Duke University Marching Band

What would become the Duke University Marching Band was founded in 1906 at Trinity College (Trinity College was renamed Duke University in 1924).{{Cite web|url=http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/uarchives/history/articles/narrative-history|title=Duke University: A Brief Narrative History|last=amy.mcdonald|date=2013-07-11|website=library.duke.edu|access-date=2017-03-01}} The history of the band over its first decade and a half remain rather spotty, though an article in the 1914 edition of the Chanticleer, the university's student newspaper at the time, made mentions of a "college military band".Trevarthen, R.R. and Paul Bryan. PB, Who He? Trevarthen Music. 2008. Chapter V: The Duke Years--1951 - 1988. p.47. In the 1920s, the band switched gears and became an "entertainment jazz band", which performed at football games and other various events. The band dwindled in size during the 1930s, most likely due to the ongoing Great Depression.[iv] Duke University Marching Band Records, 1958- 1978 and undated. Retrieved from the University Archives. 13 November 2008. In 1935, director Robert B. Fearing divided the band into two units: a military unit (the marching band) and a concert unit. The military unit was given uniforms modeled after those used by the West Point Band, and women were granted membership into the band in 1943.

Much of the evolution of the band program at Duke University occurred under the leadership of Paul Bryan who was hired as the new director of bands, who then hired Jim Henry to be the exclusive marching band director nine years later in 1960.[v] Trevarthen, R.R. and Paul Bryan. PB, Who He? Trevarthen Music. 2008. Chapter V: The Duke Years--1951 - 1988. p.48. Under their tenure, the band also started to play at Blue Devil basketball games and became one of the first modern pep bands in the country.Bryan, Paul. Duke University--Former band director and Professor Emeritus. Phone interview. November2008. The structure of the pep band remains much the same to this day.

In 1976, the marching band took a much different and nontraditional approach to its field shows as it experimented with becoming a scramble band, much like those found at Stanford University and all but one Ivy League institution.Pyatt, Tim. Duke University--Alumnus and University Archivist. Personal interview. November 2008.Henry, James. Duke University--Former band director. Written questionnaire. November 2008. However, the band quickly reverted to a traditional corps-style marching band in 1977.Sprecher, Janet. Duke University--Alumna. Written questionnaire. November 2008. The band continues to grow steadily and size and gain recognition throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dukeband.org/history.php|title=Duke University Marching & Pep Band|website=www.dukeband.org|language=en|access-date=February 5, 2017}}

• 1920–1924: H. L. Blomquist
• 1924–1935: G. E. "Jelly" Leftwich, Jr.
• 1935–1944: Robert B. Fearing
• 1944–1951: Allan H. Bone
• 1951–1960: Paul Bryan
• 1960–1987: Jim Henry
• 1987–2005: Neil Boumpani
• 2005–present: Jeff Au

At all home football games, the band performs a pre-game show consisting of the Star-Spangled Banner, Dear Old Duke (the university's alma mater), and both of Duke's fight songs, Fight Blue Devils, Fight! and Blue and White.{{Citation|last=Warhawk500|title=Duke University Marching Band - Pre-game Show 11-20-2014 (720p)|date=2014-11-23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0A1LtTx_Cs|access-date=2017-03-01}} The band performs at several halftime shows during the football season, usually featuring current popular music, occasionally incorporating dance moves into the usual marching.{{Citation|last=Warhawk500|title=Duke University Marching Band Halftime 11 20 2014 (720p)|date=2014-11-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyl0nc_c9Mc|access-date=2017-03-01}} In addition to performing on the field, the band maintains a large repertoire of stands music, which includes both fight songs, Everytime We Touch, and Mortal Kombat, among many others.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2016/10/birth-of-a-tradition-how-everytime-we-touch-became-dukes-unofficial-anthem|title=Birth of a tradition|work=The Chronicle|access-date=2017-03-01|language=en}}{{Citation|last=aspolane|title=Duke band plays Cascada|date=2011-03-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5YQTtKDJs|access-date=2017-03-01}} The band also plays at several away football games each season, and appeared at the 2012 Belk Bowl,{{Cite news|url=http://www.wsoctv.com/news/fan-events-planned-uptown-ahead-2012-belk-bowl/223313342|title=Fan events planned in uptown ahead of 2012 Belk Bowl|last=EndPlay|date=2012-12-12|work=WSOC|access-date=2017-03-01|language=en-US}} 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl,{{Cite web|url=http://www.80minutesofregulation.com/2013/12/2013Peach.html|title=B4: 2013 Chick Fil-A Bowl - Duke vs. Texas A&M|access-date=2017-03-01}} and the 2014 Sun Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/12/7/7351709/2014-sun-bowl-coverage-duke-arizona-state|title=Sun Devils > Blue Devils|last=Hamm|first=Drew|website=SBNation.com|access-date=2017-03-01}}

The band practices 2-3 times per week - on Wednesday and Friday evenings and on Mondays prior to football games.{{Cite web|url=http://dukeband.org/about.php|title=Duke University Marching & Pep Band|website=dukeband.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-03}}

The band serves as a pep band at all home men's and women's basketball games, adding to the hostile game-time atmosphere of Cameron Indoor Stadium.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/sports/ncaabasketball/blue-and-white-of-dukes-pep-band-gets-a-touch-of-gray.html|title=Blue and White of Duke’s Pep Band Gets a Touch of Gray|last=Berkman|first=Seth|date=2014-01-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-01|issn=0362-4331}} The band leads the cheers of the Cameron Crazies, Duke's famous basketball student section.{{Cite news|url=https://today.duke.edu/2015/03/dukepepband|title=How Duke Pep Band Fuels the Crazies|access-date=2017-03-01|language=en}} Come March, the band travels with both the men's and women's team to all ACC and NCAA tournament games.{{Cite news|url=http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210015287|title=Durham Celebrates 2015 NCAA Champions|work=goduke.com|access-date=2017-03-01}} The pep band also performs at volleyball, field hockey, and soccer matches in the fall. Marching band membership is required to be a member in the pep band.

• Duke University
• Marching band
• Duke Basketball
• Duke Football

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• {{Official website|http://www.dukeband.org/}}

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Marching Band

Category:Atlantic Coast Conference marching bands

Category:1906 establishments in North Carolina