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Songs
" FIGHT ON "
"ALL HAIL"
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The Trojan Marching Band
- known as "The Spirit of Troy" - is perhhaps the most dynamic and innovative
college band in the nation. Named among the eight best marching bands in
the country by USA Today, the band is one of the most visible public
relations tools of the University.
Established in 1880, the band has played for 10 presidents(including Ronald Reagan, just before his 1984 inauguration), and has appeared in five movies (including "Hello Dolly"), plus numerous commercials and television shows (including the 1978 Academy Awards). The band even recorded the title track of the rock group Fleetwood Mac's popular 1979 album, "Tusk", and has produced several records of its own music (featuring the well-known "Conquest" and "Fight On"). The band marches upwards of 80 miles a year while traveling across the land supporting almost every USC athletic team. A typical football halftime show by the band takes more than 4,000 work hours to prepare. The band also fequently appears at many professional sporting events throughout Southern California. Now 270-plus members strong, the Trojan Marching Band has tripled in size since Dr. Arthur C. Bartner became its director in 1969. A graduate of Michigan, Bartner brought with him a creative approach and the unique, contemporary "drive-it" style of marching. Nationally-renowned, Bartner directed the 800-member 1984 Olympic All-American College Marching Band (125 bandsmen were from USC) which played in the opening and closing ceremonies at the Games. Interestingly, it was the second time a Trojan musical group was involved with the Olympics, as the USC band formed the 10th Olympic Braid in the 1932 Los Angeles Games. Bartner was also director of bands for the Japan Bowl in Tokyo and directs the All-American College Marching Band at Disneyland. In the summer of 1986, he and 40 band members were part of the ceremonies of Liberty Weekend at the refurbished Statue of Liberty. In the spring of 1988, he brought the band to Australia to perform at festivities for that country's bicentennial and at World Expo 88. The Trojan Marching Band is complemented by the USC Silks (tall flags), plus the famous USC Song Leaders - who were ranked No.1 in the nation by Sports Illustrated - and Yell Leaders.
Tommy Walker The trumpet "Charge", heard often at athletic
contests, was composed by a post-World War II USC student named Tommy Walker.
As a member of the Trojan Marching Band, he was known as "Tommy Trojan",
and as a USC football player, he would shed his band uniform, come down
from the stands, and kick extra points (he lettered in 1947). Upon graduation
in 1948, he was hired as the band's director. He later was the first entertainment
director at Disneyland and then went into business as one of the world's
leading creators of show business spectacles (including Super Bowl halftimes
and Olympic opening and closing ceremonies). He died in 1986.
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