Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band is the official marching band of Texas A&M University. Composed of over 400 men and women from the school's Corps of Cadets, it is the largest military marching band in the United States. The band's complex military marching maneuvers are performed exclusively to traditional marches; and they are the only major college to still have a military marching band as opposed to the more common HBCU, Drum Corps, and “show band” styles.
The Aggie Band was founded in 1894 by Joseph Holick, who, after being recruited as a cobbler at the then Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, began playing Reveille and Taps for cadet functions. With the commandant’s blessing, Holick became the first bandmaster and formed a cadet band that grew from its original 13 members in 1894 to 75 by 1924. The band’s fierce reputation originated from an unusual tradition in which early drum majors were selected through physical combat; the moniker "Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band" was coined by cadets in recognition of this aggressiveness.
Richard J. Dunn was selected as the band director in 1924 and transformed them into the nationally recognized military-style marching band it is today. Dunn introduced precision drills, the iconic “Block T” formation, and new musical traditions such as The Spirit of Aggieland. Later directors further expanded its size, repertoire, and reputation, with the band performing at high-profile events including presidential inaugurations, major parades, and the dedication of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. By the late 20th century, the Aggie Band had become a central symbol of Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets.
Since its inception, its members of the band eat together, sleep in the same dormitories, and practice up to forty hours per week on top of a full academic schedule. The Aggie Band performs at all home football games, some away games, and university and Corps functions throughout the year. The band has also participated in inauguration parades for many United States presidents and Texas governors, major annual parades across the country, and the dedication ceremony for the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library.
History
The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band was founded in 1894 by Joseph Holick, a Czech-born bootmaker and bugler at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Holick began playing Reveille and Taps for campus events and, with the commandant's blessing, formed a cadet band that grew from its original 13 members to 75 by 1924. Holick served as the first bandmaster and was instrumental in establishing the band's early traditions. He was also known for crafting the highly prized senior boots worn by cadets. Holick's contributions laid the foundation for what would become one of the nation's most respected collegiate military bands.In 1924, Colonel Richard J. Dunn, a former clarinetist in John Philip Sousa’s U.S. Marine Band, became the band's director. Dunn introduced precision military drills and formalized musical selections, including “The Spirit of Aggieland,” which became central to Aggie tradition. Under his leadership, the band adopted more professional rehearsal standards and expanded its influence throughout the Southwest Conference. Dunn's tenure was marked by a commitment to excellence and a focus on discipline and precision. His contributions significantly shaped the band's identity and reputation. During World War II, the Aggie Band was divided into Infantry and Artillery units to align with wartime Corps reorganization. Membership peaked at nearly 250 during the early war years, but many cadets were drafted before graduation, reducing the group’s size. Even with diminished numbers, the band performed at campus reviews, war bond rallies, and military ceremonies, reinforcing its role as a patriotic emblem during a time of national mobilization. The band's adaptability and resilience during this period demonstrated its commitment to tradition and service.
After the war, Colonel E.V. Adams, an alumnus from the class of 1929, became director in 1946. Under Adams, the band introduced its most famous maneuver, the Four-Way Cross, in 1947. Drill-charting software of the era deemed the formation impossible due to potential collisions, but the Aggie Band executed it flawlessly, cementing its reputation for unmatched precision. Adams also worked to expand rehearsal facilities and initiated the creation of the Aggie Band Association in 1967 to support alumni engagement. His leadership was characterized by a focus on excellence and a deep commitment to the traditions of the Aggie Band. The postwar period also brought wider cultural recognition. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Aggie Band performed at presidential inaugurations, nationally broadcast football games, and state ceremonies. A 1966 New York Times feature described Texas A&M as “an institution where traditions, exemplified by the military band, overshadow the modern university’s impulses toward change,” underscoring how the ensemble shaped outside perceptions of Aggieland. This period marked the Aggie Band's emergence as a national symbol of collegiate excellence and military tradition.
When Adams retired in 1973, Lt. Col. Joe T. Haney took over and further modernized the program. He established new musical groups including a symphonic band and orchestra, diversified halftime shows to incorporate musical-only segments, and admitted women following a federal court decision in 1985. That integration, initially controversial, quickly became normalized as female cadets earned leadership positions in the band and Corps of Cadets. Haney's tenure marked a period of significant transformation and growth for the Aggie Band. Haney’s tenure also brought moments of national attention. In 1981, the band collided during a halftime drill at Rice University, forcing the performance to halt. The following week, however, the Aggie Band executed a flawless show that drew praise in the Bryan-College Station Eagle, which remarked that A&M was “the only school that throws in a free football game with its performance.” Haney's leadership during this period was instrumental in navigating challenges and maintaining the band's high standards.
From 1989 to 2001, Col. Ray Toler expanded public engagement through televised specials and national appearances. In 2001, the Aggie Band received the Louis Sudler Trophy for collegiate marching bands, recognizing sustained excellence in both music and precision marching. That same year, they marched in the inaugural parade of President George W. Bush, an A&M alumnus, bringing the band into national political and cultural spotlight. Toler's leadership was marked by efforts to enhance the band's visibility and prestige on the national stage.
Since 2002, Dr. Timothy Rhea has directed the Aggie Band, overseeing its move into the Music Activities Center in 2019, a state-of-the-art rehearsal and performance facility. Under his leadership, the band has emphasized publishing arrangements, expanding international visibility, and maintaining its reputation for intricate military-style drills at home football games. Texas A&M remains the only military-style marching band among Division 1 schools. In December 2018, national media spotlighted the band as it performed “Hail to the Chief” and the “Aggie War Hymn” for President George H. W. Bush’s funeral procession at Texas A&M, an event broadcast worldwide.
Cadet life
The Aggie Band is unique among college bands; no other band eats and lives together as a military unit, even at the Service Academies and military colleges. Bandsmen wear their cadet uniforms to class, drill, meetings, and other functions on campus. As a requested component of football away games, they perform at more football games than any other band. As of 1993, the band performed at 125 of the last 131 football games, including a streak of 42 straight from 1981 to 1984. Demand is extremely high for the band and one person, upon finding out the Aggie Band would not be performing at the local football game versus A&M, returned and requested a refund for 40 tickets.The Aggie Band performs a new show each week during the football season and does not generally repeat drills from week to week. During the fall semester, the Aggie Band practices for 90 minutes every weekday morning and on Saturdays every week with a football game. In addition, some components of the band also practice on Sunday afternoons and planning of the drills takes place throughout the fall semester. All told, drills can take eight to nine hours per week on top of a full academic schedule and Corps/ROTC activities.
All seniors in the Corps of Cadets wear distinctive cavalry riding boots with their uniforms. These boots usually cost more than $1,800 and are generally made at Holick's, formerly owned by the family of Joseph Holick, the first band director.
Organization
The members of the band are called BQs and, since the band's inception, are part of the Corps of Cadets. The Aggie Band is a major unit in the Corps, comparable in size to a brigade or wing. Unique among Corps units, however, the band is divided into two battalions of three "outfits" each, the Infantry Band and the Artillery Band. All BQs are assigned to one of the six outfits. Each battalion is commanded by a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and has its own command staff; each outfit is commanded by a Cadet Major. Outfits are further divided into platoons, squads, and fire teams, led by a Cadet Captain, Cadet Staff Sergeant, and Cadet Corporal, respectively. Due to its status as a Senior Military College, all cadets are required to take ROTC classes at least their first two years, though follow-on military service is not required.From 1948, the Maroon and White Bands functioned as single outfits, with the band as a whole functioning as an independent battalion. When the Infantry and Artillery Bands were reestablished in 1976, they were divided into two outfits each: A-Company and B-Company in the Infantry Band, and A-Battery and B-Battery in the Artillery Band. C-Company and C-Battery existed briefly from 1983 to 1984, then were permanently reactivated in 2013.