The University of Kentucky (through its many name changes) has consistently fielded a band for ROTC, football, basketball, concert band, and local parades since 1889. The origins of the bands are quite sketchy, though we know it began with 14 men, and assume its first director to be Herman Trost. We do know that in 1893, Mr. Trost (a music instructor at Hamilton College in Lexington) led the Cadet Band at football games and military events. Mr. Trost stood out in the Lexington music scene for many years, though little evidence of his connection with UK is available. The Cadet Band of Mr. Trost was unofficial, outside the confines of the military training program. Founder of the University, Professor James K. Patterson, was not a strong patron of the arts in education, and therefore did not pay much attention to building a band.

The next director we know of is Professor Rucker, appointed by Captain George Byroade, Commandant of the Military Science department, in 1903. WIth the appointment of Prof. Rucker, Captain Byroade officially instituted the Cadet Band as part of the school. The next year, the Cadet band again attended the military exposition, this time at St. Louis, Missouri.

With the arrival of Carl A. Lampert, the University started its department of Music. Though Mr. Lampert served as a one-man department, the Band was directed by Lawrence A. Cover, at the time. Little more information could be found about Mr. Cover, or the years he served as 'bandmaster'.

However, the fall of 1920 saw the hiring of Sgt. John J. Kennedy as band director. It is under his direction the band earned the mantle "The Best Band in Dixie" at the State College-Georgia Tech football game at Atlanta in 1923. With this new title, the band grew in size, and in quality!

In 1926, Elmer Sulzer, perhaps the most influential director in getting the tradition firmly entrenched, took the helm. His skill in public relations and use of the radio for promotion propelled the band into the public spotlight. He took the band on many long trips, including to the a State College-Virginia Military Institute football game at Lexington, VA, with the help of some very interesting fundraisers! Professor Sulzer, referred to by many as "Bromo", also started the Co-Ed Band, an all-female group. The Co-Ed band stood for many years as the only collegiate band of its type in America, lasting at least through the end of his stay. It was in Prof. Sulzer's final year as Band Director that the band performed at its first Basketball game: Kentucky State University (as it was then called) versus Georgetown College on December 12, 1932. The Marching Band of the fall (90 pieces) split into two parts, one for concert band, the other for basketball band.

The next year, John Lewis took over the band, as Professor Sulzer left to work at the University radio station and in the UK Public Relations office. Prof. Lewis endeared himself to the members of the band, and his colleagues in the state, quickly. Before the end of his tenure, he served as President of the Kentucky Music Educators organization (title somewhat sketchy). The University hosted many clinics for state educators and students with clinicians from the elite ranks of professional music. At the end of 1939, the University decided to reorganize the Department of Music, adding Dr. Alexander Capurso as Executive Director of the Department, and keeping Prof. Lampert nominally the Director of the Department. The band students were so enraged, they threatened a strike, held a protest parade on campus, and petitioned the Board of Trustees to reconsider the decision, to no avail. Prof. Lewis persuaded them not to strike, and exited gracefully.

The next Director, Charles V. Magurean, took over in the fall of 1940, amid difficult circumstances. Though his stay was short, the band stepped up another level, however difficult that was, considering the great reputation of the band- still carrying the title, "The Best Band in Dixie!" However, War intervened, the band was dismantled in 1943 due to the drafting or volunteering of a majority of its members. Prof. Magurean left, and no director was appointed to take his place. Dr. Capurso took initiative, and an innovative step. He announced in the spring that the band would continue, though it would welcome the assistance of any musically inclined students- male or female. The band persevered through this difficult time, and performed quite well, according to newspaper accounts. The concert band, having become co-ed, would never become all-male again (to the benefit of all!), though it wouldn't last in the marching band.

At the end of the war, with budgets larger, Mr. Frank Prindl took over the band. Using the occasion of the Guignol building burning, and the School of Fine Arts becoming homeless, the Band returned to its all-male roots in 1947. During this time, the band was housed in McVey Hall, White Hall (the original one), Memorial Hall, and even quonset hut barracks. Finally, in 1950, the band found what home was- Room 22 of the new Fine Arts Building. The previous year, a new and influential person took the an amazing postion in the band. Don Wilson, with his daughter Donna, starred as baton twirlers for nearly ten years, with Don becoming a 'de facto' assistant to the newly arrived Warren Lutz (1949), Marching Band Director. Professor Prindl moved to the concert stage, focusing on building that program into one of the finest in the nation. Mr. Lutz did the same on the marching field with very innovative drill, creativity in show design and concept, and new heights in precision. The Marching Hundred, as it was then called, moved slowly away from the ROTC program, and into football entertainment and performance.

In 1956, Professor Prindl left the University and newly appointed Director of the School of Music, R. Bernard Fitzgerald, took over the Band program as well. Warren Lutz stayed on another six years with the Marching Band, providing the second longest tenure with the UK Bands. The Kentucky Sweethearts (majorettes), as they are now known, took the field for the first time during the fall of 1960. In 1961. the band marched in President John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Parade, the first such appearance by the band. The departure of Mr. Lutz in 1962 began a series of changes which took the Marching Hundred to its lowest point in many years, and the unofficial title, the "Stumbling Sixty". Phil Miller followed Mr. Lutz, also becoming co-director of the concert program with Mr. Fitzgerald. Mr. Miller ran the bands for three years, until Fred Dart joined in 1966. However, that change didn't last either. That same year, Mr. Miller moved to full-time director of the UK Orchestra program, with Mr. Dart taking the Band program. During this time, W. Harry Clarke enrolled as a graduate student and served as a part-time assistant with Mr. Miller and Mr. Dart.

The next fall, the UK Band took a step which enabled its recovery! Football season of 1967 brought women into the ranks, nearly tripling the enrollment of the band in one year. With new numbers (triple that of previous years), quality took a while to re-develop. For that task, W. Harry Clarke took over in 1968 as head of the Marching Band. The following year, Mr. Clarke took over the job of directing the entire UK Band program by himself, as Fred Dart was released from the University. The UK Band performed at the 1969 inauguration of President Richard Nixon and the 1975 World Series and the 1979 National League Championship Series during this time. Despite early struggles withÊpublic support, the band under Mr. Clarke returned to its traditional role as one of the best bands in the south.

In 1979, the full-time position of Assistant Director of Bands became official with the appointment of UK Band alumnus Gordon Henderson. Under his direction, the solid sound of the UK Wildcat Marching Band continued with added innovation in arrangements and drill. The concert program under Professor Clarke excelled in all areas, making UK one of the most rounded programs in the region!

Prof. Henderson left in 1982 for UCLA, where he still serves as Director of Bands. The new assistant, J. Steven Moore, made UK one of the first marching bands in America to use computer-aided drill writing. The program he co-wrote, and has updated over time, is one of the premier drill writing programs available. He left in 1986, to lead the Lafayette High School Band in Lexington.

W. Dale Warren assumed control of the Marching Band the following fall. Mr Clarke still led the concert program, with great success, until 1989, when he was appointed Director of the School of Music, a post he still holds. Mr. Warren served as interim Director of Bands for the 1989-1990 school year. In 1991, he moved on to be Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas, where he still teaches.

Tom Brawner took over as Director of Bands in 1990, staying for two years, continuing the "revolving door" at the Director of Bands office. When Mr. Warren left, Bradley P. Ethington arrived as Assistant Director of Bands. The constant changing of Directors took its toll on recruiting and excitement about the program. Following Mr. Brawner's departure to Scott County High School (where he still teaches) in 1992, UK Percussion Professor James Campbell took over as interim Director of Bands for one year.

The following year, Richard S. Clary arrived as Director of Bands. He is still at UK, having provided stability, leadership, and a consistent level of excellence which the UK Band needed following a time of massive changes. In 1995, Professor Ethington left for Syracuse University, where is currently Associate Director of Bands. That fall, George R. Boulden, a UK alumnus, returned home to become Associate Director of Bands. Two years later, his title became permanent, and the Associate Director of Bands was made into a tenure-track position.

The last six years have seen a number changes in the UK Bands. Our direction is stable and consistent, not to mention excellent. The members share in the goals and dreams of the ensembles, and the Bands- especially the Wind Ensemble- enjoy a national reputation for excellence in musicianship, performance, and comportment.

The last 110 or so years have brought many changes, adversities and traditions to Lexington. Throughout all, the UK Bands have performed with pride and accomplishment.

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