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he Instrumental Program at Fayetteville State University saw its beginnings in the year of 1957. What was then Fayetteville State Teachers College offered one degree, Elementary Education and the president of the College was Dr. Rudolph Jones. An educator named Thomas Gavin, a shop teacher at Fayetteville State Teachers College, organized students into a band. This band rehearsed in the basement of the ***J.W. Seabrook Auditorium*** and performed for engagements on campus. The leadership of the Instrumental Program changed in 1958 with the employment of Mr. Thomas Bacote. During the tenure of Mr. Bacote, the direction of the Instrumental program was given to the director. Mr. Bacote organized the Marching Band for parades and entertainment at university football games and the Concert Band which performed during the spring at program such the Presidents Concert, the formal Spring Concert, the Founders Day Program, and Commencement. A number of students did not have instruments so Mr. Bacote with the assistance of then University President, Dr. Rudolph Jones made an appeal to the college community for their support to purchase instruments for the university band program. This initiative proved to be successful with the purchased of band instruments through gifts and donations from alumni and friends of Fayetteville Teachers College and also from area pawn shops. In 1960 a grant was written to the United States Department of Education to purchase more instruments to accommodate the growth of the instrumental program. In 1961 the instrumental program received approximately $10,000 in grant monies to purchase instruments for the program. The first uniformed attire worn by the band was a white shirt and blue pants or skirts. The need for new uniforms lead to the formation of a uniform committee which consisted of Mr. Bacote, Mary T. Eldridge and Helen T. Chick. Sixty-five band uniforms, one drum major uniform, and uniforms for the dance girls were purchased for the university marching band. The Marching Band performed at various activities under the direction of Mr. Thomas Bacote. In 1959, the first away trip was taken to St. Augustine College by the marching band. During this trip the university bus incurred mechanical problems, a broken axle which led the band to charter a private bus. The first drum major was a female, Shirley Langston from Kinston, NC. Performing at area high school football games and homecomings was another performance opportunity of the marching band. The venue of the Fayetteville State College Marching Band also included an invitation to perform in the Azalea Festival held in Wilmington, NC in ***1963***(Joseph Johnson served as the drum major). Invitations to participate in the Inaugural Parade were also given to the marching band in **1965 and 1969** for Governors Terry Sanford and **Vann K. Moore**. Members of the instrumental program participated in the sit-ins of 1963 and 1964 that lead to racial integration in North Carolina. The first out-of-state trip which included an overnight stay was to Cheyney State College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the school year of ***1970-1971 or 1971-1972***. The Dance Band later known as the Jazz Ensemble was organized by Mr. Bacote in 1960 of eight (8) members. They performed at activities on-campus, Fayetteville NC, and Dunn, NC. Mr. James Evans came to Fayetteville State University in 1972 to serve as Director of Bands and Instructor. Mr. Evans previously served as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor at Livingstone College. One of Mr. Evans first initiatives was to acquire one hundred (100) band uniforms, eight (8) majorette uniforms, one (1) drum major uniform, and one (1) band director uniform. The uniforms were received in July of 1973. During the first year of Mr. Evans' tenure, the Marching Band performed at halftime for all home and away games and **The Governors Inaugural Parade***. The Concert Band performed in the Annual Spring concert and official university functions such as Honors and Awards Day, Alumni Day Convocation, and The 96th Annual Commencement. The next school year (1973-74), Mr. Evans instituted the first marching band camp at Fayetteville State University. The Marching Band performed at halftime of all home and away games and the Fayetteville Christmas Parade. A major purchase of instruments was made for the Marching Band and Concert Band with the band budget. Mr. Evans also presented Dr. Nathaniel Gatlin, clarinetist in Recital, who offered a workshop and seminar at Fayetteville State University. In the 1974-1975 school year, the Marching Band performed the same venue as the previous year. The Concert Band performed for the Opening Convocation, The Annual Spring Concert, Founders Day, Honors and Awards Day, and the 98th Annual Commencement. Clinicians invited to Fayetteville State University's campus to perform recitals a master classes were James Houlik (Concert Saxophonist) and Shaylor James (Percussionist). Area high school students were in attendance of recitals and involved in workshops. The school year of 1975-1976, the Marching Band along with its normal venue hosted and performed for the First Annual Marching Banquet and Dance. The banquet featured Dr. Isaac Greggs, Director of Bands at Southern University as the guest speaker. Following the banquet, a dance was held in the Lilly Gymnasium. The Concert Band performed the same activities and concerts of the previous year. The Detroit Saxophone Quartet featuring Russ Mullare on soprano and alto saxophone, John Salistian on alto saxophone, John Littleton performing tenor saxophone, and Lynn Klock on baritone saxophone, presented a recital and master class. This activity also featured the newly formed Fayetteville State University's Saxophone Quartet. Area high school students were in attendance of this event. With in the school year of 1976-1977, the Marching Band added to its performances the Fairmont Farmers Festival Parade and again hosted and performed for the Second Annual Marching Band Banquet. The guest speaker for the banquet was Walter F. Carlson of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The first band grants and scholarships were given on January 27, 1977. The Concert Band performed for the Opening Convocation, Founders Day, Honors and Awards Day, its Annual Spring Concert, and Fayetteville State University's 100th Annual Commencement. The Concert Band completed its first performance and recruitment tour. In 1977 Fayetteville State University and the Central Intercollegiate Association received their first female band director in Dr. Eva Diane Lyle-Smith. Mrs. Smith also served as the first assistant band director at Fayetteville State University in 1977 and served as Band Director for the 1979-80 school year. Dr. Eva Diane Lyle-Smith organized the first Brass Ensemble at Fayetteville State University which accompanied the Concert Choir in concerts in 1978. Lyle-Smith directed national recruitment tours and delivered performances of the Jazz Ensemble live during radio broadcast on WFSS in 1978. The Jazz Ensemble performed at Fort Bragg, NC to celebrate Black History Month in 1979. With the assistance of Mrs. Lyle-Smith the Fayetteville Jazz and Heritage Festivals, sponsored by the John Coltrane Society were organized. The first two concerts were held in the J. W. Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University. These concerts included performances by black colleges jazz groups such Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, and Shaw University. Dr. Lyle-Smith, during her tenure at Fayetteville State University, had instructional duties that included Marching Band, Educational Instrumental Methods, Brass Ensemble, Fundamentals of Music, Brass Applied (Trumpet, Bass, French Horn), and African American Music. In addition to her instructional duties she performed in faculty solo recitals and joint faculty recitals held in the Rosenthal Building. Individual accomplishments of Dr. Lyle-Smith while she was employed at Fayetteville State University include performing as First Trumpeter for the Fayetteville Little Theatre Community Orchestra, its musicals and once held the position of director/performer for "Raisin" The Musical (rehearsals were held at Fayetteville State and the Fort Bragg Theatre). She also Performed Solo Trumpet as replacement for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra which was then composed of members from the North Carolina Symphony. Mrs. Lyle-Smith gave private lessons to members of the of the 82nd Airborne Division Band of Fort Bragg, NC. She also served as a featured guest artist with the 82nd Airborne division band for their annual Jazz Concert of 1980. Eva Diane Lyle-Smith became a part of history in 1972 with her participation in the first Intercollegiate Music Association Concert Band while attending Hampton University. The performance of the IMA was held at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Ogden Auditorium and conducted by "Pops" - Dr. Nathaniel Gatlin (founder of the Intercollegiate Music Association), Chairperson of Virginia State University. In 1980, the Fayetteville State University Instrumental Program received its fourth band Director, in Dr. Richard Jones. Dr. Jones served from 1980 to 1984. The membership in the Marching Band was one hundred-ten (110) students while the Concert Band's enrollment was forty (40) students. The Concert Band performed at campus functions that included concerts, Commencement, Founders Day, Awards Day, and Scholarship Day. The Marching Band performed at all Fayetteville State University home football games, a number of away games, parades, and a performance appearance at the half-time of a New York Giants Football Game at Giant Stadium. A list of Marching Band performances follow: Bowie State
University - Bowie Maryland (Two appearances)
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