Texas Tech University Goin' Band from Raiderland
| Goin' Band from Raiderland | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| School | Texas Tech University |
| Location | Lubbock, Texas |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Director | Duane Hill, Dr. Eric Allen |
| Members | 450 |
| Fight song | "Fight, Raiders, Fight" |
| Uniform | |
| Matador style | |
The Goin' Band from Raiderland is the 450-member marching band of Texas Tech University.
The Goin' Band from Raiderland, originally known as The Matador Band, is nearly as old as Texas Tech itself. Under the direction of W. Waghorne, it performed at the opening football game in October 1925, fielding between 21 and 25 members.
In 1926, Harry Lemaire (1862–1963) was appointed director of the marching band. Following his service in the British Army, Lemaire had been bandmaster under Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish–American War and was a friend and colleague of John Philip Sousa. Under his leadership, the band earned its name when it became the first college band to travel to an away game. Also during Lemaire's tenure, the band became the first one to have its half-time show broadcast over the radio.
American humorist Will Rogers once aided in financing a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, so the band could perform at a game against the TCU Horned Frogs, becoming the first band to travel to an away game. He also helped purchase new uniforms.
In 1934, Dewey O. "Prof" Wiley (1898–1980) became director and expanded the band from sixty members to more than two hundred over the next few years.
In 1938 Texas Tech became the first university in Texas to house a chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Kappa Kappa Psi's "sister" organization, Tau Beta Sigma, originated at Texas Tech in 1937. However, due to legal complications, the sorority could not apply for a national charter. The Alpha chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was given to the band club at Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University), with Texas Tech accepting the Beta chapter.
Dean Killion (1926–1997) came to the Goin' Band in 1959. As his predecessor had done, Killion generated another expansion, this time doubling the ranks to over four hundred members.
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