History of the Machine

At first, music was not offered as a course of study at the college, but from the very outset music was an essential part of the ongoing activities of the college. In 1909, Mr. Charles E. Steward was brought to the college as director of music. It was he who wrote the music to the College Alma Mater. Music soon became a requirement of all departments. It consisted mostly of "choral and unison singing" and band instruction. Mr. W.E. Lew came on as director of music in 1916. During this time the music program grew and flourished. 

The North Carolina A&T State University band program was started in 1918 with about a 50-piece band. During then, the band was the backbone of the music department. By the 1930s, the band was offered as an extracurricular activity. During this time, A&T was the only black college in North Carolina with a band. But when the 1960s rolled around, the administration changed and the music department was combined with other divisions besides the band. Since then the size of the band has increased to numbers as large as 210 members.

After 1946, the marching band was patterned by the University of Michigan and Ohio State University band programs. Mr. Carson, the band director at that time, brought in the idea of dancing during a field show performance. During the early 1950s, A&T’s marching band’s major competition was the “Rattlers” of Florida A&M. As years went by, the band went through hard times because of the lack of funds but still performed with great execution. In the mid-1960s the band introduced the majorettes and flag girls who promoted the band to another plateau. There were several major performances in the 1970s including the Silver Dome in Pontiac, Michigan and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a change in leadership. Mr. Jimmy Williams and Dr. Johnny B. Hodge Jr. became the directors and the name “Blue and Gold Marching Machine” was born. The symphonic band was also started during this time. Dr. Johnny B. Hodge Jr. served as director of bands spanning four decades. Upon his retirement, current director Dr. Kenneth Ruff took the reins in 2003 and fuses tradition with the Aggie legacy of excellence.

Music Program and Band Directors

1946: Barnard Lee Mason, listed under faculty simply for music, band director

1947: Coleridge A. Braithwaite, music; Walter F. Carlson, band director

1950: Coleridge A. Braithwaite, Verdell L. Vinson and Walter F. Carlson Jr., music department

1951: Walter F. Carlson, band director; C.A. Braithwaite and Howard T. Pearsall, choir directors

1952: Howard T. Pearsall, music department chair; Walter F. Carlson, symphony and college band director; Mr. W. Penn, assistant band director

1953: Howard T. Pearsall, choir director; Walter F. Carlson, college band director; Mr. W. Penn, assistant band director

1954: Walter F. Carlson, band director; Mr. W.J. Penn and Miss Yvonne Porter, assistant band directors; Howard Pearsall, choir director

1955: W.F. Carlson, band director; W.J. Penn and T.H. Johnson, assistant band directors; Howard T. Pearsall, choir director

1956: Walter F. Carlson, band director; Richard H. Jones, assistant band director; Howard Pearsall, choir director

1957: Walter F. Carlson, band director; Richard H. L. Jones, assistant band director; Howard T. Pearsall, choir director and music department chair

1958: Walter F. Carlson, band director; Howard T. Pearsall, choir director (nine years)

1959: Walter F. Carlson, symphony and marching band director; Hosea Taylor, assistant director; Howard T. Pearsall, choir director

1960: Walter F. Carlson, marching and concert bands director; Hosea Taylor, assistant director

1961: Walter F. Carlson, marching and concert bands director; Jimmie J. Williams, assistant director; Howard T. Pearsall, choirs director and chair

1962: Walter F. Carlson, bands director; Patricia Johnson Trice, choirs director; Howard T. Pearsall on study leave

1964: Walter F. Carlson Jr., bands director; J.J. Williams, assistant director

1965: Walter F. Carlson Jr., bands director; J.J. Williams, assistant director; Howard T. Pearsall, choirs director and music department chair

1966: Walter F. Carlson Jr., bands director; J.J. Williams, assistant director

1967: Walter F. Carlson Jr., bands director; J.J. Williams, assistant director; Howard T. Pearsall, choirs director and music department chair

1968: Walter F. Carlson Jr., bands director; J.J. Williams, assistant director; Howard T. Pearsall, choirs director and music department chair

1970: Walter F. Carlson and J.J. Williams, Marching Aggies directors; Howard T. Pearsal (sic), concert choir director.

1971: W.F. Carlson, Marching Aggies director; Dr. Howard Pearsall, university choir

1973: Walter Carlson, band director

1974: Jimmie J. Williams, music department chair; Marching Band “Under Direction of Johnny Hodge, Walter Carlson”

1977: Jimmie Williams, music department chair

1978: Walter Carlson pictured alongside Antonio Shoffner, Odell Shoffner and Thomas Peoples

1980: William McDaniel, music department chair

1982: Jimmy Williams, acting music department chair

1983: Dr. Clifford Watkins, music department chair

1984: Clifford Watkins, music chair

1985: Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Johnny Hodge and Jimmy Williams

1986: "The Marching A&T,” Dr. Johnny Hodge and Jimmy Williams

1987: Clifford Watkins, music department chair; Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Johnny Hodge and Jimmy Williams

1988: Clifford Watkins, music department chair

1989: Clifford Watkins, music department chair; Dr. Johnny Hodge, music department faculty

1990: Clifford Watkins, music department chair; Walter F. Carlson and Dr. William Smiley, music department faculty

1991: Clifford Watkins, music department chair; Dr. Johnny Hodge and Jimmy Williams, marching band directors

1992: Dr. Clifford Watkins, department chair; Dr. Johnny Hodge and Jimmy Williams, marching bands leadership

1993-1995: Dr. Clifford Watkins, department chair

2001-2003: Dr. Johnny B. Hodge, bands director; Dr. John Henry assistant bands director

2003-2005: Dr. Kenneth G. Ruff, bands director; Dr. John Henry, assistant bands director

2005-2013: Dr. Kenneth G. Ruff, bands director; Brian Milsap, assistant bands director

2009-present: Dr. John Henry, music department chair

2014-present: Dr. Kenneth G. Ruff, bands director; Thomas G. Warner Jr. and Dr. Lamon Lawhorn, assistant bands directors