Virginia’s Finest – An Introduction

The band is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012. Many people know about the MRDs more recent accomplishments. Today, the MRDs are ambassadors of JMU, Virginia, and the United States; their travel and performances help to highlight not only the ensemble itself, but the School of Music and James Madison University as well. But less known is how these important factors had their beginnings in the 1970s, as the Carrier administration worked to move Madison College in a new direction.

In the 1960s, thanks to greater access to federally-subsidized student loans and grants, many American colleges, particularly former teacher’s colleges, expanded rapidly and transformed into regional universities. No such transformation had happened in Virginia. (James Madison University 84) Upon taking over the presidency at Madison College, Dr. Ronald Carrier realized the Harrisonburg campus was a perfect candidate to become a comprehensive, regional college. Madison College was in an ideal physical location: situated right beside the newly-opened Interstate 81, it was convenient to most parts of the state of Virginia. (Hilton 29) But it needed a rallying point for students and alumni: “a focal point around which espirit de corps could be formed.” (James Madison University 86)

Carrier’s solution was to build up an intercollegiate athletic program, which would be a source of institutional pride. Madison College began its football program at a time when many schools across the country were cutting back or dropping football altogether because of high costs. (Hilton 58) The mere presence of strong football, basketball, and baseball teams forever ended the public image that Madison remained a women’s college. Carrier also wanted to lose Madison’s “suitcase college” reputation—football and basketball games, concerts and other activities helped to make campus home for students seven days a week instead of five. (James Madison University 88)

The Madison College Marching Band, as the band was first called, formed in 1972, the same year as the football program. The faculty in the Music Department, according to Dr. Carrier, believed they were “too pure to have a marching band,” but Dr. Carrier was determined to have it and provided the funds through Athletics, instead. (“Dr. Ronald Carrier”) In its first five years, the MCMB stayed in Athletics and had two band directors, Malcolm Harris and Kenneth Moulton. It moved to the Music Department in 1977. The late 1970s were crucial to the band’s development into the organization that it is today. Under the direction of Michael Davis, who began directing the band in 1977, the band expanded its repertoire and recruited among high school students through exhibition performances.

The band traveled to NFL games and performed in other arenas to recruit future members. A summer camp for students was held on campus in the summer of 1973; a precursor to the Summer Band Camps which are held to this day. The Eastern Regional Bands of American Competition began to be held on JMU’s campus in 1977. This eventually turned into a similar competition, completely run and sponsored by JMU and the School of Music, the Parade of Champions. More than 40 high school bands perform every third Saturday in October at this annual event, which serves as one of the biggest recruiting events on campus.

More important, by 1979 the MRDS had accomplished what Dr. Carrier intended: a national reputation as one of the most exciting college marching bands. (The Bluestone 23) Now Virginia’s Finest are known around the world, a symbol of pride for Dukes everywhere. In the following pages, this exhibit will highlight the band’s beginnings and growth throughout the “Mad70s”, as Madison College grew and turned into James Madison University.