Purdue All-American Marching Band

The "Block P" performed in 1922

In 1886, the Purdue Student Army Training Corps formed a five-member drum corps to play music for the cadets during their morning conditioning marches. While operating without a director until 1904, the band had started playing at Purdue football games and had grown to over 50 members. However, during this time it played sporadically, as there was no consistent director. Additionally, the band received almost no training and had to provide most of their own equipment.

The band's modern history began when in 1904, Paul Spotts Emrick, a freshman from Rochester, joined the band. His experience as a conductor resulted in his election as band president and director the next year. During his senior year at Purdue in 1907, the band became the first to break ranks and form a letter on the field—the famous Block "P".[2] In a 1953 interview with the Lafayette Journal & Courier, Emrick recounted seeing geese fly over a lake in the fall, saying "usually, they'd fly in a 'V', but once in a while, they'd change formation and fly in various figures. I used to wonder if you could do that with men drilling." The "Block P" has been performed during each pre-game performance ever since its inception.

Emrick stayed on as full-time director after his graduation in 1908. In 1921 Emrick commissioned the Leedy Manufacturing Company of Indianapolis to construct the world's largest bass drum. The "Big Bass Drum" has been a part of the marching band ever since. In 1935, during a Purdue football game at Northwestern University the band donned lights on their uniforms while performing at halftime. With the stadium lights turned off for the performance, the band drew such awe from radio broadcaster Ted Husing, he referred to them as a "truly All-American marching band," hence the current title of the band.

Emrick retired in 1954, and to date the band has been under the direction of just five other men:

• Dr. Al G. Wright (1954–1981)
• William C. Moffit (1981–1988)
• Joseph Manfredo (1988-1989)
• Dr. David A. Leppla (1989–2006)
• Jay S. Gephart (July 1, 2006 – present)

Second director Al Wright added many "show band" traditions to the "All-American" Marching Band. He increased the size of the band, added baton twirlers, and changed the uniform to its current look. Wright built upon the patriotism suggested in the "All-American" name of the band by creating the "I Am An American" speech. This speech is read during each pre-game performance while the band plays America the Beautiful.

Wright greatly increased the visibility of the "All-American" Marching Band across the world by taking the band to perform in many countries including Canada, Holland, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Colombia, and Venezuela during the 1960s and 1970s. This tradition of international travel continues today, with other notable trips including an invitation from the Chinese government to perform in international cultural activities that lead up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. In both 2012 and 2018 the Band also traveled to Ireland for the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. In 2015, the AAMB traveled to Medellin, Colombia for the Feria de las Flores.

In 1995 the "All-American" Marching Band was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy, the most prestigious award a college marching band can receive. Currently, the "All-American" Marching Band is the only band from a university without a school of music to have received this award.

Purdue's All-American Marching Band in the 2015 500 Festival Parade in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Purdue band is also famous for its four Featured Twirler positions: the Golden Girl, the Girl in Black, and the Silver Twins.

Purdue's Golden Girl rank among the nation's best twirlers and is at the top of her art form. This talented performer is selected by audition each April, and serves as a leader of the AAMB as well as an ambassador for Purdue University. Recognized nationally for her unique talents, this coveted position has roots going back to the early history of Purdue Bands. The tradition of the Golden Girl was begun in 1954 during the era of quarterback Len Dawson, whose poise on the field prompted the press to nickname him Purdue's "Golden Boy." At the same time, Dr. Al G. Wright (now Director of Bands Emeritus) brought his first twirling protégé to the field, Juanita Carpenter, who earned the title of "Golden Girl." When Dawson graduated Purdue was left without a Golden Boy, but Carpenter's graduation didn't have the same effect on her title. Instead Golden Girl evolved into a movable crown that's been passed down through generations, and the position has become the standard for excellence within the twirling community.[3]

In 1962, another solo twirler position was created to complement the Golden Girl. Dressed in Purdue's other color, black, she first performed as the International Twirler. This title was later replaced with "Girl in Black."

The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band has pioneered a number of accomplishments.[4] It was the first marching band to:

• Break ranks on a football field to make a formation (The "Block P"), 1907
• Carry the colors of the Big Ten, 1919
• Play opposing school fight song, 1920
• Wear their hats backwards after a conference victory
• Perform at Radio City Music Hall, 1963
• Receive an official performance invitation from China, 2008
• Lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from the Big Ten, 2010

The oldest marching band formation, the "Block P"

The AAMB contains numerous woodwind, brass, percussion, and auxiliary members. In parade and block formation the wind instruments are organized into ranks of 10 people. The band currently contains 26 ranks of wind instruments. The percussion section consists of a drumline, two drum majors, and the World's Largest Drum along with its crew. Auxiliary performers are organized by their performance type. In addition, a section of fourteen Big Ten Flag carriers march with the band in parade and on the field.

• Woodwind Instruments
  • Piccolos
  • Clarinets
  • Alto Saxophones
  • Tenor Saxophones
• Brass Instruments
  • Trumpets
  • Mellophones
  • Trombones
  • Bass Trombones
  • Baritone horns
  • Sousaphones
• Percussion
  • Snare Drums
  • Tenor Drums
  • Bass Drums
  • Cymbals
  • Drum Majors
  • World's Largest Drum (Big Bass Drum)
• Auxiliaries
  • All-American Twirlers (Majorette Line)
  • Golden Silks (Flag Corps)
  • Goldusters (Dancers/Pom Squad)
  • The Big Ten Flags
• Feature Twirlers
  • Golden Girl
  • Girl in Black
  • Miss Boilerette
  • Silver Twins

To gain admission to the "All-American" Marching Band each student must audition every year. Previous years membership does not guarantee a position in the band. Auditions are composed of a music audition followed by a week of marching auditions prior to the first week of classes. Student Leaders for each instrument section are selected by band staff to aid in the teaching of Purdue band marching fundamentals including the Big Ten conference's ubiquitous chair step.

• Neil Armstrong, astronaut, aviator, first man on the Moon. Armstrong played baritone horn with the AAMB in 1952. Armstrong was made an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi in 1965 and received the band department's Alumni Achievement Award in 1997. His Kappa Kappa Psi pin went with him to the Moon and is now on display at Purdue's Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall.[5]
• Orville Redenbacher, businessman and agriculturalist, namesake of Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn. Redenbacher played tuba with the band in the 1920s.[6]
• Russell Games Slayter, inventor of fiberglass. Slayter was a tuba player. The Slayter Center of Performing Arts, the site of the band's "Thrill on the Hill" football pep rallies, is a gift from Slayter and his wife.[6]

• Official website