Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, Service, and Tradition

The Vision Begins (1974-1976)

The legacy of the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Band Association is rooted in the same values that have long defined members of the renowned Blue and Gold Marching Machine (BGMM): respect, dedication, pride, and unwavering loyalty to their alma mater. For many alumni, graduation marked the end of their academic journey, but never the end of their connection to the band.

The idea for an organized alumni band began in 1974 through conversations among former bandmates and close friends who shared a desire to reconnect, relive their marching experiences, and support future generations of student musicians.

Three alumni, James Nimrod Perry (bass horn), Ronald Cooper (bass drum), and Bobby Pickens (tenor drum), frequently attended A&T athletic events together. As they reflected on their days in the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, memories of late-night rehearsals, Battle of the Bands competitions, halftime performances, and recruitment tours inspired a vision. Perry posed a simple but powerful question:

“What if we started to get everybody back together at Homecoming and play it up and jazz it up like we used to?”

That vision remained alive as the three friends established careers, raised families, and continued their support of the university.

In 1976, Perry, Cooper, and Pickens took the first official steps toward creating the Alumni Band Association. Perry personally financed the initial startup costs, and Cooper and Pickens quickly matched his commitment. To help formalize the organization, they enlisted former majorette Jean Wilson, who became the association’s corresponding secretary. Wilson managed communications, produced promotional materials, coordinated outreach efforts, created a directory of alumni band members, and drafted requests seeking official recognition from the university.

Establishing a Tradition (1976-1978)

The founders worked closely with J. J. Williams, former band director and department chair, who served as an advisor to the emerging organization. Williams granted permission for alumni to participate in Homecoming alongside the active band and provided access to rehearsal space and instruments. Additional support came from Professor Walter F. Carlson, affectionately known as “Prof,” who helped prepare the ensemble for its public debut.

During the 1976 Homecoming celebration, approximately 30 to 40 alumni returned to march in the annual parade. While many spectators initially viewed the concept with curiosity, the group’s polished performance quickly silenced any doubts. Their musical excellence and professionalism demonstrated that the spirit and discipline of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine endured long after graduation.

Two years later, the organization faced its greatest challenge when co-founder James Nimrod Perry passed away unexpectedly in 1978. Faced with uncertainty and loss, Cooper and Pickens contemplated whether the young organization could survive.

Determined to honor Perry’s vision, Ronald Cooper declared:

“I’ll go if I have to go by myself!”

Pickens responded with equal conviction:

“If it ain’t nobody but one tenor drum and one bass drum, we going!”

Their commitment inspired fellow alumni to continue the mission. That fall, approximately 30 dedicated members marched in the 1978 Homecoming parade, delivering a performance that honored Perry’s memory and firmly established the Alumni Band Association as a permanent part of A&T tradition.

A Mission of Service and Support

As the organization matured, its purpose expanded far beyond annual Homecoming appearances. The Alumni Band Association adopted a broader mission: to support and strengthen the marching and concert band programs at North Carolina A&T State University through service, advocacy, mentorship, and financial assistance.

Today, the association remains deeply committed to student success. Members host the annual welcome event for the Blue and Gold Marching Machine following band camp, assist with uniform maintenance, and provide emergency support for students facing unexpected hardships.

The organization has also demonstrated a strong commitment to financial sustainability. Through the Carlson/Williams/Hodge Endowment Fund, established in partnership with the A&T Foundation, the association provides ongoing scholarship support and educational assistance to band students.

Beyond financial contributions, the Alumni Band Association serves as a steward of the university’s rich musical heritage. In 1999, the organization established the Band Spirit Awards in honor of co-founder James Nimrod Perry. These awards recognize outstanding leadership and commitment, exemplified by recipients such as Dr. Kenneth Ruff, a former BGMM member who later served as band director.

The Association’s influence extends well beyond the boundaries of the university. Many alumni and former band directors have devoted their professional careers to music education as teachers, directors, administrators, and mentors in schools and communities throughout the country. Through their instruction and leadership, they continue to develop young musicians, cultivate excellence in performance, and inspire students to pursue higher education. Countless alumni educators have encouraged and guided talented young musicians to North Carolina A&T State University, helping sustain a continuous pipeline of students who proudly join the ranks of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. Their dedication ensures that the traditions, discipline, musicianship, and spirit of the program are passed from one generation to the next.

Alumni also play an active role in recruiting future students, identifying talented performers, promoting the university, and supporting special events throughout the year. Their continuing service reflects a lifelong commitment to ensuring that the Blue and Gold Marching Machine remains one of the nation’s premier collegiate marching bands.

A Legacy That Endures

Five decades after its founding, the North Carolina A&T Alumni Band Association remains a powerful symbol of tradition, fellowship, and service.

The organization’s history is filled with remarkable examples of dedication. Charter members Chauncey Walker (trombone) and Zenobia Walker (French horn) participated in every Homecoming parade during the association’s first forty years. Numerous members have marched for more than four decades, and two of the original founders continue to remain active participants and leaders.

At the heart of the association is a simple but enduring belief:

“Once in the band, always in the band.”

That philosophy has created a vibrant, multi-generational community where siblings, spouses, children, grandchildren, and extended family members come together to celebrate music, friendship, and Aggie pride. For many alumni, service to the Blue and Gold Marching Machine did not end with graduation. As educators, band directors, and mentors, they have shaped the lives of countless young musicians while fostering a deep appreciation for excellence, discipline, and musicianship. Their commitment has strengthened music programs throughout their communities and has helped position North Carolina A&T as a destination for aspiring performers seeking to continue their musical and academic development.

Through fifty years of service, the Alumni Band Association has cultivated lifelong relationships among musicians, educators, administrators, and supporters while preserving the traditions that make the Blue and Gold Marching Machine one of the nation’s most respected collegiate marching bands. Their collective efforts have ensured that the organization’s influence is felt not only during Homecoming celebrations but also in classrooms, rehearsal halls, concert stages, and communities across the nation.

Celebrating a Historic Milestone

This year marks a momentous occasion as alumni from every era of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine reunite to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Band Association. This golden milestone coincides with the 100th Homecoming celebration at North Carolina A&T State University, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor the people, traditions, and legacy that have sustained the association for half a century.

As alumni gather to reconnect, perform, and celebrate, they do so with the same spirit that inspired the organization’s founders fifty years ago: a commitment to excellence, service, fellowship, and an enduring love for North Carolina A&T State University. For five decades, the Alumni Band Association has not only preserved the legacy of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine but has also helped shape its future by mentoring students, supporting music education, and inspiring new generations of Aggie musicians. As the Association looks toward the next fifty years, it remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the proud tradition that has always defined its members: