Elon Band Collection

In 1908, Elon student Russell A. Campbell organized and directed Elon College's first band. He played the coronet and was a member of the football team until he graduated from Elon College in 1911. In 1921, Mark Z. Rhodes (freshman student at Elon) wrote the words to Elon's current fight song, later known as "The School Song." He was also band director until he graduated in 1923. The early band at Elon College performed mainly at dances and athletic events until the Great Depression in 1929. During the Great Depression, it was forced to be eliminated due to difficult economic times. However, the band was revived in 1935 by Elon College President Leon E. Smith. This time it was led by Landon Walker from Charlotte, North Carolina. Walker became a student at Elon College, while recruiting and directing for the band. Upon his arrival, the band consisted of two coronet players, but by 1939 the band had grown and held nearly 40 members. In 1950, the Elon College band hired their first faculty band director, Eugene Jacobowski. As director, he split the band into two separate groups, a pep band and a concert band. In 1962, Jack White became the new faculty band director. During his 25 years at Elon, he created the Show Band of the Carolinas, which was Elon's first marching band. This marching band lasted until 1982. In addition White formed Elon's first Jazz ensemble, The Emanons, which is "no name" spelled backwards. Tom Erdmann replaced Jack White in 1989, as director of bands. Starting in 2000, Tom Erdmann began directing only the orchestral band. Also in 2000, Bill DeJournett was hired to direct the marching band-after 20 odd years of no marching band at Elon. With Elon entering Division I competition a strong marching band was necessary to accompany the football team who would be playing in the newly built Rhodes Stadium. In 2001, the marching band began performing under the name, Fire of the Carolinas. Their first appearance was on September 22, 2001 in Rhodes Stadium during a football game. In 2003, Tony Sawyer began directing the marching band and remains the director to this day.