“Chick” Chavis, a well-known musician and music educator in the Nashville area, started the organization with 100 pieces.
[1] Originally titled as "the Marching 100", the name "Aristocrat of Bands" was given by a sportscaster at a National Football League (NFL) game.
In 1955, the band was the first historically black college or university (HBCU) band to appear on national television[2] with their performance at the Chicago Bears versus Los Angeles Rams NFL game.
[3] The band has been invited and performed in Asia, Africa, North America and Europe.
TSU’s marching band won for their albums “The Urban Hymnal” and “The Poet Who Say By The Door.”[4]