Grambling State University
“World Famed”
Tiger Marching Band
Welcome
In 1926 when President Charles P. Adams asked new faculty member Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones to form a group of marching musicians. Jones, who later served as the institution’s President for over 50 years, began the tough task by obtaining 17 instruments from Sears and Roebuck and the Tigers were ready to take their first giant step. At that time, there was no Music Department at Grambling, so sharps, flats, lines, spaces, notes and rest were mysteries to members of that initial group. But the inexperienced Tigers persisted, and soon they were performing their first “melody strained” concert. Later, the action switched from chairs to grassy fields as the tiny group began marching at football games.
Since several band members were usually on the grid squad, interesting situations frequently developed. It was a common sight to see Ralph Jones substituting for a band member who had suffered a football injury. Tiger tunes became more sophisticated during the 1930s, and Grambling musicians began to perform at concerts and dances in neighboring towns. By 1936, Jones, affectionately known as Prez, became the President, but he still directed the band and coached baseball. For the musical group to continue its development, Prez decided a full-time director was needed. So ” Sarge” A.D. King, former college band leader and big band director, was hired. Tiger musicians were under his direction until 1949 when Langston band leader J.S. ” Pop” Lee took over.
Faltering health caused the Oklahoma product to step down and trumpet instructor Sheldon Booth filled-in as interim director until Conrad Hutchinson Jr. was hired in 1952.
Hutch Jr.,” a Tuskegee institute graduate, had directed high school for over 12 years in Mobile, Ala., Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati. The professional musician and jazz band performer frequently performed at theatrical events and stage shows and on television and radio programs. When Conrad Hutchinson Jr. arrived in 1952, he had a plan to make the Grambling College Marching Band the best in the land. It didn’t happen overnight and it certainly wasn’t easy, but “Hutch” and his staff began molding embryo noise-makers into superb musicians and magnificent marchers. And today, his prized unit is frequently labeled, “The Best in the Land.”
Conrad Hutchinson Jr – His students called him “Prof”. Others called him Grambling’s other legend. His genius as a bandmaster helped to put the city and university on the map.
Under Conrad Hutchinson Jr., the marching band was transformed from a genteel group playing march tunes to a dynamic unit that combined different instruments, voices, and types of music with nonstop, forceful action.
By donating gifts to Grambling State University “World Famed” Tiger Marching Band, you are helping to support the operations of the band.
Your gifts can help with providing scholarships as well as other needs as they arise such as instruments, technology purchases, travel opportunities and more.
Dr. Roebuck is Chair of the Department of Music at Grambling State University. Dr. Roebuck is the first woman Director of Bands in the 93-year history of the University’s band which was started in 1926. She is a graduate of Grambling State University’s Music Education program.
She earned a Master degree at University of Louisiana – Monroe and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education from the University of Memphis.