| The United States Army Band | |
|---|---|
 The U.S. Army BandShoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | 25 January 1922 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Myer |
| Nickname | "Pershing's Own" |
| March | "The Army Goes Rolling Along"Playⓘ |
| Decorations | Superior Unit Award with Oak Leaf[1] |
| Website | www.USArmyBand.com |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | COL Bruce R. Pulver |
| Deputy Commander | LTC Randy Bartel |
| Executive Officer | MAJ Aaron Morris |
| Associate Conductor | CPT Michael Lamb |
| Associate Conductor | CPT Bonnie Alger |
| Command Sergeant Major | CSM Marlisa del Cid Woods |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| Coat of arms |  |
TheUnited States Army Band, also known as "Pershing's Own", is the premier musical organization of theUnited States Army, founded in 1922. There are currently seven official performing ensembles in the unit: The U.S. Army Concert Band, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, The U.S. Army Chorus, The U.S. Army Blues, The U.S. Army Band Downrange, TheU.S. Army Herald Trumpets, and The U.S. Army Strings.
The United States Army Band was established on 25 January 1922 byGeneral of the ArmiesJohn J. Pershing,Army Chief of Staff in emulation of European military bands he heard during World War I. In its early years, the band was featured onRCA,CBS, theMutual Broadcasting Network, and other networks. The band also completed four national tours between 1928 and 1931 and was noted for its professionalism during a trip to Spain for theIbero-American Exposition of 1929.
In June 1943, the United States Army Band was called overseas to perform in North Africa and in Europe during World War II. The band received acampaign streamer for their efforts during theRhineland Campaign. This period also saw the band perform with numerous well-known artists and composers, many as part of the very successful Freedom Sings concert series that started in 1950 and continued for several years. Notable musicians includedMetropolitan Opera bassJerome Hines, composersPaul Hindemith andPercy Grainger, and the pianist duo Whittmore and Lowe. Similarly, several well-known entertainers and recording artists were band members during this period.Eddie Fisher, Robert Dini, andSteve Lawrence were very popular during the 1950s, as were harpistLloyd Lindroth, future Metropolitan Opera tenorGeorge Shirley, and announcerCharles Osgood.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the United States Army Band continued to perform and serve with distinction. In 1963, the band participated in thestate funeral of John F. Kennedy with Army Band Bugler Keith Clark performing "Taps" during final interment atArlington National Cemetery. Brucker Hall, the band's training and performance facility, was constructed in the mid-1970s. Also during this era, the Army Blues, the Army Brass Quintet, the Army Chorale (now operating as 'Downrange'), and the Army Brass Band were officially established as regular performing ensembles. An official Coat of Arms and distinctive uniforms were approved to reflect the band's increasing visibility at events of national significance, including the visit ofEmperor Hirohito toAlaska with PresidentRichard Nixon, theUnited States Bicentennial in 1976, theLake Placid Winter Olympics 1980, the return of hostages during theIran Hostage Crisis, the1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The United States Army Band has performed in Canada, Japan, and Australia as well as in several of the nation's prominent concert halls, such asCarnegie Hall,Radio City Music Hall, and the Guggenheim Band Shell atLincoln Center in New York City, theHollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and theHatch Shell in Boston. In 1984, the band recorded and participated in the filming ofFrancis Ford Coppola's movieGardens of Stone.
Under the leadership of Colonel L. Bryan Shelburne, leader and commander (1990–2000), the band continued with performances at the 1990 Economic Summit in Houston, theDesert Storm Victory Parade in New York City, andReba McEntire's Christmas Special in Nashville. Col. Shelburne also led the band in performances in Sweden, the Netherlands, Turkey,Nova Scotia, Scotland, and a concert of International Goodwill with the Soviet Union's Navy Band in Stockholm.
In November 1997, the United States Army Band put on a grand concert atCarnegie Hall in New York City. Guest artists includedWalter Cronkite,Charles Osgood, and Metropolitan Opera starsRoberta Peters andJohn Cheek.
In December 2002, a ten-piece pop group from the band, dubbed "Downrange", accompanied country musicianDarryl Worley, comedianKathy Griffin, actressKarri Turner, pro wrestlerBradshaw, and two cheerleaders from theJacksonville Jaguars to Uzbekistan, Kuwait, and Afghanistan as part of a pre-ChristmasUSO tour in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom. This was the first time since 1945 that members of the band performed in a theater of foreign operations. Since the commencement ofOperation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the tour has been repeated annually under the title "Hope and Freedom", with a larger ensemble and additional stops at military positions in Iraq. Other celebrities that have accompanied recent tours include country singerMark Wills, comedianAl Franken, and cheerleaders from theWashington Redskins.
Colonel Lamb retired in June 2005 and was succeeded by Colonel Thomas Rotondi Jr., whose previous assignment was Commander/Conductor of the United States Military Academy Band in West Point, New York.
The United States Army Band is headquartered atFort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, and annually hosts The United States Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference in January andEastern Trombone Workshop in March.
.jpg)
| Date | Portrait | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | Warrant Officer Francis Leigh | |
| 1923–1935 | Warrant Officer William J. Stannard | |
| 1935–1946 | Captain Thomas F. Darcy Jr. | |
| 1946–1964 | Lieutenant Hugh J. Curry | |
| 1964–1976 | Colonel Samuel R. Loboda | |
| 1976–1990 |  | Colonel Eugene W. Allen |
| 1990–2000 |  | Colonel L. Bryan Shelburne Jr. |
| 2000–2005 |  | Colonel Gary F. Lamb |
| 2005–2011 |  | Colonel Thomas Rotondi Jr. |
| 2011–2014 |  | Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier |
| 2014-2017 |  | Colonel Timothy J. Holtan |
| 2017–2022 |  | Colonel Andrew J. Esch |
| 2022–present |  | Colonel Bruce R. Pulver |
Edmund L. Gruber's "The Army Goes Rolling Along", official hymn of the United States Army, performed by the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band Fourruffles and flourishes, followed byJames Sanderson's "Hail to the Chief", performed by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets Problems playing these files? Seemedia help. | Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestral interlude "Flight of the Bumblebee", performed by the U.S. Army Strings Samuel A. Ward's "America the Beautiful", performed by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet Mozart's overture toThe Marriage of Figaro, performed by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet John Philip Sousa's “The Invincible Eagle", performed by the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band | "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen", also known as "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming", performed by the U.S. Army Chorus Silas Erly Hummel's "National Spirit March", performed by the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band Claudio S. Grafulla's "Washington Grays", performed by the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir de Florence", third movement, performed by the U.S. Army Strings
|
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe United States Army Band Lineage and Honors (16 August 2001).United States Army Center of Military History.
| U.S. Army (list) |
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps |
| ||||||||||
| U.S. Air Force (list) |
| ||||||||||
| U.S. Coast Guard |
| ||||||||||
| State defense forces | |||||||||||
| Corps of Cadets / Midshipmen | |||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
