The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) celebrated its Centennial in 2022. In August of that year, I became only the 12th person to serve as the band’s Leader and Commander in that 100-year history. The experience of standing in front of some of the best musicians in the world has me constantly pinching myself. The journey that led me to this amazing experience was over 45 years in the making.
In 1979, I signed up to play drums in a middle school band. Despite humble beginnings, being outfitted with only a pair of drumsticks and a practice pad (and eventually a beat-up old snare drum I purchased for $10 after saving up my weekly 50-cent allowance for doing household chores), my passion was sparked, and I dove headlong into all things music. By the time I graduated high school, I had worked my way up to Drum Captain in the marching band, dabbled in arranging and composition, made 1st chair in the Symphonic Band, and played in the Florida All-State Band as Timpanist. I decided to pursue a career as a band director and went on to major in Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where I met and married my wife of 39 years (and counting).
When I was just starting out as a band director, I never could have dreamed where life would eventually take me. My first day on the job, I was met with the reality of having only 23 students enrolled in high school band and being the sole member of the band “staff.” I traveled throughout the day to four feeder schools spread across the county, scraping together as many beginners as I could to sustain the program. I continued to teach in the Mississippi public schools for five years. During my last year, I became the solitary music teacher, taking on the role of teaching chorus in addition to band.
Despite the challenges, teaching music was a rewarding experience for me but then my life took a drastic turn. I was bitten by the bug of pursuing a performance career after being inspired by The U.S. Army Field Band, then commanded by Colonel Jack Grogan. In 1993, I took an enormous leap of faith and enlisted as a percussionist in the Army.
Never one to be content unless I was moving forward, professional “wanderlust” struck again after I spent a few years in the percussion section. I desired to take on a more active leadership role in the Army and auditioned as a conductor. Following a successful conducting audition, I attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1996.
I’ve served in a wide variety of exciting band assignments over the past 32 years, including serving as the Deputy Commander of The Army Field Band (coming full circle in a sense from my original inspiration to enlist). I’ve commanded the U.S. Army Europe Band in Germany, run the Army’s School of Music, and was named as the Chief of Army Bands in 2021, responsible for the entire Army Band program world-wide.
My career as an Army musician has been a fantastic odyssey. Being a bit of a thrill seeker at heart, I also sought opportunities outside of music, such as rappelling out of Blackhawk helicopters and attending Airborne training at the Army’s “jump school” to earn a parachutist badge.
Being in the Army allowed my family to experience many cultures, living in Europe twice, traveling to 36 different countries around the world, and 46 States in the U.S. including Hawaii and Alaska. Some of the more notable locations I’ve performed at include the Heidelberg castle in Germany, the royal palace in Vienna, Bran (“Dracula”) castle in Transylvania/Romania, the opera house in Prague where Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” premiered, on Omaha Beach for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, and the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
I’ve had the privilege of performing at events for every U.S. President since Ronald Reagan, including two inaugurations. Since assuming duties at Pershing’s Own, I’ve led musicians at The White House on numerous occasions, often standing mere steps from the Commander-in-Chief.
In January, I had the honor of leading the band in the funeral procession for Jimmy Carter. Paying respects to this former President was especially meaningful for me personally because, before my father passed away, he spent his free time in retirement volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
As I reflect on my experiences during the last three decades, I’m truly grateful for the opportunities the Army has provided. The fulfillment I’ve gotten out of contributing my passion for music in service to the Nation goes beyond what words can adequately describe. I’ve been able to develop myself as both a musician and a leader in the Army. The slogan “Be All You Can Be” may seem cliché to some, but I’m living proof you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Induction into the American Bandmasters Association has been another thrill in my professional life. Enjoying friendships with the most accomplished band conductors and composers in the country is a special thrill.
AmericanBandmasters.org
