The Marching Tar Heels
Encyclopedia
The Marching Tar Heels is the athletics pep band for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. Known as "The Pride of the ACC", the Marching Tar Heels is one of the largest organizations at UNC with over 275 students. The band plays at all home football
games as well as travels to away games, usually as a small pep band
. However, the entire band travels to one away football game each year, usually staying close to home. These have included trips to universities such as NC State
and East Carolina
but have also included some longer trips to venues such as Notre Dame
in 2006 and the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
in 2010.
The UNC band was formed in 1903 and had their first performance at a UNC baseball
game in 1904. The band first started traveling to away athletic events in 1905. The band continues to play for multiple sports including men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's lacrosse, women's basketball and field hockey. The band also divides in to two smaller bands and plays at all men's basketball
home games, as well as sending a pep band to tournament games.
The band is currently under the direction of Jeffrey Fuchs.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Known as "The Pride of the ACC", the Marching Tar Heels is one of the largest organizations at UNC with over 275 students. The band plays at all home football
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
games as well as travels to away games, usually as a small pep band
Pep band
A pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
. However, the entire band travels to one away football game each year, usually staying close to home. These have included trips to universities such as NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
and East Carolina
East Carolina Pirates football
The East Carolina Pirates is a college football team that represents East Carolina University . The team is currently a member of the Conference USA, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association .The Pirates have won seven conference championships and...
but have also included some longer trips to venues such as Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
in 2006 and the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the opening weekend of the college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome.- History :...
in 2010.
The UNC band was formed in 1903 and had their first performance at a UNC baseball
North Carolina Tar Heels baseball
The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division....
game in 1904. The band first started traveling to away athletic events in 1905. The band continues to play for multiple sports including men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's lacrosse, women's basketball and field hockey. The band also divides in to two smaller bands and plays at all men's basketball
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
home games, as well as sending a pep band to tournament games.
The band is currently under the direction of Jeffrey Fuchs.
Traditions
Several traditions have amassed over the years which include:- The Blue and White Warm-Up Chorale is played before every rehearsal and performance of the Marching Tar Heels. It was written by former band members, Joshua Potter and Ryan Ripperton.
- On football gameday, it has become tradition for the drumline to warm-up (usually in or near The Pit, in the center of campus) before joining the rest of the band for the march to the stadium. The drumline goes through warm-ups, show music, and cadences. It has become a crowd favorite, attracting large crowds at Tar Heel Town.
- Also on football gameday, the trumpets and tubas perform "Carolina Victory" on the steps of Dey Hall one hour and five minutes before kickoff.
- Directly before the march to Kenan StadiumKenan StadiumKenan Memorial Stadium is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is the home field of the North Carolina Tar Heels. It is primarily used for football. Kenan Memorial Stadium opened in 1927 and holds 62,980 people. It is located in a cluster of pine trees near the center of campus at the...
, the band has a "throwdown" about that day's opponent. Seniors re-write the words to the military cadenceMilitary cadenceIn the armed services, a military cadence or cadence call is a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching...
of "I don't know, but I've been told" and the band recites the verses as a build-up to the drumline cadence. - The march to the stadium is a parade route that begins in front of Wilson Library, and ends with the march in to the stadium. During the march, the drumline plays through their cadences as the rest of the band does choreographed dances to each cadence.
- It has become tradition that the drumline finish each rehearsal with a final beat of each drum in unison. The drum captain gives 4 clicks on his rim and the rest of the drumline responds with a beat. It is meant to be a final "period" to the end of rehearsal. It is come to be called a Silent SamSilent SamSilent Sam is a statue of a Confederate soldier on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is located on McCorkle Place, the university's upper quad; facing Franklin Street on the northern edge of campus....
, named after the statue the drumline practices around at the beginning of each marching season. The drum beat is also meant to represent Silent Sam's gun going off. - After the football team makes a defensive stop on 3rd down, the band plays Raise UpRaise Up"Raise Up" is a hip hop song by rapper Petey Pablo from his debut album Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry.The song peaked at #25 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 30, 2001...
.
Traditional Songs
The Marching Tar Heels regularly play these songs at athletic events.- Hark The SoundHark The Sound"Hark The Sound" is the alma mater of the University of North Carolina, written by William Starr Myers of the class of 1897. It is sung at the end of athletic events and other university gatherings, and is set to the music of "Annie Lisle"....
(alma materAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
) - I'm a Tar Heel Born (fight songFight songA fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
) - Here Comes Carolina (fight song)
- Carolina Victory
- UNC Vamp
- Carolina in My MindCarolina in My Mind"Carolina in My Mind" is a song written and performed by singer-songwriter James Taylor, which first appeared on his 1968 debut album, James Taylor. Taylor wrote it while overseas recording for The Beatles' label Apple Records, and the song's themes reflect his homesickness at the time. Released as...
- Sweet CarolineSweet Caroline"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. It was later released on December 9, 1972 as a part of Diamond's Hot August Night album. There are three distinct mixes of this song...
- Aye! Zigga Zoomba
Other Music
Other songs that may be heard on gameday by the Marching Tar Heels are as follows.- Phantom
- The Imperial MarchThe Imperial March"The Imperial March " is a musical theme present in the Star Wars franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
- 4-C
- Paint It, BlackPaint It, Black"Paint It, Black" is a song released by The Rolling Stones on 13 May 1966 as the first single from their fourth album Aftermath. It was originally titled "Paint It Black" without a comma. Keith Richards has stated that the comma was added by the record label, Decca.The song was written by Mick...
- Piece of Mind
- Raise UpRaise Up"Raise Up" is a hip hop song by rapper Petey Pablo from his debut album Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry.The song peaked at #25 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 30, 2001...
Halftime Music
The Marching Tar Heels have covered many different genres of music during their halftime performances. Generally, a new halftime show is presented at each home game, requiring that some shows be learned in their entirety in one week of practice. Some of these shows have included:- QueenQueen (band)Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
- The WhoThe WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
- Classical MasterworksClassical musicClassical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
- Latin JazzLatin jazzLatin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
- JourneyJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
- Katy PerryKaty PerryKaty Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
- NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
- Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
- Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
- Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
- Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- Earth, Wind, & Fire
- Beach musicBeach musicBeach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
- Swing music
Directors of the Marching Tar Heels
- Charles T. Woollen 1903-1919
- T. Smith McCorkle 1920-1932
- Earl Slocum 1933-1956
- Herb Fred 1956-1963
- Major John F. Yesulaitis 1964-1989
- James Hile 1990-1996
- Jeffrey Fuchs 1997–Present