Intro
The All-American Marching Band has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. Detailed below is everything from those early beginnings to the modern times of the marching band.
Formation and Early Beginnings
Purdue University's band did not start off with having their own department such as they have now. They started off as a tiny drum and bugle corps that was attached to the PSATC (Purdue Student Army Training Corps). The PSATC was an early form of the ROTC, with the Drum and Bugle playing only when someone who could work with drill was on staff at the University. Thanks to the little to no music training, all members of the band had to procure any necessary items for participation in the band. Everything from their uniforms to the necessary music had to be bought by each individual member of the band.
Finally, in 1887, football began to be played at Purdue University. The students saw that football and the band go well together and as such, the band began to perform at football games. Due to their not being a permanent director, temporary directors were elected and could be both staff and students. Eventually, as the band began to grow in size, it became known as one of the "best college bands in the country". In 1904, a student by the name of Paul Spotts Emrick joined the band. He had an extensive background in music and, as due to this background, was elected president and director of the band the following year. After his graduation, he kept on serving as director until he retired in 1954. He is famous for having the band break formation in 1907 to form the famous Block P (see below).
After the tenure of Emrick, Al G. Wright took over as the Director of Bands. He was known for his bright, new ideas regarding the marching band. Wright is responsible for the way the marching band marches the way it does (high knees, instrument sway, body swaying), the Golden Girl, the Girl in Black, and the Silver Twins. Al G. Wright retired in 1981, but has since then been named the Director Emeritus and, as such, is still consulted as an adviser.
Following Al G. Wright was William C. Moffit, who had previously directed at the University of Houston. His claim to fame was the marching band arrangements and the "Patterns of Motion" marching style. He retired in 1988.
The final director (before the present one) was David Leppla, who also was an arranger for Band Music Press, Inc. Leppla began working with the Purdue bands in 1989 and retired in 2006.
Finally, in 1887, football began to be played at Purdue University. The students saw that football and the band go well together and as such, the band began to perform at football games. Due to their not being a permanent director, temporary directors were elected and could be both staff and students. Eventually, as the band began to grow in size, it became known as one of the "best college bands in the country". In 1904, a student by the name of Paul Spotts Emrick joined the band. He had an extensive background in music and, as due to this background, was elected president and director of the band the following year. After his graduation, he kept on serving as director until he retired in 1954. He is famous for having the band break formation in 1907 to form the famous Block P (see below).
After the tenure of Emrick, Al G. Wright took over as the Director of Bands. He was known for his bright, new ideas regarding the marching band. Wright is responsible for the way the marching band marches the way it does (high knees, instrument sway, body swaying), the Golden Girl, the Girl in Black, and the Silver Twins. Al G. Wright retired in 1981, but has since then been named the Director Emeritus and, as such, is still consulted as an adviser.
Following Al G. Wright was William C. Moffit, who had previously directed at the University of Houston. His claim to fame was the marching band arrangements and the "Patterns of Motion" marching style. He retired in 1988.
The final director (before the present one) was David Leppla, who also was an arranger for Band Music Press, Inc. Leppla began working with the Purdue bands in 1989 and retired in 2006.
The Revolution of the Block P
Originally, marching bands performed in a strict military formation. They wouldn’t change formation at all, and the idea of spelling words or making pictures seemed outrageous. Purdue’s AAMB was the first marching band to break this. In 1907, under the direction of Paul Spotts Emrick, the AAMB formed the block P formation, creating the image of Purdue’s logo from the point of view of the stands. The legend goes that when Spotts was a sophomore at Purdue, he saw a flock of geese flying in a V formation, and figured that if geese could make a formation, a group of college students should be able to as well.
The exact date that they first performed the block P is not known, and the University of Illinois also claims to be the first to break military ranks, but this is believed to be false, as Purdue band director Al Wright once found a letter from the president of the University of Illinois to Paul Spotts Emrick, asking him for the charts of how he was able to create a formation out of the band, which points to Purdue as the being the first.
Over the years, the P has gone through a multitude of changes. Originally, it was two lines of people, in a rounded P, but as new directors have come in and made their own interpretations, the P has become three lines of people, and has switched between being a square P and a rounded P any times. Also in modern years the P has become slanted, like the P that the athletic department uses.
The P is a tradition that is not restricted to the official band performances. Members of the band have taken pictures in the P formation all over the world, including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, crossing the border out of Germany, and in Hawaii. It also has been displayed at the weddings of two Purdue AAMB alumnus, with the bride and groom in the center of the P.
Leadership
Over the many years that the Purdue AAMB has been around, It has not had many changes in leadership. It has gone through a total of five different directors.
Displayed here is a picture of the band's first director, Paul Spotts Emerick. He directed the band from 1905-1954. He is the original director, and is known for coming up with the idea for the block P formation, as discussed earlier on this page.
In 1954 Al G Wright became the director of the band, and he stayed until 1981. Wright brought many new aspects to the band, introducing elaborate half time shows, and many of the bands auxiliaries that still exist to this day.
The next director was William C Moffit, who became director in 1981, and stayed for seven years, until 1988. Moffit is well known as being a top notch arranger of marching band music, as well as for his unique style of organizing formations for the marching band. After Moffit's retiring in 1988, Dr. David A Leppla became the director until 2006, when leadership was turned over to the AAMB's current director, Jay Gephart.
Displayed here is a picture of the band's first director, Paul Spotts Emerick. He directed the band from 1905-1954. He is the original director, and is known for coming up with the idea for the block P formation, as discussed earlier on this page.
In 1954 Al G Wright became the director of the band, and he stayed until 1981. Wright brought many new aspects to the band, introducing elaborate half time shows, and many of the bands auxiliaries that still exist to this day.
The next director was William C Moffit, who became director in 1981, and stayed for seven years, until 1988. Moffit is well known as being a top notch arranger of marching band music, as well as for his unique style of organizing formations for the marching band. After Moffit's retiring in 1988, Dr. David A Leppla became the director until 2006, when leadership was turned over to the AAMB's current director, Jay Gephart.
Entering the Modern Era
Beginning in 2006, Jay S. Gephart took over for David Leppla as Director of the bands. With Gephart in the stead, the AAMB has gone farther than they have ever before. In 2008, the All-American Marching Band became the first college marching band to perform in China. In China, the AAMB specifically played for the special event that was the 2008 Summer Olympics. Also, in 2010, the AAMB was the first band of the Big Ten to perform in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Overall, in modern times, the AAMB keeps the rich history alive through its many amazing performances.