The history of the North Carolina Central's Marching Band dates back to the 1930s when Dr. Stephen Junius Wright, an assistant professor of education at the then North Carolina College in Durham, was asked to organize the first marching band.

Jones is credited for growing the band to around 120 members and gaining both national and local recognition for their performances.

The following year, the band performed during halftime of the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys football game in front of 56,000 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Members of the band's auxiliary units include the drum majors, Color guard, and dancers As is the style commonly found in HBCU bands, The Sound Machine utilizes a variation of the high step marching style.

This involves the lifting of the knee with legs directly in front, thighs parallel to the ground, and toes pointed downward.