The Sixties
1960
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager P. Johnson '61, Drill Master
R. Haedrich '61, Student Conductor P. Cobb AM '62, Drum Major
S. Barnes '62. James Walker assumes direction of Band; his
Midwestern background becomes a mine for humorous show material.
Dean's office forbids presence of women on overnight Band trips.
Communist guerrillas from North Vietnam launch attacks on the South.
Concert band operates with restricted membership, inaugurates concert
series at Boston Latin School (without headmaster in audience) and
concerts in Concord and Barnstable. Spring tour features bone-jarring
ride to Milwaukee and Chicago. Sanders Spring Concert highlights include
Prokofiev, Hanson, Hovhaness, Williams, Holst, and Berlioz.
1961
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager B. Shirk '62, Drill Master M.
Marmor '62, Student Conductor P. Cobb AM '62, Drum Major S. Barnes
'62. First annual Columbia riot takes place when overzealous HUB
prop crew destroys Columbia's mock drum. Band forming bunny
appears in Playboy; New York Times features "male"
and "female" symbols formed by the Band. New soda machine in the
Band Room dispenses beer. Band truck bites the dust and is sold for
a pittance. Band records "Salute to the Ivy." Wind Ensemble is
organized. The Berlin Wall is constructed. Band threatens to boycott
Commencement activities. Band uniform changes to dark pants, much
to the consternation of returning alumni.
1962
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager E. Alpers '63, Drill Master
S. Saltonstall '63, Student Conductor P. Farrow '64, Drum Major A.
Salvo '64. Harvard Athletic Association underwrites cost of truck,
police escort, and free "date" tickets for all home games. Band
gets itself arrested again at yale, but this time, bandsmen bring
bail money with them. Kennedy faces Cuban Missile Crisis. Separate
Wind Ensemble concerts begin. Concert Band plays at Thayer Academy,
Lexington, New Hampton, and Wayland.
1963
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager E. Flitton '64, Drill Master
D. Ward '64, Student Conductor P. Farrow '64, Drum Major R. Rosen '65.
Heads of Bass Drum shrink off for tenth time, forcing Band to
acquire plastic heads. Band travels to New York Harvard Club by
train before the yale game; word of Kennedy's assassination filters
through the train. Show was to have been on political troubles of
a "Son of Harvard." Somber yale game is held one week late; Band
plays Trauersinfonie by Wagner.
1964
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager B. Herr '65, Drill Master T.
Whyatt '65, Student Conductor D. Solosko '65, Drum Major R. Rosen
'65. 45th reunion deluges Band with alumni. Band installs large
instrument cabinets. Athletic Department agrees to pay for meals
and lodging on away trips. Band plays Carnegie Hall with
Columbia band, premiers Copland's "Emblems" for the East Coast.
HUB Foundation formed, with Leroy Anderson as first president.
Warren Report says Oswald acted in Kennedy's assassination.
1965
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager C. Case '66, Drill Master
D. Adcock '66, Student Conductor J. Gerdes '66, Drum Major L.
Grenzeback '68. Watts erupts in race riots. Band shifts to
social commentary and avant garde wit at football games (from
medleys and original musical material). Band is invited to play
in two performances at Boston's "Winterfest" in New War Memorial
Auditorium. Spring Tour takes Band through Northeast to Washington,
D.C., and Cleveland. University agrees to "hire" Band for commencement
week.
1966
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager L. Nadler '67, Drill Master
H. Quigley '67, Student Conductor N. Miller '67. Drum Major L.
Grenzeback '68. Last-minute cancellation of Cornell band results
in fifteen minute halftime Sousa show (loyal fans expecting the best
-- or worse -- react obstreperously to the sight of the Band merely
playing -- no naughties). U.S. maintains heavy bombing of North
Vietnam. Concert Band "comes of age," cuts its teeth on Hindemith's
Symphony in B Flat, and Kurt Weill's Three Penny Opera.
1967
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager J. Finley '68, Drill
Master G. Sellon '68, Student Conductor D. Grimes '69, Drum Major
L. Grenzeback '68. Concert Band and Wind Ensemble inaugurate Sanders
Concert Series, perform Theme and Variations by Schoenberg
and Tunbridge Fair by Piston. First Super Bowl is won by
Green Bay.
1968
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager R. Whittemore '69, Drill
Master D. Tuckwiller '70, Student Conductor D. Tuckwiller '70 and
D. Archibald '70, Drum Major R. Cole '70. Playboy prints
Band's Princeton show in full, with caption, "Wish we'd been there!"
Wind Ensemble plays all Stravinsky pieces in Paine Hall Series, with
Sigurd Rascher soloing. Concert Band Spring Sanders Concert "struck
out" by general student strike. "Concert for Winds" album issued.
Band members fly in from all parts of the country (after leaving
for summer) to perform at final graveside services for Robert
Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
1969
Director James Walker AMT '63, Manager T. Feige '70, Drill Master
M. Silver '70, Student Conductors D. Archibald '70 and J. Posner '71,
Drum Major R. Cole '70. Band celebrates 50th reunion. General public
celebrates Woodstock and the moon landing. During football season,
Mickey Mouse jumps out of tuba. Formations include "HAND" goes to
"JOB" as Band plays "Come Together." Schneider's Band is broken up
by police in Chatham during solar eclipse. Band plays at the Varsity
Drag handicap at Suffolk Downs.
