History of the Parris Island Marine Band

ON 28 OCTOBER 1915, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED MARINE CORPS RECRUIT TRAINING TO PARRIS ISLAND. AMONG THE FIRST 750 MARINES SENT TO PARRIS ISLAND WERE THE DEPOT’S FIRST BANDMASTER, DRUM MAJOR, AND A GROUP OF MUSICIANS, FROM WHICH THE PARRIS ISLAND MARINE BAND WAS FORMED. THE MUSICIANS ALSO DOUBLED AS MARKSMANSHIP INSTRUCTORS, CLOSE COMBAT INSTRUCTORS, AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS UNITS ABOARD THE DEPOT. A FIELD MUSIC SCHOOL WAS ALSO ESTABLISHED TO TRAIN MARINE MUSICIANS PRIOR TO THEIR ASSIGNMENT TO INDIVIDUAL BANDS THROUGHOUT THE FLEET.

TODAY, THE PARRIS ISLAND MARINE BAND IS ONE OF THE PREMIER MILITARY BANDS IN AMERICA; IT CONSISTS OF 50 MEMBERS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE BAND OFFICER, WO GENOVESE. THE BAND TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING MUSIC FOR MILITARY CEREMONIES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS EVENTS, RECRUITING PROGRAMS, AND OTHER OFFICIAL EVENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PERFORM AS SEVERAL SPECIALTY ENSEMBLES, SUCH AS CEREMONIAL BAND, CONCERT BAND, JAZZ ENSEMBLE, SHOW BAND, AND BRASS QUINTET, TO NAME A FEW.

WHILE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SKILLS, THESE BAND MEMBERS ARE ABOVE ALL ELSE, MARINES, AND MUST REMAIN CAPABLE OF ASSUMING THE TASK COMMON TO ALL MARINES, THOSE OF A BASIC MARINE RIFLEMAN. THE BAND’S HERITAGE DATES BACK TO THE WHISTLING FIFES AND ROLLING DRUMS OF THE FIRST MARINES’ MUSIC BACK IN 1775, AND UPHOLDS THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE .