The University of Miami Band was first organized in 1933 by Walter E. Shaeffer. Shaeffer was solo clarinetist and concertmaster with the United States Marine Band under John Phillip Sousa. Henry Fillmore, famed composer of band music, adopted the University of Miami Band as his own during the 1950s, and was responsible for the construction of the band’s permanent home – Henry Fillmore Band Hall.
Fred McCall was appointed Director of Bands in 1948 and held the post until his retirement in June 1971, at which time he was awarded the title of Director Emeritus. Under his instruction, The Band of the Hour received its name. At a halftime show at the Orange Bowl in 1948, the band was playing Henry Fillmore’s “The Man of The Hour” march. The announcer spoke over the public address system, “‘The Man of the Hour,’ played by the ‘Band of the Hour’!” This has been our official name ever since.
William B. Russell was appointed Director of Bands in 1972 and held the post until 1991. His successor, Michael Mann, served as Director of the Band of the Hour and Associate Director of Bands from 1991-2000. In 1993, Gary D. Green was named, and remains, Director of Bands at the University of Miami. In 2000, Dr. Michael B. Dressman was appointed Director of the Band of the Hour and served until his retirement in 2004. C. David Ragsdale was appointed interim director for the 2004-2005 school year. He was succeeded by Phillip Clements who served as Associate Director of Bands and Director of the "Band of the Hour" from 2005 - 2008.
Tom Keck joined the University of Miami in 2008 and is now serving as the Associate Director of Bands and Band Director of the "Band of the Hour". We welcome Tom and wish him many years of success at the University of Miami.
