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Million Dollar Band (marching band)
Encyclopedia
The Million Dollar Band is the official name for the marching band for the University of Alabama
, located in Tuscaloosa
. The entire band performs at all home games, while varying in size for away games or games in neutral sites. In 2003, the band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, an honor which any band can only win once.
and was student-led until 1927. The band earned its name during a football game between Alabama and Georgia Tech
, a game which the Yellow Jackets won 33–7. The band struggled for funds, having to solicit money for local merchants, to travel to games off campus. An Alabama alumnus, W.C. Pickens, was asked "[...] what do you have at Alabama?" by an Atlanta-based sportswriter. Pickens replied only, "A million dollar band."
In 1936, Colonel Charleton K. Butler took over the band and led it to national prominence among collegiate marching bands. He remained director for the next 33 years until Mr. Earl Dunn took charge in 1969. After a one-year stint at the Capstone, Dr. James Ferguson was named director, where he remained until 1983. Legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
often voiced his support for the band during his tenure, giving them partial credit during victories. Dr. Kenneth Ozzello has been in charge of the band since 2002, taking over for Ms. Kathryn B. Scott. One year after he was named director, the band won the prestigious Sudler Trophy, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
.
! Name !! Years>
1913–1917
1917–1927
1927–1934
1935–1968
1969–1970
1971–1983
1984–2002
2003–present
During rehearsals, the members wear nail pouches featuring the MDB logo and their drill number, which helps the directors point out certain members during practice. They also use these pouches to carry water bottles with them to stay hydrated during the hot Alabama summers.
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, located in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. The entire band performs at all home games, while varying in size for away games or games in neutral sites. In 2003, the band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, an honor which any band can only win once.
History
The band was formed in 1913 with just 14 members under director Dr. Gustav Wittig. Four years later, in 1917, the band became a military bandMilitary band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
and was student-led until 1927. The band earned its name during a football game between Alabama and Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, a game which the Yellow Jackets won 33–7. The band struggled for funds, having to solicit money for local merchants, to travel to games off campus. An Alabama alumnus, W.C. Pickens, was asked "[...] what do you have at Alabama?" by an Atlanta-based sportswriter. Pickens replied only, "A million dollar band."
In 1936, Colonel Charleton K. Butler took over the band and led it to national prominence among collegiate marching bands. He remained director for the next 33 years until Mr. Earl Dunn took charge in 1969. After a one-year stint at the Capstone, Dr. James Ferguson was named director, where he remained until 1983. Legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
often voiced his support for the band during his tenure, giving them partial credit during victories. Dr. Kenneth Ozzello has been in charge of the band since 2002, taking over for Ms. Kathryn B. Scott. One year after he was named director, the band won the prestigious Sudler Trophy, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
John Philip Sousa Foundation
The John Philip Sousa Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of band music internationally. The foundation administers a number of projects and awards supporting high quality band performance, conducting, and composition....
.
Directors
Rehearsal
During the fall semester the Million Dollar Band rehearses Monday-Friday from 4:00PM until 5:30PM at their practice field, Butler Field. They also hold a Gameday rehearsal on Saturdays when the full band will be performing at the football game that day.During rehearsals, the members wear nail pouches featuring the MDB logo and their drill number, which helps the directors point out certain members during practice. They also use these pouches to carry water bottles with them to stay hydrated during the hot Alabama summers.
Traditions
- Basket CaseBasket Case (song)"Basket Case" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day. It was released as the third single from their third album, Dookie. The song spent five weeks at the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart.Rolling Stone Readers ranked it No...
- Beginning in the mid 1997 the Million Dollar Band began playing the Green Day song "Basket Case" in the break between the 3rd and 4th quarters. This continued until mid way through the 2006 season, when the Marketing Department decided to play "Sweet Home Alabama" over the PA system instead. The MDB continued to play the song, just at different points of the game. "Sweet Home Alabama" was still played during 2007 up to the Houston game. Since that game the MDB has played "Basketcase" during the 4th quarter break once again.
- Alma MaterAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
- When Dr. Ozzello became director in 2003 the MDB began to sing the Alma Mater after every Friday and game day rehearsal, as well as after every game, win or lose.
- Crimson Tide - At the end of every single rehearsal, game, etc. someone shouts "What do we say at Alabama?". The Leadership team responds with "Go Bama!" and then all members shout "Roll Tide!" This is similar to a scene from the 1995 movie Crimson TideCrimson Tide (film)The film has uncredited additional writing by Quentin Tarantino, much of it being the pop-culture reference-laden dialogue.The U.S. Navy objected to many of the elements in the script — particularly the aspect of mutiny on board a U.S. naval vessel — and as such, the film was produced...
.
- Elephant Stomp - Prior to every home game the MDB performs the elephant stomp. Each section warms up then meets on the steps of the Gorgas library. The MDB and cheerleaders lead the crowd in several cheers in a short pep rally, usually lasting less than 10 minutes. The MDB then lines up on Colonial Drive and marches to Bryant-Denny StadiumBryant-Denny StadiumBryant–Denny Stadium, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is the home stadium for the University of Alabama football team. The stadium opened in 1929, and was originally named Denny Stadium, in honor of former Alabama president George Hutchenson Denny...
.
Songs
- Yea Alabama - The University of Alabama fight song
- Rammer Jammer - Cheer played after a team victory
- Lowrider - Song played by the Trombone section in the fourth quarter of the football game. It is counted off with eight taps on a cow bell. It has been in existence since at least 1986, when it was recorded on an LP. Mark Foster wrote the arrangement from a similar version that was played at his high school. Bruce Chirrey was the first cow bell wielder.
- Defense Cheer # 1 - Since 2001, the band has used the song "Look Down" from the musical Les MisérablesLes Misérables (musical)Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
as the main defense cheer. This arrangement was originally written for the 1996 and 2001 Les Misérables halftime shows. The band currently has five defense cheers.
Appearances
- 1994 SEC Championship Game1994 SEC Championship GameThe 1994 SEC Championship Game was won by the Florida Gators 24-23 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 3, 1994 and was televised to a national audience on ABC.-External links:*...
- Atlanta, GA in December 1994 - 1996 SEC Championship Game1996 SEC Championship GameThe 1996 SEC Championship Game was won by the Florida Gators 45-30 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 7, 1996 and was televised to a national audience on ABC.-External links:**...
- Atlanta, GA in December 1999 - 1999 SEC Championship Game1999 SEC Championship GameThe 1999 SEC Championship Game was won by the Alabama Crimson Tide 34-7 over the Florida Gators. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 4, 1999 and was televised to a national audience on CBS.-External links:***...
- Atlanta, GA in December 1999 - 1999 Orange Bowl Parade & Bowl Game - Miami, FL in December 1999, January 2000
- Knights of Revelry (KOR) Mardi Gras Parade - Mobile, AL in February 2000
- Knights of Revelry (KOR) Mardi Gras Parade - Mobile, AL in February 2001
- 2000 Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
- Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL in January 2000 - First Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
performance by the band - 2000 AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
vs. UCLA football game - Pasadena, CA - Pep Band of the "Million Dollar Band" first ever performance at the famed Rose Bowl Stadium - Bob Riley Inaugural Parade - Montgomery, AL in January 2003
- ESPN "Cold Pizza" on the UA Quad - Tuscaloosa, AL in November 2005
- 2006 Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
- Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL in January 2006 - Bob Riley Inaugural Parade - Montgomery, AL in January 2007
- ESPN "Gameday" on the UA Quad - Tuscaloosa, AL September 2007
- BOA Super Regional - Georgia DomeGeorgia DomeThe Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
; Atlanta, GA October 2007 - 2008 Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
- Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL in January 2008 - 2009 Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
- Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL in January 2009 - 2008 SEC Championship Game2008 SEC Championship GameThe 2008 Dr Pepper SEC Championship Game was played on December 6, 2008 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia to determine the 2008 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The game featured the Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Gators were classified as the home team...
- Atlanta, GA in December 2008 - 2009 SEC Championship Game2009 SEC Championship GameThe 2009 SEC Championship Game was played on December 5, 2009, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to determine the 2009 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The game featured the Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Crimson Tide was the designated "home team"; this...
- Atlanta, GA in December 2009 - 2010 BCS National Championship Game2010 BCS National Championship GameThe 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game was the finale of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was played between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was hosted by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California,...
- Pasadena, CA in January 2010 - First Full Band performance at the Rose Bowl Stadium