Information: The first column shows data points from Wright, Al G. (Alfred George James), 1916-2020 in red. The third column shows data points from Wright, Al in blue. Any data they share in common is displayed as purple boxes in the middle "Shared" column.
The conductor, educator, and composer Al Wright (b. 1916 - d. 2020) was born in London, England, and attended public school in Pontiac, Michigan. In high school he was recruited to play french horn in the band. He went on to earn bachelors (1937) and masters (1947) degrees from the University of Miami in Florida. While in Florida he served as director of the Miami Senior High School Band and Symphony Orchestra (1938-1954), co-directed the Orange Bowl half-time show, and served as President of the Florida Orchestra Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association.
In 1954 he joined the faculty of Purdue University as Director of Bands, a position he held until retirement in 1981. Under his direction, the Purdue Band developed a show band style with a high step marching in intricate formations with twirlers and dancers. This led to high profile performances at Radio City Music Hall and tours around the world.
Throughout his tenure at Purdue, Wright continued to be active in professional associations. He founded the National Band Association (NBA) in 1961 and served as its President, Secretary-Treasurer, and HOnorary Lift President. He served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He founded the United States Collegiate Wind Bands.
He was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 1949. In 1980 he was elected President of that organization, the same year that he received an Honorary Doctorate from Troy State University. Wright has published more than 150 monographs and magazine articles, and his work on marching band shows is widely admired. Wright has published music under the name George Stone.
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The conductor, educator, and composer Al Wright (b. 1916 - d. 2020) was born in London, England, and attended public school in Pontiac, Michigan. In high school he was recruited to play french horn in the band. He went on to earn bachelors (1937) and masters (1947) degrees from the University of Miami in Florida. While in Florida he served as director of the Miami Senior High School Band and Symphony Orchestra (1938-1954), co-directed the Orange Bowl half-time show, and served as President of the Florida Orchestra Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association.
In 1954 he joined the faculty of Purdue University as Director of Bands, a position he held until retirement in 1981. Under his direction, the Purdue Band developed a show band style with a high step marching in intricate formations with twirlers and dancers. This led to high profile performances at Radio City Music Hall and tours around the world.
Throughout his tenure at Purdue, Wright continued to be active in professional associations. He founded the National Band Association (NBA) in 1961 and served as its President, Secretary-Treasurer, and HOnorary Lift President. He served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He founded the United States Collegiate Wind Bands.
He was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 1949. In 1980 he was elected President of that organization, the same year that he received an Honorary Doctorate from Troy State University. Wright has published more than 150 monographs and magazine articles, and his work on marching band shows is widely admired. Wright has published music under the name George Stone.
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The conductor, educator, and composer Al Wright was born in London, England, and attended public school in Pontiac, Michigan. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Miami in Florida. While in Florida he served as director of the Miami Senior High School Band and Symphony Orchestra, co-directed the Orange Bowl half-time show, and served as President of the Florida Orchestra Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association. In 1954 he joined the faculty of Purdue University. He was elected President of the American Bandmasters Association in 1980, the same year that he received an Honorary Doctorate from Troy State University. Wright has published more than 150 monographs and magazine articles, and his work on marching band shows is widely admired. Wright has published music under the name George Stone.
1916 Born in London, England, 23 June1933 Graduated High School, Pontiac Michigan1937 B.A. in Public School Music, University of Miami1939-1954 Director of Music, Miami Senior High School1947 M. Ed., University of Miami1946-1947 President, Florida Bandmasters Association1949 Elected to American Bandmasters Association1951-1953 President, Florida Music Educators Association1953 Married Gladys Violet Stone1954-1981 Director of Bands, Purdue University1961 Founding President, National Band Association1980 L.L.D (honorary), Troy State University, Alabama1981 President, American Bandmasters AssociationFrom the guide to the Al Wright Papers, 1905-1990, 1955-1990, (Special Collections in Performing Arts)
Al Wright papers, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. Accessed January 23, 2023.
The conductor, educator, and composer Al Wright (b. 1916 - d. 2020) was born in London, England, and attended public school in Pontiac, Michigan. In high school he was recruited to play french horn in the band. He went on to earn bachelors (1937) and masters (1947) degrees from the University of Miami in Florida. While in Florida he served as director of the Miami Senior High School Band and Symphony Orchestra (1938-1954), co-directed the Orange Bowl half-time show, and served as President of the Florida Orchestra Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association.
In 1954 he joined the faculty of Purdue University as Director of Bands, a position he held until retirement in 1981. Under his direction, the Purdue Band developed a show band style with a high step marching in intricate formations with twirlers and dancers. This led to high profile performances at Radio City Music Hall and tours around the world.
Throughout his tenure at Purdue, Wright continued to be active in professional associations. He founded the National Band Association (NBA) in 1961 and served as its President, Secretary-Treasurer, and HOnorary Lift President. He served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He founded the United States Collegiate Wind Bands.
He was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 1949. In 1980 he was elected President of that organization, the same year that he received an Honorary Doctorate from Troy State University. Wright has published more than 150 monographs and magazine articles, and his work on marching band shows is widely admired. Wright has published music under the name George Stone.
The Al G. Wright (1916-2020) collection contains correspondence, programs, articles, notes, scores, and photographs documenting Wright's career as Director of Bands at Purdue University between 1954 and 1981, and his involvement in a variety of wind band organizations.
A founding member of the American Bandmasters Association, Lynn L. Sams (1896-1990) was also a businessman and leader in the music industry. For many years, he served as editor of the ABA newsletter and as the ABA historian--both in official and unofficial capacities. Over his lifetime, Sams collected biographical and photographic materials documenting the history of the band in America and the prominent people in the band world. The collection consists of correspondence, notes, photographs, sound recordings, and publications related to Sams' research on the 20th century band movement and development of the American Bandmasters Association, and for his unfinished manuscript "History of School Bands." Correspondents include Harold B. Bachman, Jaroslav "Jerry" Cimera, Herbert L. Clarke, Merle Evans, William P. Foster, Karl L. King, Caesar LaMonaca, Frank Mancini, Williams Santelmann, Al Wright, and Paul Yoder.
The Al G. Wright (1916-2020) collection contains correspondence, programs, articles, notes, scores, and photographs documenting Wright's career as Director of Bands at Purdue University between 1954 and 1981, and his involvement in a variety of wind band organizations.
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