Bachman, Harold B., 1892-1972

Harold Bachman (1892-1972) was a prominent music educator and military bandleader. During World War I, Bachman served as Bandleader of the 116th Engineer Band, and after the war he organized and conducted a professional concert band known as Bachman's Million Dollar Band. During In many ways, Harold Burton Bachman's extraordinary life traces the major currents of the band movement in America. Bachman's leadership of military, professional, and student bands through countless performances during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century inspired others to dedicate themselves to band music and created a positive training ground for talented young musicians and composers. His aura of humor, friendliness, and fine musical performance made a national reputation for Bachman that is still emulated and admired even years after his death. Perhaps more importantly, his great strength of character and memory as a dedicated and inspirational teacher rightfully deserve him a place in history as one of the great leaders and true geniuses of band music in the twentieth century.

Bachman began his musical career in the place of his childhood, Minot, North Dakota. As a young cornetist, he received early training in a number of small circus and local bands beginning around 1903. While attending the North Dakota Agricultural College from 1914-16, he lead the student cadet bands, succeeding his mentor Dr. C. S. Putnam, and played cornet in Bohumir Kryl's famous band during the summers. On the day that the United States entered World War I, Bachman wrote a letter to Adjutant General Angus Fraser volunteering the immediate recruitment of a band for the North Dakota National Guard. The governor approved the offer and, on November 26, 1917, Bachman's band embarked for the European theater. This group later became the 2nd Infantry Band and distinguished itself for fine musical performances entertaining doughboys and dignitaries alike in tours across France. At a concert in St. Nazaire, General Hunter Liggett commented to an aid: "Colonel, that band is worth a Million Dollars to the United States Army." As the band's supreme reputation spread over two continents, so did its new name, "The Million Dollar Band." After the war, Bachman toured his newly incorporated Million Dollar Band annually from Chicago to Florida along the Chataqua Redpath Circuits during the golden era of the professional traveling concert bands. From 1928 to 1942, the band established permanent headquarters in Chicago, playing frequents engagements at Grant Park and gaining a national status from radio broadcasts on CBS and NBC.

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