Post Author: Kayla Payne “And now, presenting ‘Virginia’s Finest’, the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes!” The band is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012. Many people know about the MRDs more recent accomplishments. Today, the MRDs are ambassadors of Continue reading Virginia’s Finest – An Introduction
Post Author: Kayla Payne One of the most important people necessary for creating a marching band is a band director. The first director of the Madison College Marching Band would be tasked with recruiting members, selecting a uniform, building a Continue reading Humble Beginnings
Post Author: Kayla Payne Kenneth Moulton came to the school in 1974, taking the place of Malcolm Harris, who left to continue his doctoral education. Moulton held degrees from Boston University and East Carolina University and taught at Albermarle High Continue reading A House of Cards
Post Author: Kayla Payne During the 1970s many Breeze articles which mentioned the band also included contact information for the director and music department. The band even placed clip-out advertisements in The Breeze to raise student interest in joining the Continue reading Enter “James Madison”
Post Author: Kayla Payne The Marching Royal Dukes have been the exhibition performance at numerous high school football games, band competitions, and even professional football games. Traveling across the eastern seaboard to perform began in the 1970s as a way Continue reading “We don’t think little.”
Post Author: Kayla Payne On October 28, 1978, James Madison University hosted the first ever Marching Bands of America Mideast Regional Championship. Michael Davis had an “in” with the higher ups in Bands of America and wanted to bring a Continue reading Sights and Sounds
Post Author: Kayla Payne Not everyone on campus was initially receptive to the band and the football team it supported. In a May 1972 issue of the Breeze, a student wrote a letter to the editor expressing concern over money Continue reading Student Perspectives
Post Author: Kayla Payne In compiling a history of the Marching Royal Dukes, the best resource for information is someone who has been there for it all. Mr. William Posey joined the band at Madison College in 1973, its second Continue reading The Voice of the MRDs
Post Author: Kayla Payne [hide-featured] For the majority of the Marching Royal Dukes’ existence, fans and alumni have come to view the most recent uniform as “the look” of the MRDs. Since 1986, the uniform of the MRDs has been Continue reading Where We Are Now
Post Author: Kayla Payne Methodology: In researching this topic, I first turned to The Bluestone and The Breeze to get a general timeline of names and dates to discover who the directors were and which uniforms were in use during Continue reading Methodology and Acknowledgements
