GT Band History
In 1908, the Georgia Tech Band program was formed by fourteen students and led by Robert "Biddy" Bidez, a textile major from Mobile, AL. The band found its first official bandleader in M.A. "Mike" Greenblatt who took over the band for two years and in his time as director, wrote the first arrangement and score of Georgia Tech's most famous fight song, "Ramblin' Wreck". The lyrics were then added by Billy Walthall, a member of the first graduating class at Tech.
Frank "Wop" Roman was the next to oversee the band program in 1914 and stayed until his death in 1928. Under Roman's tenure as director, the Georgia Tech Band Club was formed, and the Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, national honorary band fraternity, was founded. Roman is credited with having arranged and copyrighted “Ramblin' Wreck” and “Up with the White and Gold” still performed today. Roman also composed Georgia Tech's Alma Mater. Roman’s Tech Band became the first band to broadcast live dance music over the radio, playing a dance concert on campus that was transmitted via wireless radio to the Georgia Terrace Hotel in Atlanta. In 1925, another first for bands in America came when Georgia Tech became the first Southern college band to record its fight songs.
Major A.J. Garing was hired as director of the Georgia Tech Band in 1929. He brought with him sixteen years of experience as a member of the Sousa Band. During a tour with the Sousa Band, he visited the city of Atlanta for a performance and vowed that he would one day return to Atlanta. Indeed, he did return and developed the Tech Band through his impeccable direction and passion for music. During Garing’s tenure, students played throughout Atlanta in the dance orchestra, known as “The Ramblers”, with notable performances at the Grand Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel and the Egyptian Room at the Fox Theater. “The Ramblers” also performed on board an ocean liner for a voyage across the Atlantic. These and other accomplishments were testament to the growth in quality and experience of the Tech Band under Major A.J. Garing, known affectionately by his students as “Chief”. Garing retired in 1945, well respected and admired by his students and colleagues.
Ben Logan Sisk was hired as Director of the Tech Band in 1946 upon the retirement of Major A.J. Garing. In 1954 Teresa Thomas and Paula Stevenson became the first women to join the Georgia Tech band. They were two of the first nine women admitted to Georgia Tech. Also during this time, the Music Department, under the leadership of Ben Logan Sisk, was created in 1963 under Tech’s General College with the intention of bringing institutional support to the band and the glee club. For the first time, academic credit was given for participation in the band. The first permanent home of the Band was established at the old Church of God building on the corner of Hemphill and Ferst Streets. The Epsilon Theta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, honorary band sorority, was founded in 1973. Sisk was respected for his keeping his composure under pressure, notably ending a skirmish between rival fans from Auburn and Tech by striking up the National Anthem. This stopped the fighting and restored order, all through the appeal to our better nature and highlighting Ben Logan Sisk’s professionalism that is still held in high regard.
Ed Bridges joined the Music Department faculty in the summer of 1975 as director and Head of the Music Department upon the retirement of Sisk. The music department moved to its current home in the Couch building, and early 1900’s elementary school, in 1975 as well. Ken Durham was hired as assistant band director in fall of 1975 and became Director of bands the following year until 1983. Mr. Durham was given the nickname "Uncle Kenny" during his time at Georgia Tech due, in part, to the fact that he organized an annual Thanksgiving celebration for those band students who were unable to go home for the holiday. Don Eubanks joined the band program in 1975 as an assistant director of the marching band and later the director of the basketball band. The Jazz Ensemble was founded as well in 1977. Ron Mendola was hired as director of the Jazz Ensemble in 1979 and continues to direct it to this day.
The GT music department entered a new era of growth in the 80's with the addition of the Symphonic Band and the Orchestra as well as several new music history and music technology classes. James "Bucky" Johnson was hired in 1983 as Tech's first full-time band director. The band began an unprecedented upward movement in size during this time, thanks in large part to the direction of Johnson. Musical performance standards were raised greatly also during this period. To help manage this expansion and improvement in the bands, Carlisle Dent joined the staff as an assistant director in 1988. Leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games, Bucky Johnson was the director of the Atlanta Olympic Band in addition to being the director of the Georgia Tech Band. Prior to Atlanta winning the Olympic bid, Georgia Tech's marching band would dress in Olympic colors and play to greet dignitaries visiting the campus. The band marched in the parade celebrating Atlanta's selection as the 1996 Olympic host city. Georgia Tech began offering a certificate in music in 1995, and now offers a music minor program for all interested students as an outgrowth of this initiative. Dr. Andrea Strauss was hired in 1992 to assist with the band program and teach music theory classes upon the departure of Mr. Dent. Chris Moore was hired as an assistant band director and leader of the Percussion Ensemble in 1995. Under his direction, the percussion program at Tech began to flourish. Bucky Johnson retired in 2001, after helping create a truly reputable and valuable musical experience for the students of Tech.
Following James “Bucky” Johnson’s departure in 2002, Dr. Andrea Strauss was promoted to Director of Bands and Chris Moore was promoted to Director of Athletic Bands. The growth and vigor of the bands at Tech expanded rapidly at this time. In 2001, the Marching and Symphonic Bands traveled to Dublin, Ireland to perform in the St. Patrick's Day festivities. William Bishop was brought on from 2002 to 2005 as the Assistant Director of Bands. Dr. Donald F. Allen Jr. joined the music faculty in 2005 as Assistant Director of Bands, now serving as conductor of the Wind Ensemble and one of the directors of the marching band.
The middle of the first decade of the new century has seen the band perform in such notable venues as the Shanghai Chamber Music Festival in 2006 and a performance tour of Sydney and surrounding New South Wales, Australia in 2007. In 2008, after the departure of Dr. Andrea Strauss, Benjamin Diden was added to the music faculty as Assistant Director of Bands. The Georgia Tech Bands celebrated their Centennial in 2008 in a number of ways. In the fall, the Wind Ensemble premiered a new work by renowned composer Julie Giroux, entitled HardDrive, which was commissioned by the Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. The Marching Band participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City in 2008 to cap off a celebration of one hundred years of band at Georgia Tech.