Million Dollar Band (marching band)

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Million Dollar Band
Million Dollar Band logo.gif
School University of Alabama
Location Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Conference SEC
Founded 1912
Director Dr. Kenneth Ozzello
Associate Director Randall Coleman
Assistant Directors Neal Flum
Steve Simpson
Heath Nails
Members 408 (2017)
Fight song "Yea Alabama"
Website Million Dollar Band Website

The Million Dollar Band (sometimes shortened to MDB) is the official marching band of the University of Alabama. Founded in 1912, the Million Dollar Band is the largest student organization at the University of Alabama.[1] The band performs during pregame and halftime of every home and neutral-site Alabama football game; it also supplies at least a pep band to every away football game, as well as home men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball games. In 2003, the band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, recognizing it as the top band in the United States.

History[edit]

The band performing its pregame show prior to a football game in 2010.

The Million Dollar Band, which was first known simply as the "Alabama Band", was formed as a military band in 1912.[2] In its first year, the band consisted of just 14 members under director Dr. Gustav Wittig, who was also an engineering and physics professor at the university.[3][4] He served as director for five years before stepping down; the band was then student-led until 1927, when Captain H. H. Turner took over as director.[5] The story of how the band earned its name is contested, but the account recognized by the university (released in the 1948 football media guide) is as follows: during the 1922 football season, Alabama visited Georgia Tech and got blown out, 33–7. Champ Pickens, a notable Alabama alumnus who was present at the game, was asked by a local sportswriter, "You don't have much of a team, what do you have at Alabama?". In response, Pickens quipped, "A million dollar band." His inspiration for the term came from his observation of the impressive effort the small band had put into soliciting funds from local merchants in order to accompany the football team to off-campus games.[1]

In 1936, Colonel Carleton K. Butler (for whom the band’s practice field is named) took over the band and led it to national prominence among collegiate marching bands. He remained director for the next 33 years until Earl Dunn took charge in 1969. After Dunn’s two-year stint at the Capstone, Dr. James Ferguson was named director, where he remained until 1983. Legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant often voiced his support for the band during his tenure, sometimes partially crediting it after victories.[6] Dr. Kenneth Ozzello has been in charge of the band since 2002, taking over for Kathryn B. Scott. One year after he was named director, the band won the prestigious Sudler Trophy, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.[7]

Directors[edit]

Name Years
Dr. Gustav Wittig 1912–1917
None (Student-led) 1917–1927
Cpt. H. H. Turner 1927–1934
Col. Carleton K. Butler 1935–1968
Earl Dunn 1969–1971
Dr. James Ferguson 1971–1983
Kathryn B. Scott 1984–2002
Dr. Kenneth Ozzello 2003–present

Traditions[edit]

The band performing a "Booming Big Bama Spell Out" before a football game
  • Alma Mater - Dr. Ozzello became director in 2003 and started this MDB tradition of singing the Alma Mater after every Friday/gameday rehearsal, as well as after every game, win or lose.
  • Band Dismissal - At the end of every single rehearsal, game, etc. someone shouts "What do we say at Alabama?". The Leadership team responds with "Go Bama!" and then all members shout "Roll Tide!" This is similar to a scene from the 1995 movie Crimson Tide.
  • Elephant Stomp - Prior to every home game the MDB performs the elephant stomp. Each section warms up then meets on the steps of the Gorgas library. The MDB and cheerleaders lead the crowd in several cheers in a short pep rally, usually lasting less than 10 minutes. The MDB then lines up on Colonial Drive and marches to Bryant–Denny Stadium.
  • Big B-A-M-A Spellout - During the Pregame show, the PA announcer directs the crowd to shoutout 'B', 'A', 'M', 'A' while the band forms the block letters on the field.

Songs and Cheers[edit]

  • Yea Alabama - The University of Alabama's official fight song.
  • Tusk - This song was recorded by Fleetwood Mac in collaboration with the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band at Dodger Stadium. From the Fleetwood Mac version, "Tusk" being shorthand for the university's home city of Tuscaloosa, accompanied by the school's dancing elephant mascot, Big Al. The band forms a large elephant on the field, with Big AL being introduced to the crowd of 100,000+ fans.
  • Rammer Jammer Cheer - (informally known as the "Ole Miss Cheer") is played at the end-of-the game, after the team has won the game. Dr. Ferguson introduced the cheer to the band during the early 1980s. The lyrics to the cheer were based upon the Ole Miss' Hotty Toddy cheer, the school which Dr. Ferguson was teaching at prior to coming to Bama.
  • Basket Case - Beginning in mid-1997 the Million Dollar Band began playing the Green Day song "Basket Case" in the break between the 3rd and 4th quarters. This continued until midway through the 2006 season, when the Marketing Department decided to play "Sweet Home Alabama" over the PA system instead. The MDB continued to play the song, just at different points of the game.[8] "Sweet Home Alabama" was still played during 2007 up to the Houston game. Since that game the MDB has played "Basketcase" during the 4th quarter break once again. Fred Chang arranged this piece.[9]
  • Low Rider - Song played by the Trombone section in the fourth quarter of the football game. It has been in existence since at least 1986, when it was recorded on an LP. Mark Foster wrote the arrangement from a similar version that was played at his high school. Bruce Chirrey was the first cow bell wielder.
  • Defense Cheer # 1 - Since 2002, the band has used the song "Look Down" from the musical Les Misérables as the main defense cheer. This arrangement was taken from the 1996 "Les Miserables" Halftime Show. The band currently has six defense cheers.
  • The band also plays upon occasion You Can Call Me Al, the theme from the TV show The A-Team and My Home's in Alabama from the country group, Alabama.

Notable Halftime Shows[edit]

  • Southern Gospel Show - [1989?, 1993, 1997] The band debuted "Amazing Grace" - one of the MDB's signature songs.
  • Les Misérables Show - [1996, 2001] The band performed songs from "Les Misérables" musical. The band current defense cheer "Look Down" was first played in this show. The halftime show made use of fireworks and artillery fire cannons during the performance.
  • Phantom of the Opera Show - [198x, 1997] The band performed songs from the "Phantom of the Opera" musical. During the show the band made use of a gigantic "Phantom Mask" tarp.

Band Recordings[edit]

  • Million Dollar Band LP - [1986?]
  • Million Dollar Band CD - [1993] The band's first professional produced CD.
  • Million Dollar Band CD - [1998]
  • Million Dollar Band CD - [2002] Tribute CD to Kathryn Scott's career as director of the MDB.

Appearances[edit]

The MDB performs side-by-side with the Clemson marching band prior to the 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff.

Gene Stalling Years 1990-1996

Mike Dubose Years (1997-2000)

Dennis Franchione Years 2001-02

  • 2001 Independence Bowl - Shreveport, LA - December 2001
  • 2001 Knights of Revelry (KOR) Mardi Gras Parade - Mobile, AL - February 2001

Mike Shula Years 2003-06

  • 2003 Bob Riley Governor Inaugural Parade - Montgomery, AL - January 2003
  • 2004 Music City Bowl - Nashville, TN - December 2004
  • 2005 ESPN "Cold Pizza" on the UA Quad - Tuscaloosa, AL - November 2005

Saban years (2007–Present)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Million Dollar Band". RollTide.com. The University of Alabama. 2002-06-07. Retrieved 2017-12-21. 
  2. ^ Eaton, Kim (2012-09-20). "University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band celebrates 100 years". The Tuscaloosa News. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2017-12-22. 
  3. ^ Pow, Chris (2012-09-20). "UA's Million Dollar Band marks 100 years of tradition this weekend". AL.com. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved 2017-12-22. 
  4. ^ Catalogue of the University of Alabama for the College Year 1913–14 and Announcements for 1914–15. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama. April 1914. p. 85. OCLC 18144112. 
  5. ^ "Yea, Alabama!". College of Arts & Sciences. The University of Alabama. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2017-12-22. 
  6. ^ Clem Gryska (2007-10-01). Tradition: Million Dollar Band. CBS Sports. Event occurs at 01:14. We played well, very fortunate. And our band was just terrific. They helped us win the ball game. 
  7. ^ "Dr. Kenneth Ozzello". University of Alabama. 2010-12-26. 
  8. ^ "Students Miss "Basket Case"". November 17, 2006. [permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Song Returns to Fourth Quarter". November 8, 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. 

External links[edit]

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