The Sun Devil Marching Band (SDMB), also known as The Pride of the Southwest, is the athletic band of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The ASU Band program, which includes the Marching, Pep, and Dixieland bands, is a part of the Sun Devil Athletics department. The band is currently under the direction of Director of Athletic Bands James G. "The Hammer" Hudson, who took over the program in 2006. The Sun Devil Marching Band is a major ambassador for Arizona State University and the state of Arizona. Each year almost 500,000 people are entertained by the band, which plays at home football at Mountain America Stadium and as a pep band for basketball games at Desert Financial Arena, homecoming, bowl game parades, other community events in the Valley, across the country, and even abroad.
History On September 20, 1915, the Arizona Board of Education accepted and ratified the creation of the Tempe Bulldogs Marching Band under Lillian Williams (1915–1917).http://library.lib.asu.edu/record=b1709820~S3 Under her guidance she furnished on her own the band's instruments, uniforms, and repertoire of standard classical music. The Bulldogs Marching Band though would be discontinued due to World War I. Williams last appearance was during 1947 concert as then Sun Devil Marching Band director Felix E. McKernan honored her. The Bulldogs Marching Band return in 1929 under short tenure of the direction of John Paul Jones. In transition under the direction of Carl G. Hoyer in 1937 the band's first bowl appearance for the Tournament of Roses Parade where the band won second prize. Though that year Hoyer would leave after then Arizona governor, Benjamin Baker Moeur, rejected his Arizona State Song for the state song of Arizona. During Dr. Robert G. Lyon five-year tenure was the addition of new parade and marching formations as well as swing music.
Under Felix E. McKernan direction saw the various changes taken place for the band and the school. In 1946, the school's, mascot was redesigned by former Disney illustrator, Bert Anthony, from the Bulldog to Sparky, the Sun Devil. McKernan made his marks in the band by composing the school's fight song Maroon & Gold, implementing script drill formations in pregame and halftime shows, holding auditions for instrumentation placing, offering scholarships to boost membership, recruiting high school band members, establishing Band Day, and formatting three weekly rehearsals. All of which laid the basis for band to grow rapidly. The band's growing reputation brought a lot of praise from directors across the nation such as Clarence Sawhill (1947–1952) of the USC Trojan Band proclaimed the band as "The Best Marching Band in the Southwest."
McKernan's successor, Harold C. Hines, as well added to McKernan's body of work by holding band camp a week before the Fall semester begins, additions to pregame pageantry, 1957 implementing fireworks, band's active role in Proposition 200 in 1958 for university status, and establishing the Alumni Band for Homecoming Games. August 1974 initiated a new period in the history of the Sun Devil Band program with the hiring of two new directors. The two men brought a new style of marching and philosophy to ASU's band program. Dr. Richard E. "Doc" Strange (1974–1999) became Director of Bands and brought (now) Dr. Robert C. "Coach" Fleming (1974–2002) as assistant director of Bands; this position was ultimately elevated to associate director of Bands, and is now designated Director of Athletic Bands. The Marching Band gained national recognition by performing at the 1987 and 1997 Rose Bowl games and Tournament of Roses Parades. Also to the band's credit are performances at Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, the then Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams professional football games, Phoenix Suns professional basketball games, SeaWorld, Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld San Diego, on the deck of the Navy carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), and the 1990 Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Of note during the San Francisco 49er gig fans were impressed by the Sun Devil Marching Band rendition of George Cory's I Left My Heart in San Francisco the franchise insisted on the band making a 1963 recording and continued on using it at 49ers home games. On November 9, 1991, the Sun Devil Marching Band became the first Pac-10 marching band to receive the prestigious Sudler Trophy. This great honor is awarded (now biennially) to a college or university marching band that has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas. On multiple occasions, the band was invited by the NFL, to be part of the pregame and halftime festivities of Super Bowls XLII and XLIX in Glendale, Arizona.
Directors
Source:
Lillian Williams, 1915–1917 John Paul Jones, 1929–1930 Carl G. Hoyer, 1931–1937 Dr. Robert G. Lyon, 1938–1943 Miles A. Dresskell, 1945 Felix E. McKernan, 1946–1951 Harold C. Hines, 1952–1965 William H. Hill, 1966–1969 William Mitchell 1969 Dr. Kenneth O. Snapp and Robert W. Miller, 1970–1973 Dr. Richard E. "Doc" Strange (1974–1999) and Dr. Robert C. "Coach" Fleming, 1974–2001 Martin Province, 2002–2005 James G. "The Hammer" Hudson, 2006–present
Drum Majors Year Drum Majors 1947 Pat Pouppirt, Ray Davis, Duke Miller (feature twirler) 1948 Ray Davis, John Large, Pat Pouppirt 1949 Ray Davis, John Large, Allegra Powell, Duke Miller (feature twirler) 1950 Duke Miller, Marian Flynn, Darlene Miller 1951 Duke Miller, Don Harrington, Bill Lester 1952 Bill Lester 1953 Roger Schartzer 1954 Roger Schartzer 1955 Roger Schartzer, Barbara Chausow, Cloin Watts, Duke Miller (feature twirler) 1957 Roger Schartzer 1962 George Gullet 1963 Bob Beardsley, Aretta Toops (feature twirler) 1966 George Cullet 1968 Joe Wilczewski 1970 Roger Crump 1973 Steve Banks 1974 Steve Banks 1975 Steve Banks 1976 Dave Henderson 1977 Dave Henderson 1978 Dave Henderson 1979 Dave Henderson 1980 Rob Verdi, Pam Miller 1981 Rob Verdi, Greg Boyer 1982 Rob Verdi, Greg Boyer 1983 Rob Verdi, Greg Boyer, Sue Danco 1984 Jon Gomez, Bill Humbert, Sue Danco 1985 Jon Gomez, Bill Humbert 1986 Jon Gomez, Mike Goodwin 1987 Jon Gomez, Mike Goodwin, Leo Werner 1988 Mike Goodwin, Leo Werner, Todd Sisk 1989 Leo Werner, Todd Sisk, Brigid O'Neill, Michael Thompson 1990 Todd Sisk, Brigid O'Neill, Michael Thompson 1991 Brigid O'Neill, Scott Rye, Michael Thompson 1992 Scott Rye, Brigid O'Neill, Susanne Butcher (Grattopp) 1993 Scott Rye, Susanne Butcher (Grattopp), Kristi Olsen (Thomas) 1994 Scott Rye, Susanne Butcher (Grattopp), Kristi Olsen (Thomas) 1995 Susanne Butcher (Grattopp), Kristi Olsen (Thomas), Michelle Butcher 1996 Ginger Lockhart, Michelle Butcher, Tawnya Milligan (Ortiz), Kristi Olsen (Thomas) 1997 Ginger Lockhart, Michelle Butcher, Cheryl Muller, Tawnya Milligan (Ortiz) 1998 Ginger Lockhart, Jaime Ali, Cheryl Muller 1999 Cheryl Muller, Tawnya Milligan (Ortiz), June Wagner 2000 June Wagner, Emily Davis 2001 Emily Davis, Nathan Johnston, Ty Largo, Tawnya Milligan (Ortiz) 2002 Tawnya Milligan (Ortiz), Shane Edrington, Nathan Johnston, Ty Largo 2003 Alex Raines, Shane Edrington, Nathan Johnston, Katie Mauel Thomas 2004 Alex Raines, Ivan Pour, Katie Mauel Thomas, TJ Witucky 2005 Ivan Pour, Liz Salazar, Tim Rall, TJ Witucky 2006 Chris Boccuzzo, DeAnna Uranga, Katie Rennell 2007 Chris Coughlin, DeAnna Uranga, Katie Rennell 2008 DeAnna Uranga, James Clemmons, Katie Rennell 2009 James Clemmons, Greg Mills, Jonathan Saturay 2010 James Clemmons, Greg Mills 2011 Patricia Estrada, Greg Rudolph, Robert Mattix, Greg Mills 2012 Joshua Beedle, Robert Mattix, Riley Molloy 2013 Joshua Beedle, Robert Mattix, Riley Molloy 2014 Joshua Beedle, Riley Molloy, Jenny Huettl 2015 Jenny Huettl, Rachel Quirbach, Kaylea K. Payne, Dale Ramirez 2016 Dale Ramirez, Rachel Quirbach, William Everett 2017 Dale Ramirez, William Everett, Austin Cahoon 2018 William Everett, Austin Cahoon 2019 Austin Cahoon, Laura Anderson, Gina Sleeper 2020 Laura Anderson, Gina Sleeper, Shawn Schive 2021 Laura Anderson, Shawn Schive, Giselle Coll 2022 Giselle Coll, Avantika Mitbander, Jackson Snyder 2023 Avantika Mitbander, Jackson Snyder, Bryn Hutton 2024 Jackson Snyder, Bryn Hutton, Cory Yeager 2025 Cory Yeager, Audrey Hutson, David Torres II 2026 Audrey Hutson, David Torres II, Xander McClinton
Membership
Membership in the Sun Devil Marching Band is open to all university and community college students with previous high school or college marching band experience. In order to receive one credit hour for the class for full-time ASU students and non-degree community college students seeking the credit, enrollment in the class is required in order to obtain the credit hour. For individuals interested in participating in the Sun Devil Marching Band, but are not considered full-time degree seeking students at ASU are required to apply to ASU as non-degree students in order to register for the course. Currently an alternate “registration” route is offered for those who will only be registered for the marching band course(s), giving them the opportunity to participate in the Sun Devil Marching Band without incurring full tuition costs. Color Guard, Spirit Squad and Percussion have an additional class to add for one credit hour.
Music
Fight songs
"Maroon & Gold", ASU's fight song, is a familiar tune for Sun Devils all over the country, but is not the only "fight song" at ASU. In 1940, during World War II, Fred Waring composed a piece for the Arizona State College called "Fight, Arizona State (March On, Arizona)" which had become lost in history until 2015 when director James G. Hudson discovered it in the archives. He arranged it to be a part of the pregame show during the band program's 100th anniversary. Also in the 1940s, band director Albert Davis wrote "Go, Go Sun Devils" (more commonly known to the band as "The Al Davis Fight Song"); to this day, though Davis retired in the 1950s, the Sun Devil Marching Band continues to play the Al Davis Fight Song in their pregame performance as the Sun Devils come out of the tunnel onto the field, and occasionally make up humorous lyrics.
Another fight song that was written for the school but used sparingly was the song penned by former ASU President, G. Homer Durham. It was called "Sing a Song for ASU" and was last used at homecomings in the very early 1970s.
Stand tunes The band not only performs during pregame and halftime of the football games, but also in the stands. The music in the stands is a combination of short and long tunes to help keep the energy in the stadium and keep the crowd excited. Songs used for stand tunes include popular past and contemporary songs from many genres of music. One such example is the excerpt from "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" that the band plays when ASU's defense takes the field.
Special appearance performances In the 2006 and 2007 seasons the band had opportunities of bringing in guest appearances of nationally and world-renowned recording artists for halftime performances.
Horn-based soul band Tower of Power performing their hits You're Still a Young Man/ Diggin' on James Brown and Tower of PSo "So Very Hard to Go" / "What is Hip?" during November 18, 2006, game against UCLA Bruins Rendition of Juan Tizol's Caravan with The Boston Brass quintet during the October 13, 2007, game against Washington Huskies Musical legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Little Richard performing his hits Tutti Frutti; Jenny, Jenny; and Good Golly Miss Molly during Thanksgiving Day November 22, 2007, game against USC Trojanshttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/102589 Journey founding member and lead guitarist Neal Schon accompanied by long-time keyboardist and backing vocalist Jonathan Cain performed the National Anthem before the September 28, 2013, game against USC Trojans