The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”

Unit photo

Biography

The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” has been the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army since 1922. Army Chief of Staff General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing founded the band, emulating European military bands he had heard during the First World War. “Pershing’s Own” continues to play an important role in events of national and international significance, and leads every inaugural parade, a tradition begun in 1925 with the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge.

The U.S. Army Band became widely known during its early years for radio broadcasts featured on several networks. During World War II, the band was ordered overseas and performed throughout North Africa and Europe, becoming at that time the only Washington-based band to participate in a theater of war. Over the years, the band has expanded in scope and diversity, consisting of over 270 personnel and eight official ensembles: The U.S. Army Concert Band, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, The U.S. Army Strings, The U.S. Army Blues (jazz ensemble), The U.S. Army Chorus, The U.S. Army Band Downrange (rock band), The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, and The U.S. Army Brass Quintet. Elements combine to create an orchestra, a woodwind quintet, a contemporary music ensemble, and myriad small chamber ensembles and combos.

Today the musicians of “Pershing’s Own” render musical honors on a regular basis for foreign dignitaries, heads of state, diplomats, and high-ranking military officers. The unit was honored to participate in the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan in 2004 and former President Gerald R. Ford in 2006. Ensembles have performed across the country in such notable venues as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Each December since 2001, members of “Pershing’s Own” have traveled overseas with the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Hope and Freedom tour, providing entertainment for Soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The U.S. Army Band plays a vital role in music education, often serving as the featured group at prominent music conferences and conventions throughout the nation and abroad. Elements of the organization regularly provide musical outreach to schools in the Washington, DC, area.

Ensembles of The U.S. Army Band perform outdoor concerts during the summer months on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol and around the Washington area. Throughout May and June, “Pershing’s Own” and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) also present “Twilight Tattoo,” a military pageant that tells the history of the U.S. Army. During the cooler months, concerts and recitals are presented in local, indoor venues and inside Brucker Hall, The U.S. Army Band’s home, located on historic Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia.

Updated Tuesday, June 21, 2011 1:38 PM | The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Unit Bio - 6/21/11