Purdue 'All-American' Marching Band celebrates 97 years at track

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will mark the 97th anniversary of its participation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. More than 250 members of the band will take center stage May 29 for opening ceremonies at the 100th running of the Indy 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

"We look forward to celebrating this year's historic running of the Indy 500. The race has provided tremendous opportunities over the years. Band members have always cherished the memories. It is an extraordinary honor to share in the history," said Jay Gephart, director of bands.

On race day, the band will be the headliner in the traditional Parade of Bands that begins at 8 a.m. at the track. Each year, Purdue invites bands across the Midwest to participate. This year 16 high school bands from the states of Indiana, Washington and Florida will be joining Purdue. As it has done for many years, the Purdue band will play "On the Banks of the Wabash" and perform for the race day crowd prior to the start time.

The marching band's first director, Paul Spotts Emrick, forged the initial relationship with race organizers in 1919, the race's ninth year of existence. Always interested in promoting his band and Purdue, Emrick leapt at the chance to be associated with the young race that was quickly establishing an international reputation. At that time the band was a military unit of men enrolled in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

Purdue's band will again be featured in the IPL 500 Festival Parade at noon May 28, which begins at North and Pennsylvania and winds its way through downtown Indianapolis. The 500 Festival Parade was added to the race month activities in 1957 and the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band has appeared in every parade since then. 

News service contact: John Hughey, 765-494-2432, hugheyj@purdue.edu

Source: Courtney Downey, bands, 765-496-3288, cndowney@purdue.edu 

Note to Journalists: The band's on-campus rehearsal is 3:30 p.m. Friday (April 29) outside Elliott Hall of Music. For interviews and b-roll, please email Courtney Downey, cndowney@purdue.edu