Purdue News

May 27, 1999 80 years at the track: Bands celebrate with sound WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- This Memorial Day weekend marks the 80th anniversary of the Purdue "All American" Marching Band's relationship with the Indy 500. As the host band for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Purdue's Marching Band has been a part of pre-race festivities since 1919 and a mainstay in the 500 Festival Parade since it began in 1957. This year's 500 Festival Parade starts at noon Saturday (5/ 29) with the theme "Victory Gardens: Celebrating 20th Century Heroes." The parade salutes Medal of Honor recipients, and many medal holders will attend as the parade's grand marshals. Purdue's Marching Band, with more than 250 members, will promote the theme with a piece called "March America" and a medley of the military service songs. The parade, which, like the famed race track, is 2 1/2 miles long, begins at the intersection of North and Pennsylvania streets in Indianapolis and ends at 16th Street near the track. On race day, Sunday (5/30), the Parade of Bands around the oval will get under way at 8 a.m. It will include high school marching bands from throughout the state and will culminate with a special show on the track by the "All-American" Marching Band during the opening ceremonies. The Purdue Marching Band will kick off the pre-race ceremonies at approximately 9:45 a.m. by playing "On the Banks of the Wabash." Then the 500 Radio Network's theme song, "The 500," will be conducted by former Purdue Marching Bands Director Bill Moffit. He was commissioned by the network to compose this special arrangement. The ceremonies also will include the band's annual performances of "Back Home Again in Indiana" with Jim Nabors, "The Star Spangled Banner" with CeCe Winans, and "America the Beautiful" with Florence Henderson, immediately before the race begins. Purdue's bands department is more than 113 years old. It is in the midst of a $2 million fund-raising campaign that will run through Homecoming 1999 with a goal of $400,000 for band scholarships, $800,000 for new instruments, and $800,000 to support student travel opportunities. Source: David Leppla, Purdue Marching Bands director, (765) 494-0770; dlepp@omni.cc.purdue.edu Writer: Jeanine Smith, (765) 496-3133; jeanine_smith@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page