the band’s continued association with the Military Department. In 1937 , an all-female contingent called the “Volettes” began performing with the band. Its membership ranged from fifty to ninety. The 1940s brought women into the band. One of the first women to play with the band was Martha Carroll, who played the lyre, and a marimba player named Marjorie Abbott. By 1946 , women outnumbered the male members of the band, due to World War II, and the lack of male students. By 1949 , the band was once again all male, but retained female majorettes. Major Walter Ryba was properties master for the Army and Air Force ROTC at Knoxville and also for the Army ROT C at the University of Tennessee-Martin campus. By 1950 , the band was already being referred to as “The Pride of the Southland”—a term coined by Knoxville sports writer, Ed Harris. It was not until 1961 that Tennessee native Dr. W. Jay Julian was hired as an associate professor and director of the UT bands. Under Dr. Julian's leadership the band grew in size, prestige, and reputation. The band was then removed from the ROTC department and placed under the Music Education Department. Dr. Julian also designed the band’s signature navy and orange uniforms, which paid homage to the band’s military past and are still a tradion to this day. Vol fans can also thank Dr. Julian for introducing " Rocky Top " in a halftime show in 1972 . The football crowd loved the tune and its words; the more the band played it, the more people wanted it. It has now become one of the University's best-known traditions and the band's most famous song. Its popularity also extends beyond the campus of the University of Tennessee; "Rocky Top" became one of the Tennessee state songs in 1982. Dr. Julian also introduced the revolutionary Circle, Flower, and Star marching drills in to half time shows. These drill are among some of the most difficult drills ever created and preformed. It is done at least twice every year, at one of the final home games and a bowl game. The Tennessee Circle Drill was televised during the 2005 Cotton Bowl as well as several other occasions. The Pride's famous Pregame show was also designed by Dr. Julian. This six minute and forty-five second show has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s . It continuously builds in excitment until it reaches it's highest point with the "Opening of the T" where the football team runs through the T on to the field. This is one of the most photographed moments in college football and one of the greatest tradions of the "Pride", Tennessee football, and the University. Although Dr. Julian retired in 1992 , the band still upholds the tradition of excellence he set. The "Pride of the Southland" has gained a national reputation for excellence due in part to its over many appearances acrossed the nation. Besides representing the State of Tennessee in the last eleven consecutive Presidential inaugurations, the band has appeared at the many bowl games nationwide the Tennessee team has traveled to. The current Director of Bands is Dr. Gary Sousa. EXTERNAL LINKS
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