The Auburn Knights Orchestra

The Auburn Knights Orchestra is a jazz and swing big band based out of Auburn, Alabama, home to Auburn University, and is thought to be one of the oldest big band organizations in the world. Formed in 1930 at what was then known as API (Alabama Polytechnic Institute), the band organized to play for dances and other musical events throughout the school year. During summers the band members would take the show on tour, playing swing music at many clubs and beach resorts throughout the Southeast. Members began to use their earnings to pay for college expenses, while gaining experience playing alongside jazz legends of the era such as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, and Buddy Rich.

"The Auburn Knights" actually refers to two separate but closely related organizations. The Auburn Knights Orchestra, Inc., otherwise known by alumni of the group as "the Current Band," is the working group of around eighteen musicians, typically college students, who rehearse regularly and play gigs throughout the year. The Auburn Knights Alumni Association, Inc. (AKAA) is a non-profit entity with over 400 members, primarily former members of the band, which raises scholarship money for current band members, supports the Current Band in its efforts, and organizes an annual reunion and concert.

During the school year of 1929-1930 there was no organized swing group on the API campus. A number of attempts were made to get one together, but the aggregations were of marginal quality which resulted in the popularity of campus bands reaching an all-time low. It was in this atmosphere of repugnance toward previous student music groups that the Auburn Knights Orchestra was organized at the beginning of school in September 1930. It was then that a number of student musicians agreed an acceptable band could be built if the best available people were invited to join and were willing to work hard for at least a semester without recognition. At the first organizational meeting all invited were present and history was made as Jimmie Robbins was elected leader, and J.R. Quinlivan was elected business manager.

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