In the fall of 1946, after six weeks of practice, a 100-piece marching band took to the field at Tennessee State University and a tradition of excellence was born. The band would soon become known as the Aristocrat of Bands, performing in parades, half-time shows, music videos, movies, and television commercials. The band was the first historically black college or university band to appear on national television with the 1955 halftime performance at the Chicago Bears -vs- Los Angeles Rams professional football game. The internationally known marching band was also the first historically black college or university band to perform in a Presidential Inaugural Parade. In 1961 the Aristocrat of Bands performed for President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade followed by the 1993 and 1997 inaugural parades of President Bill Clinton. The band has appeared in the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, and the inaugural Silver Dollar Classic in Las Vegas. Four men have served as Director of Bands, J.D. Chavis 1946-1951, Frank T. Greer 1951-1972, Clifford Watkins 1972-1979, and the present Director Edward L. Graves.
Performance History
NATIONALLY TELEVISED PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HALF-TIME SHOWS PERFORMED BY THE T.S.U. BAND
1955-NBC: Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams in Chicago 1956-CBS: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants in Cleveland 1960-CBS/NBC: Baltimore Colts vs. Green Bay Packers in Baltimore 1963-NBC: NFL Championship Game - Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants in Chicago 1968-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders in Cincinnati 1969-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets in Cincinnati 1970-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1971-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1973-CBS: Atlanta Falcons vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Atlanta 1978-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots in Cincinnati 1993-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1998-CBS: Tennessee Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville 2000-CBS: Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants in Nashville 2001-ESPN: Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins in Nashville 2002-FOX: Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Redskins in Nashville
CHRONICLE OF PERFORMANCES
1955: First HBCU band to appear on national television.
1961: First HBCU band to march in a presidential inaugural parade.
1961: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of John F. Kennedy.
1981: Appeared in the CBS television movie The Concrete Cowboy.
1982: Appeared in a Hello Nashville Commercial for NBC affiliate WSMV.
1982: Featured ensemble at the College Band Directors’ National Association Regional Conference in Nashville.
1983: Featured ensemble at the College Band Directors’ National Association national meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
1983: Voted Outstanding Band at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music First Invitational Jazz Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1983: Featured in WSMV Nashville Channel 4 News Special Report
1984: Mirage Bowl Football Game, Tokyo, Japan.
1984: Featured ensemble at the Music Educators’ National Conference, national meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
1984: Voted Most Outstanding Band in the Memphis State University Invitational Jazz Festival.
1984: Invited to tour Nigeria by the United States Information Agency.
1985: Performed in concert with legendary jazz artist, Dizzy Gillespie at TSU.
1985: Performed at the All-American College Jazz Festival at Epcot Center, Orlando, Florida.
1992: Featured at the Memphis In May Tattoo Festival
1993: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of Bill Clinton.
1993: Appeared on CBS television The Morning Show from Washington, DC
1993: Appeared on Good Morning Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
1993: Featured in WSMV Nashville Channel 4 News Special Report
1994: Public television special “Rain Doesn’t Fall on the Aristocrat of Bands”
1996: Appeared in Marty Stuart music video Magic Town
1997: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of Bill Clinton.
1997: Appeared on ABC television Good Morning America
1997: Featured in Nashville News Channel 5 Special Report
2000: Performed for the CBS All American Happy Thanksgiving Day Parade.
2002: Featured performer at the 58th National Biennial In-Service Conference of the Music Educators National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
2003: Selected to represent Tennessee at the American Celebration of Music in China.
2003: Invited as one of ten bands to perform at the Inaugural Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia.
2003: Named official spirit band of the Tennessee Titans NFL franchise.
2004: Invited to perform and named top vote getter at the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia.
2005: Invited as one of ten bands to perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia.
2005: Performed with country music artists Big and Rich on the CMT Music Awards.
2006: Performed with the Nashville Symphony in Porgy & Bess.
2006: Featured performer at the 2nd HBCU National Band Directors Consortium Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
2006: Appeared on ABC television Good Morning America.
2007: Invited to perform at the North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison, Texas.
