The Aristocrat of Bands Since 1979, Graves has continued to build the band’s legacy. The Aristocrat of Bands has shared its characteristic precision and distinctly soulful style with people throughout the country and in foreign lands. Students who achieve membership in the Aristocrat of Bands adhere to those standards today. Noted as one of the finest and most spectacular university bands in the United States, the Aristocrats are the featured attraction during pregame and half-time performances at all home games and at most out-of-town competitions. Still in demand for halftime performances, parades and other special events, the band’s recent special appearances include a spot in the 2000 CBS Thanksgiving Day parade, performing with country music artists Big & Rich for the 2005 CMT Music Awards, the Nashville Symphony’s 2006 presentation of Porgy and Bess, and halftime performances for Tennessee Titans games. In January of 1993, the Aristocrat of Bands participated in the presidential inaugural parade for President Bill Clinton, marching in the streets of Washington, D.C. The band returned to Washington four years later for President Clinton’s second inauguration celebration. This year, the tradition will continue. Audiences will be thoroughly entertained by the band’s unique marching style and musical versatility. Graves is assisted by assistant band directors Reginald McDonald, James Sexton, and Sean Daniels, majorette coordinator Judy Fenton- Gentry, office manager Michelle Allen, secretary Melva Tate, announcer Ernie Allen, media specialist Cass Teague and instrument repair technician James Pitts.
NATIONALLY TELEVISED PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HALF-TIME SHOWS PERFORMED BY THE T.S.U. BAND 1955-NBC: Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams in Chicago 1956-CBS: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants in Cleveland 1960-CBS/NBC: Baltimore Colts vs. Green Bay Packers in Baltimore 1963-NBC: NFL Championship Game - Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants in Chicago 1968-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders in Cincinnati 1969-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets in Cincinnati 1970-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1971-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1973-CBS: Atlanta Falcons vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Atlanta 1978-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots in Cincinnati 1993-NBC: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati 1998-CBS: Tennessee Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville 2000-CBS: Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants in Nashville 2001-ESPN: Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins in Nashville 2002-FOX: Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Redskins in Nashville
PROFESSOR EDWARD L. GRAVES BAND DIRECTOR
CHRONICLE OF PERFORMANCES 1955: First HBCU band to appear on national television. 1961: First HBCU band to march in a presidential inaugural parade. 1961: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of John F. Kennedy. 1981: Appeared in the CBS television movie The Concrete Cowboy. 1982: Appeared in a Hello Nashville Commercial for NBC affiliate WSMV. 1982: Featured ensemble at the College Band Directors’ National Association Regional Conference in Nashville. 1983: Featured ensemble at the College Band Directors’ National Association national meet-
ing in Atlanta, Ga. 1983: Voted Outstanding Band at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music First Invitational Jazz Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. 1983: Featured in WSMV Nashville Channel 4 News Special Report 1984: Mirage Bowl Football Game, Tokyo, Japan. 1984: Featured ensemble at the Music Educators’ National Conference, national meeting in Chicago, Ill. 1984: Voted Most Outstanding Band in the Memphis State University Invitational Jazz Festival. 1984: Invited to tour Nigeria by the United States Information Agency. 1985: Performed in concert with legendary jazz artist, Dizzy Gillespie at TSU. 1985: Performed at the All-American College Jazz Festival at Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla. 1992: Featured at the Memphis In May Tattoo Festival 1993: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of Bill Clinton. 1993: Appeared on CBS television The Morning Show from Washington, D.C. 1993: Appeared on Good Morning Memphis, Memphis, Tenn. 1993: Featured in WSMV Nashville Channel 4 News Special Report 1994: Public television special “Rain Doesn’t Fall on the Aristocrat of Bands” 1996: Appeared in Marty Stuart music video Magic Town 1997: Performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade of Bill Clinton. 1997: Appeared on ABC television Good Morning America 1997: Featured in Nashville News Channel 5 Special Report 2000: Performed for the CBS All American Happy Thanksgiving Day Parade. 2002: Featured performer at the 58th National Biennial In-Service Conference of the Music Educators National Conference in Nashville, Tenn. 2003: Selected to represent Tennessee at the American Celebration of Music in China. 2003: Invited as one of ten bands to perform at the Inaugural Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Ga. 2003: Named official spirit band of the NFL Tennessee Titans. 2004: Invited to perform and named top vote getter at the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Ga. 2005: Invited as one of ten bands to perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta. 2005: Performed with country music artists Big and Rich on the CMT Music Awards. 2006: Performed with the Nashville Symphony in Porgy & Bess. 2006: Featured performer at the 2nd HBCU National Band Directors Consortium Convention in Atlanta. 2006: Appeared on ABC television Good Morning America. 2007: Invited to perform at the North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison, Texas.
2009 Tennessee State University Football Media Guide
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