Plano Wildcat Band History
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- History of the band program at Plano High School (now Plano Senior High School, Plano, Texas), from its early roots and official founding in 1950 thru our 75th anniversary in 2024.
00:50 - Introduction
03:54 - Plano Band Beginnings
06:57 - Prominent directors of the Plano Band
12:24 - Our traditional songs
18:30 - Other traditions
19:52 - Conclusion
Links:
The Plano Story (1965) - • The Plano Story
(soundtrack by the Plano Wildcat Band)
Plano Tribute Show (Plano Fanfare), 2018 - • Plano Senior High Scho...
Corrections: The Spanish School did not burn; it was declared inadequate in 1922 and demolished. The photo shown is actually Killeen HS, which looked almost identical.
Oh my... I only graduated 4 years ago, but this has such a sense of nostalgia to it. Hearing you say "we are the old school" brought back every memory I have of being out on the marching field for the tribute show, hearing that enthusiastic "Let's show them how we do things at THE OLD SCHOOL!" and getting to scream my lungs out to run to my set for the fight song.
I was in the Plano Band as part of the colorguard in the 2018 and 2019 marching seasons. I was one of the captains in 2019 for Marionette. The Plano Band will always and forever be special in my heart. Truly the best part of my high school experience.
Marching under Mr Lewis was such a phenomenal experience. His passion really showed in everything he did for us. We were pushed, but we were pushed because he knew we were capable of greatness. And it worked. Marionette won a plethora of awards at marching contests my senior year. More than any other season previously. Sadly it wasn't an area year; I'm confident we could have gone to state if it was.
Every single moment of summer heat in band camp, of enduring long days of rehearsal, of getting home at midnight from competition - it was all worth it. Plano Band never leaves you if you were part of it. It's truly a special place...
Awesome history lesson. I was in band 92'-93'. We went to state that year, I think the only time the band ever made it to the state level. Some of my best memories are from my time in marching band.
Great presentation of the always outstanding and best darn band in the land. Thank you David for putting this all together. I'm one of 7 Wheeler kids that attended Plano High. I did not play in the band but I had 2 older sisters that did and one was a cheerleader. Carolyn Carpenter was our neighbor and friend and classmate to my older sisters.
Great history lesson about the Wildcat nation! Thank you!
Ah yes....Grandioso.....it was a second fight song for Tomball HS. I taught there from 87-91...then I joined the Marine Band.
The one thing I know about Plano is that Charles Forque left Baytown Lee HS to go there. He was a legend in the east Houston area. Came to clinic Galena Park JH Band when I was there and he was great. And I know many many friends who preceded me at Sam Houston State who came from Lee HS and they just revered Forque. (Three trumpet players who, due to Forque's connections, played solo/trios with Doc Severinson.)
Then, when I was teaching at Tomball HS, we met Plano at the Music Bowl in Huntsville. 1989? Anyways, if I remember correctly, Forque had a heart attack at that contest.
Yes, he did. We came back to rally & win the Marching Contest.
This was very cool and brought a tear to my eye.
Class of 85
I did beginning band under Emmitt Clem at Wilson, then of course Charles Forque at Plano, I even had Al Corley (when he had hair) as my Stage Band director.
Charles Forque retired on my wedding day, I was invited but was kind of busy (some thought it would be funny if I showed up)
No matter what Mr Forque may have thought of me, he did teach me quite a bit and why I did 4 years of Marching band at North Texas and encouraged BOTH of my kids to do Hebron High Schools band. (My youngest was in the National Championship band)
I do have one question I would like cleared up. When Mr. Forque told us why we played Grandiose for the start of the 4th quarter and the reason we put up 4 fingers was because of the State Championship against Highland park where Plano came back from behind to win in the 4th quarter.
I think you're right that the crowd started doing the "4" after the 1977 HP win. We had several other last-minute comebacks over the new few years, leading the media to start calling us "CARDIAC CATS". Grandioso started about that time too, and they kind of became connected.
David, I can only assume you're a Plano grad. I really LOVE historical videos like this. Wishing someone could turn up this type of info on the early Galena Park HS Band under Bunk Atkinson. But I don't think it exists anymore.
Unfortunately it's all too common for band director changeovers to end up in a lot of history being lost. We're lucky to not have lost more than we have. It was only last year I learned that our first drum major from 1950 was still in town and mentally very sharp. I think the sense of continuity makes the traditions feel more meaningful.
@@DavidLovrien Oh! Don't I know it. The great history of Galena Park HS is totally lost because it happened so long ago. Bunk Atkinson was a legendary band teacher, but he retired long before I ever got to high school.
Between Mr. Clem and Forque, the band director was Mr. Benson. 76-77 and 77-78 for sure, then you can trace to when Forgue started. Benson was also an award-winnng director from Houston?, but it was a difficult transition because they demoted Mr. Clem to jr high. I spoke at the PISD School Board representing the band against that decision to fire Mr. Clem, but of course, that decision had already been made.
Yes, Plano has had 10 different band directors, including Tom Bennett from 76-78. For time purposes I only featured the directors who stayed 10+ years. I've heard (and have newspaper clippings) about controversial demotion of Mr. Clem. I talked to him several times when he was at Wilson - very nice guy.
@@DavidLovrien Ok wow. I always thought Mr. Clem had to step back for mental health issues (stress that is) and he wanted to go to teaching beginners.
What ever the reason, I am glad he did. He is the reason I played Cornet and stayed in back though College.