Bring in the Band

On a “stone-cold” day in January 1957, The United States Marine Band, otherwise known as “The President’s Own” played an ensemble of music at the presidential inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Among those on the 1957 Marine Band tour was 17-year-old Jim Erdman, who was making his performance debut with the group.

“There is no doubt I shed a tear when I played in it,” said Erdman, who is retiring as an adjunct instructor of music after 35 years at LVC. 

“I did 19 tours with the Marine band, performing two concerts a day,” he said. “Being on tour was tough. We traveled coast to coast by bus in our dress blue uniforms and were away 63–67 days at a time. My first child was born while I was away on a tour.”

The United States Marine Band was established by an act of Congress on July 11, 1798. It is the premier band for the Marine Corps and is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States.

During his time in the Marine Corps Band, Erdman performed for five different presidents. The band played an average of two White House jobs every week. Before the parties, the band rehearsed in the morning for two or three hours. Then they made their way to the White House for another three-hour rehearsal with either Hollywood or Broadway stars before performing for the President and his guests that evening. One of those famous Hollywood stars Erdman encountered was Frank Sinatra. 

Erdman served as the principal trombonist in the band for 20 years, which meant performing a solo in each show the group performed twice a day. He became a trombone player by coincidence in the fifth grade.

“I played the drum and broke the drum head by accident,” he said. “We couldn’t afford to buy a new drum head, but one day I saw my dad washing the trombone and I liked the noise the water in the slide made when he was washing it, so I decided to give it a try.” 

As a teenager starting with the band, Erdman had a lot to learn and thankfully Robert Isely, his predecessor as principal trombonist, took him under his wing.

“Being a part of the band meant being able to sight read on the spot,” Erdman said. “It was a fascinating job, especially without a degree.” 

Along with his time in the band, Erdman is most proud of his marriage of 56 years to Katherine Koons Erdman of Lebanon. 

 

 

By Maddie Noonan, Marketing & Communications Student Assistant