The History of HBCU Marching Band

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The history of marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can be traced back to the late 19th century. The earliest HBCU bands were informal groups that played for religious services and military drills. By the early 20th century, these bands began to combine military band styles with popular music. The modern HBCU marching band style originated in the 1940s in the American South, blending these traditions with a repertoire based on popular songs.*