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Contact:
Tom Davis
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
tomdavis@troy.edu
Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)
| Former Marine Band Director inducted in National Band Hall of Fame at TSU |
| A
former director of the United States Marine Corps Band was inducted
into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished
Band Conductors in a luncheon ceremony at Troy State University’s
Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor Saturday. Retired Col. John Bourgeois, who was director of "The President’s Own" Marine Band for 17 years, became the 43rd member of the Hall of Fame. He is the fourth director of the Marine Band to achieve this honor, including the immortal John Philip Sousa. The National Band Association Board of Electors votes members into the hall. Dr. John M. Long, director of bands emeritus at Troy State University and chairman of the board for the hall of fame, unveiled the portrait of Bourgeois that will be displayed in the hall. "I thank four institutions for this great honor my family, Loyola University, the United States Marine Corps and the National Band Association," Bourgeois said Saturday at the ceremony. Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of the Troy State University System, called Bourgeois "a national treasure" for leading one of the most recognizable military bands in the world. "As director of ‘The President’s Own,’ he inspired a nation with his music," Dr. Hawkins said, "because the music of the Marine Band is America’s music." Bourgeois, a native of Louisiana and a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and began in 1958 with "The President’s Own" as a French hornist and arranger. He was named director in 1979 and promoted to colonel in 1983. He retired in 1996. As director of "The President’s Own," Bourgeois served as music adviser to the White House. He regularly conducted the Marine Band and the Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, appearing there more frequently than any other musician in the nation. He also conducted the band at four presidential inaugurations. Under Bourgeois’ leadership the Marine Band presented the first overseas concert in its history, traveling to the Netherlands in 1985. In 1990, Bourgeois led an historic 18-day concert tour of the former Soviet Union. Bourgeois currently serves as guest conductor-clinician and visiting professor at Loyola University in New Orleans and continues to produce wind band arrangements and editions for Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. in a series known as "The Bourgeois Editions." He has also written an historical chapter on the Marine Band in a history of the corps titled "The Marines." |