The Original Big Green Machine
"That Big Band of Distinction"
Close your eyes and picture this image, You are sitting in your seat, patiently awaiting the beginning of the football contest at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium, when off in the distance you hear the slow, methodical cadence of a drum line beginning to play. What starts out low becomes louder as you catch the site of that very drumline making it's way single file down the hill in the East endzone towards the field. Behind the drumline are scores of other participants such as Majorettes, Flags, Sabres, and Sponsors walking single file in perfect step with the drum cadence to take their place on the sideline. You then see what seems like perfectly disciplined toy soldiers walking single file all dressed in Kelly Green uniforms, White belts with Silver buckles shining in the light, marching in step with the cadence that by now has sent chills up your spine just from it's sinister rhythm. The sound of tribal warriors preparing for battle. "A Death March"
It takes almost thirty minutes for the procession to complete it's long walk to the sideline to take their positions, and as it reaches it's crescendo the band of some 240 members or more now takes up most of the sideline on both sides of the field from the forty yard line to the twenty. The drum line has now gathered uniformly in the East end zone with the Chrome from their drums gleaming in the stadium light. You hear the tap of the snare drum 1, 2, 3, 4 as the drum line now takes the field to the twenty five yard line with a dazzling percussive display. When the drums stop, everyone in attendance are now on their feet, standing in anticipation of what is to come next. With a blast of the whistle and a collective yell of 1-2 from the band, the snare drum taps four times. Both sidelines clear as the lines of musicians rush the field in what seems like organized chaos to form a pristine letter "K" in the middle of the field. You have just experienced the entrance of A.L. Brown High School's "Big Green Machine" In it's glory years.
It takes almost thirty minutes for the procession to complete it's long walk to the sideline to take their positions, and as it reaches it's crescendo the band of some 240 members or more now takes up most of the sideline on both sides of the field from the forty yard line to the twenty. The drum line has now gathered uniformly in the East end zone with the Chrome from their drums gleaming in the stadium light. You hear the tap of the snare drum 1, 2, 3, 4 as the drum line now takes the field to the twenty five yard line with a dazzling percussive display. When the drums stop, everyone in attendance are now on their feet, standing in anticipation of what is to come next. With a blast of the whistle and a collective yell of 1-2 from the band, the snare drum taps four times. Both sidelines clear as the lines of musicians rush the field in what seems like organized chaos to form a pristine letter "K" in the middle of the field. You have just experienced the entrance of A.L. Brown High School's "Big Green Machine" In it's glory years.
"A Tribute The Original Big Green Machine"
(Music Performed by the 1968 A.L. Brown Marching Band)
A Different Place, A Different Time
1952-1979
There once was a time in K-Town when the marching band at A.L. Brown High School garnered as much attention as the football team. I am speaking of the original Big Green Machine of A.L. Brown High School. The original Big Green Machine of the early seventies to late nineties were a musical spectacle from start to finish. Their size alone was enough to make any head turn, but size was just the facade of the structure. Within the structure were hundreds of finely trained musicians who from elementary school till their entry into high school had been studying and perfecting their abilities on their chosen instruments. By the time they entered high school, most of them had participated for several years in what was called in that day as "Summer Band" just prior to their entry into high school. Summer Band was an extracurricular program offered to student musicians with the desire to play in either the marching, symphonic and or jazz bands offered at A.L. Brown High School in the early days. The program allowed those musicians the opportunity to further hone their skills during their two and a half month break for summer vacation.
By the time they were sophomores, ready to receive their uniforms, they were at the peak of their playing abilities ready to take that next step onto the playing field at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Something all of them had dreamed of doing as kids. Through countless hours of practice and learning to march during the hot days of July and August they perfected their craft until they were primed and ready to unleash the musical onslaught that awaited thousands of rabid Wonder football fans on opening night. It could easily be argued that there was not one single school organization that added more fire, spirit or energy to a football contest at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium than the Big Green Machine did single handedly. Words cannot adequately describe the vision or the experience of watching over two hundred well disciplined students dressed sharply from head to toe, slowly descending the hill at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Words cannot describe the sound of those members playing the fight song at 110 decibels or the subtle eloquence in which they played the sacred Alma Mater at the conclusion of every football game. Those of us fortunate enough to have experienced this first hand know exactly what I'm talking about, and it's something you will never forget. In that special era, the Big Green Machine were the essence of A.L. Brown High School and the focal point of spirit on Friday Nights in K-Town.
By the time they were sophomores, ready to receive their uniforms, they were at the peak of their playing abilities ready to take that next step onto the playing field at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Something all of them had dreamed of doing as kids. Through countless hours of practice and learning to march during the hot days of July and August they perfected their craft until they were primed and ready to unleash the musical onslaught that awaited thousands of rabid Wonder football fans on opening night. It could easily be argued that there was not one single school organization that added more fire, spirit or energy to a football contest at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium than the Big Green Machine did single handedly. Words cannot adequately describe the vision or the experience of watching over two hundred well disciplined students dressed sharply from head to toe, slowly descending the hill at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Words cannot describe the sound of those members playing the fight song at 110 decibels or the subtle eloquence in which they played the sacred Alma Mater at the conclusion of every football game. Those of us fortunate enough to have experienced this first hand know exactly what I'm talking about, and it's something you will never forget. In that special era, the Big Green Machine were the essence of A.L. Brown High School and the focal point of spirit on Friday Nights in K-Town.
The roots of the original Big Green Machine can be traced back to the opening of A.L. Brown High School in 1952. A.L. Brown High School was a new institution just built to accommodate students who previously had been attending J.W. Cannon High School when it was the proprietary high school in Kannapolis. Many of the band members in the first A.L. Brown Marching Band had attended J.W. Cannon and were getting their chance to make history as the first official marching band at the new school. In fact, large bass drums of the first A.L. Brown Marching Band were still festooned with the J.W. Cannon High logo and markings.
Under the direction of Mr Harvey Turner, the A.L. Brown Marching Band was a proud new organization filled with eager young musicians who shared a mutual love of music. Performing the music of the era, the marching band was a great source of pride for the new school that was eager to begin writing it's own history book. Band Director Harvey Turner would be the mainstay of the marching band for many years as he would direct the organization from the school's opening in 1952 till the end of the marching season in 1967. Though modest in numbers, the A.L. Brown Marching Bands of the fifties had a big sound which dazzled fans at the football games and parades. A.L. Brown's first ever marching band fielded 115 members including band front which consisted primarily of majorettes and the customary five sponsors spelling out the last last five letters in the school's name BROWN. |
A.L. Brown Marching Band
1952-1959
Fifties Gallery
As the sixties began, interest in music programs within the Kannapolis City Schools became an emphasis as young kids would become introduced to the world of music in their early developmental years of elementary school. Kids began learning flute and having the opportunity to participate in their first organized band setting beginning at the fifth grade level under the direction of another fine musical teacher in Mr Harold Matheney. Matheney would guide the youngsters from their early days in elementary school through their junior high school days preparing them for entry into high school. Matheney would also go on to give Harvey Turner assistance as needed at the high school in the years that followed.
From 1960 to 1967 membership in the marching band increased consistently each year from 112 members in 1960 to 142 members by 1967. At the conclusion of the 1967 marching season, Harvey Turner stepped down as Band Director after sixteen years of service. The position would be filled by Mr Robert Ingram, who in 1968 would add Flags to the band front increasing the numbers of the actual marching members once again. This added yet another dimension to the overall visual impact of the marching band. The sixties could be considered an expansion decade as growth in the marching band would continue on a slow, but steady course. By 1969 membership in the A.L. Brown Marching Band had reached it's highest number since the school opened at 150 members. Early emphasis on music programs in the elementary schools and the growing reputation of the marching band at A.L. Brown made being in the marching band the cool thing to do for many years to follow.
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"A.L. Brown Marching Band"
1960-1969
Sixties Gallery
As the sixties gave way to the decade of the seventies, two major events would take place that would forever seal the legacy of the A.L. Brown Marching Band for decades to come. At the end of 1969, the central figure of the A.L. Brown Marching Band Mr Robert Ingram stepped down as the band director and the reigns were turned over to the man who would become the most iconic figure of the A.L. Brown Marching Band to date, The Grand Bandmaster Mr Louis V Bean. A new and exciting era in the history of the marching band was about to begin, and nobody could have imagined how high the bar would be set for generations of marching bands to come in K-Town.
When Louis V Bean took over the marching band at A.L. Brown High School, the popularity of the marching band began to skyrocket as never before. Membership continued to grow and through Bean's consummate professionalism the band took a quantum leap in the arenas of performance and overall skill. In "Papa Lou's" first two years as band director the marching band began competing in band competitions both state and nationwide. In 1970, the A.L. Brown Marching Band made it's first of many appearances at the Southeastern Band Festivals in Bristol Tennessee. That year the 1970-71 marching band would claim it's first of nine consecutive first place titles in this competition, however it wasn't until the 1972-73 marching season that the A.L. Brown Marching Band would have one of it's most landmark outings, and would be christened with a title that would follow the band for decades to come.
In 1972, the A.L. Brown Marching Band was invited to participate in the Greatest Bands in Dixieland Parade in New Orleans Louisiana during the city's Mardi Gras festivities. The marching band would take third place out of twenty two marching bands invited to the competition from around the country, a big accomplishment for "Papa Lou" and his charges in just his third year as band director. Shortly after returning home from New Orleans the band received it's most prestigious invitation to date. Waiting for them was notification that they had been invited to perform at the International Music Festival to be held in Gorinchem Holland in July of 1973. After securing funds from extensive fund raising endeavors along with donations from parents and Cannon Mills Company, the A.L. Brown Marching Band landed in Holland on July 25, 1973. After six days of performances the A.L. Brown Marching Band became Grand Champions of the International Music Festival as the best band in attendance. Residents of Gorinchem who provided room and board for the 203 band members in attendance were overwhelmed by the charm and charisma of the students. They were equally impressed by their professionalism and musical prowess. The band received rave reviews from media outlets covering the event the entire week. Then in a slight twist of fate it happened. In a story about the A.L. Brown Marching Band in a local Dutch newspaper, an historic headline was published referring to the sight of the band as a "Great Green Machine" In that instance, The Big Green Machine was officially born and for thirty years from 1973 till 2003 that name would be synonymous with the commitment to excellence in the A.L. Brown Marching Band for years to come.
When Louis V Bean took over the marching band at A.L. Brown High School, the popularity of the marching band began to skyrocket as never before. Membership continued to grow and through Bean's consummate professionalism the band took a quantum leap in the arenas of performance and overall skill. In "Papa Lou's" first two years as band director the marching band began competing in band competitions both state and nationwide. In 1970, the A.L. Brown Marching Band made it's first of many appearances at the Southeastern Band Festivals in Bristol Tennessee. That year the 1970-71 marching band would claim it's first of nine consecutive first place titles in this competition, however it wasn't until the 1972-73 marching season that the A.L. Brown Marching Band would have one of it's most landmark outings, and would be christened with a title that would follow the band for decades to come.
In 1972, the A.L. Brown Marching Band was invited to participate in the Greatest Bands in Dixieland Parade in New Orleans Louisiana during the city's Mardi Gras festivities. The marching band would take third place out of twenty two marching bands invited to the competition from around the country, a big accomplishment for "Papa Lou" and his charges in just his third year as band director. Shortly after returning home from New Orleans the band received it's most prestigious invitation to date. Waiting for them was notification that they had been invited to perform at the International Music Festival to be held in Gorinchem Holland in July of 1973. After securing funds from extensive fund raising endeavors along with donations from parents and Cannon Mills Company, the A.L. Brown Marching Band landed in Holland on July 25, 1973. After six days of performances the A.L. Brown Marching Band became Grand Champions of the International Music Festival as the best band in attendance. Residents of Gorinchem who provided room and board for the 203 band members in attendance were overwhelmed by the charm and charisma of the students. They were equally impressed by their professionalism and musical prowess. The band received rave reviews from media outlets covering the event the entire week. Then in a slight twist of fate it happened. In a story about the A.L. Brown Marching Band in a local Dutch newspaper, an historic headline was published referring to the sight of the band as a "Great Green Machine" In that instance, The Big Green Machine was officially born and for thirty years from 1973 till 2003 that name would be synonymous with the commitment to excellence in the A.L. Brown Marching Band for years to come.
"The Original Big Green Machine"
1973-2003
From 1973 to 1979 "Papa Lou" continued to direct The Big Green Machine to heights only dreamed of in the years that preceded it. During Bean's ten year tenure as band director, the A.L. Brown Marching Band would capture some of it's most prestigious awards, and would be invited to perform live on the world stage to showcase their unrivaled abilities. From 1973 through 1979 the number of members in the Big Green Machine fluctuated between 225 and 241 members including band front. The addition of Sabres in 1979 would increase the number of marching members by two each season. By 1978 the Big Green Machine boasted 241 members including band front. The 1979 marching season would also record the same number of members making 241 the largest number of marching members for the decade of the seventies.
By 1979, the illustrious Big Green Machine In it's various installments went on to capture Superior ratings in band competitions and music festivals state and nationwide. The Big Green Machine earned 3rd runner up honors at the Greatest bands in Dixieland Parade in New Orleans La in 1972: First Place Winners at the International Band Festival in Gorinchem Holland in 1973: First Division Ratings for nine straight years from 1970-1978 at the Southeastern Music Festivals in Bristol TN: First Place Marching and Parade honors at the Tri State Music Festival in Enid OK in 1976: Selected as State Representative in the Shrine Bowl in Charlotte NC: First Place awards for Flags and Majorettes at Summer Camp in 1977: Selected to represent North Carolina in the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami Fl in 1977.
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The Grand Bandmaster
"Louis V Bean"
Director of Bands at A.L. Brown High School from 1970 to 1979, Louis V Bean received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lenoir Rhyne College and furthered his music mastery at the Vandercook School of Music in Chicago IL. Bean was a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Guild and the First Chair of America. Bean was selected to the First Chair of America as one of it's "Distinguished Bandmasters of America" Bean was also selected as one of the ten Outstanding Musical Directors by School Musician Magazine in 1962.
Halftime performances were nothing short of amazing and each performance was closely observed and critiqued by Bean's ever watchful eye. It would be necessary for the band to begin filing out of the stands midway through the second quarter of a football game just to give the two hundred plus members enough time to make their way to the sidelines to line up for their performance. Any halftime performance by the Big Green Machine was a memorable event, which left the crowd dazzled in utter amazement at the level of proficiency displayed by musicians and performers on the high school level. Everyone who played for "Papa Lou" describes the master as the consummate professional and teacher who demanded his students set high standards for themselves and the organization. Rarely was he disappointed. |
Known to those who served during his tenure as "Papa Lou" Louis V Bean was a strict disciplinarian who demanded 100% effort and heart from his students 100% of the time. The proof was in the pudding by what took the field every Friday night from 1970 to 1979. Mr. Bean could best be described as a field general with a Drum Line and Horn Section as his proprietary weapons. Smoking filterless Camels and carrying a golf club, "Papa Lou" patrolled the practice field during rehearsals listening and critiquing every note and tempo like a human Strobe Tuner and Metronome. If it wasn't to his most stringent requirements he would tell you "That was enough to gag a maggot" and you most assuredly played it over until it met his standards.
In a Quote from Teresa Waldroup Bean, the drum major of the 1974-75 Big Green Machine "Lou was a stern figure who treated everyone fairly. Lou would not tolerate any disrespect. Everyone in the the band including the band front wanted to do good for him" Though a fair man to all, "Papa Lou's" rule was absolute. Being a man of old school values he demanded nothing less from his students. Dress code was stringent in the Big Green Machine. Girls in the band front ie: Sponsors, Majorettes, Banner and flags could wear their hair down, but everyone else had to have their hair up and tucked neatly under their hats. Guys had to be clean shaven and well groomed. Shoes must be polished as did belts and buckles and each band member would be inspected for compliance. The strict discipline within his ranks assured that each edition of the Big Green Machine would be a visually striking, finely tuned, well oiled machine capable of any musical arrangement. There was no music too tough for the Big Green Machine to take on. Franco's Italian Army March, 25 or 6 to 4, Get it On, and Sing Sing Sing were just a few examples of the intricate pieces the Big Green Machine tackled during Bean's tenure, and the renditions were flawless. Mr Bean would not allow for too much down time in the stands during a football game. Pep numbers and drum flourishes were constructed and coordinated which served a dual purpose. Keeping the crowd alive and jumping during pauses in the action, and keeping the band warmed up for halftime performance. |
In "Papa Lou's" final year in 1979, he began experiencing dizziness on the field which prompted him to seek medical attention. Sadly near the end of the marching season in 1979 Mr Bean was diagnosed with a progressive Lung Cancer most likely attributed to his love of filterless Camels. "Papa Lou" would step down at the conclusion of the marching season and the hunt for his successor began. In the year that followed in 1980, Mr Bean received extensive treatments at Bowman Gray Hospital in Winston Salem, but it was not enough to hold the cancer at bay for long. "Papa Lou's" condition deteriorated near the end of 1980 and on Tuesday March 4, 1981 the driving force behind the Big Green Machine's most captivating decade passed away. Bean's passing left a void in the hearts of all those who played for him and loved him. Ask any member of the Big Green Machine from that decade and they will tell you that being under the teutilage of Louis V Bean had a great impact on their lives. The continued love and respect that each former member carries today lives as a standing testament to "Papa Lou's" impact on the marching band, the community and each member's individual lives. Mr. Louis V Bean will forever be remembered as the rock that made the Big Green Machine roll in it's most vibrant and celebrated era.
****In Loving Memory of Mr Louis V Bean You are Never Forgotten****
Bristol 1972
Going Hard in the Big Easy
"Big Green Machine Struts their Stuff in New Orleans in 1972"
In October of 1971, The Big Green Machine learned they had been selected as North Carolina's representative in the Greatest Bands in Dixieland Parade to be held in New Orleans Louisiana in February of 1972. The event was to be held at the height of the Big Easy's Mardi Gras week celebrations and was to be nationally televised. Fund raising efforts were launched to help raise $10,000.00 for travel, food and lodging for the 203 members of the 1972-73 Big Green Machine. The event was a huge success for Bean, and his group as they took the third place prize among the twenty two bands participating in the event. This trip was only a glimpse of bigger and better things to come for the Big Green Machine.
The Holland Trip of 1973
The 1973-74 A.L. Brown Marching Band Takes Their Show International
"The Big Green Machine is Christened"
Holland Gallery
Tri State Music Festival 1976
Seventies Gallery
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Original Sheet Music of the B.G.M.
1974-1976
"The More Things Change,
The More They Stay the Same"
1980-2002
"Mr Charles "Mickey" Driver Takes Over the Show"
Succeeding Louis V Bean as Band Director in 1980, Charles "Mickey" Driver would have the daunting task of carrying the torch that Louis Bean had passed on. Driver would direct the Big Green Machine from 1980 till his retirement in 2002. During this period, the Big Green Machine continued to perform at it's highest level of professionalism customarily expected from an A.L. Brown High School Marching Band. From 1980 to 1981, the Big Green Machine fielded 241 members including band front. This number would be eclipsed in 1982 as the record number of members would be set at 256. The 1982 Big Green Machine holds the record for actual number of marching members in the history of the Big Green Machine. The decade of the eighties were landmark days for the Big Green Machine. The band continued to earn top honors in competitions in such locations as Bristol, Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, Virginia, Texas and New York City. Football was taking off to new heights and every Friday night was highly anticipated by all. A simple $2.75 or $4.00 admission gave fans a ringside seat to witness the best of both worlds put their talents on display. The Big Green Machine alone was worth the price of admission every Friday night. Charles Driver wasn't alone during much of his tenure as band director for the Big Green Machine. Help would come from the blue grass state of Kentucky and her contributions would have long reaching impact on the Big Green Machine in the years that followed.
In 1984 Charles Driver was blessed to have gained the help of a very capable assistant band director in Mrs Lu Graham, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Kentucky. Graham, a Rowan County native and graduate of North Rowan High School boasted a BME and MME from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro when she came to Kannapolis as an assistant to Mr. Driver at A. L. Brown High School, and to Harold Matheney at the Kannapolis Middle School. By the time Graham was hired in the Kannapolis City Schools system, she already had spent four years instructing music at Belmont Junior High and George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester Kentucky as well as instructing part time for one year at Salisbury High School. Graham would claim many professional accolades while in Kentucky including, Outstanding Young Band Director for 1979: GRC Band Kentucky State Marching Band Champs 1980: Reserve Grand Champ at the Contest of Champions in Murfreesboro TN: Numerous 1st place finishes in marching competitions state wide: GRC Symphonic Band Performances at the Kentucky State Music Educator’s Convention, and receiving numerous consistent superiors in other national events.
In 1984 Charles Driver was blessed to have gained the help of a very capable assistant band director in Mrs Lu Graham, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Kentucky. Graham, a Rowan County native and graduate of North Rowan High School boasted a BME and MME from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro when she came to Kannapolis as an assistant to Mr. Driver at A. L. Brown High School, and to Harold Matheney at the Kannapolis Middle School. By the time Graham was hired in the Kannapolis City Schools system, she already had spent four years instructing music at Belmont Junior High and George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester Kentucky as well as instructing part time for one year at Salisbury High School. Graham would claim many professional accolades while in Kentucky including, Outstanding Young Band Director for 1979: GRC Band Kentucky State Marching Band Champs 1980: Reserve Grand Champ at the Contest of Champions in Murfreesboro TN: Numerous 1st place finishes in marching competitions state wide: GRC Symphonic Band Performances at the Kentucky State Music Educator’s Convention, and receiving numerous consistent superiors in other national events.
In Graham's nineteen years co directing the Big Green Machine with Charles Driver, she would be personally responsible for coordinating and engineering the Big Green Machine's appearances at such prestigious events as the 1985 Presidential Inaugural Parade: Battle of Bands Parade Winner in San Antonio Texas: Kentucky Derby Parade in Louisville Ky: Performances in Niagra Falls, MGM theme park marching competition in Orlando Florida and Numerous Performances in the St. Patrick’s Parade in New York City from 1984-1996: Graham would also be responsible in orchestrating the Big Green Machine's appearances in the Peach Bowl Parade and halftime performance in the Tangerine Bowl and Parade during band day in 2003. The Big Green Machine would also participate in the Winter Guard International program claiming the national semi finalist spot for 1997 as well as Grand Champions at the Carolina Indoor Performance Association high school AA championships.
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Content in taking the role as a behind the scenes figure to Charles Driver, Graham's influence on the Big Green Machine during this era was huge, and all are in agreement that her instruction was instrumental in much of the Big Green Machine's success during this time. Graham would finish her role as assistant band director in 2003 with twenty years of service while taking over the music program at the Kannapolis Middle School where she is still active today and continues to garner critical acclaim in her efforts.
In December of 1984 the Big Green Machine were selected to represent North Carolina at the Inauguration Celebration for the fiftieth President of the United States, Mr Ronald Reagan. Possibly one of the biggest invitations at the time for Mr Driver's Big Green Machine. The Band proudly accepted the invitation and traveled to the Nation's Capital for the January 23rd celebration. Unfortunately mother nature was not cooperating on this day and the bands in attendance were unable to march as planned. The band however was taken to the civic auditorium in Washington where they were greeted in mass by the President himself. Band members making the trip were disappointed to have not been able to perform, but look upon this event as one of the proudest moments for the Big Green Machine as a whole. The Big Green Machine were accustom to receiving rave reviews just about anywhere they performed or competed and rarely turned down an opportunity to put their skills on display. From the opening of the Oak Avenue Mall in Kannapolis to the St Patricks Day Parade in New York City, to the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade, the Big Green Machine were always primed and ready to entertain.
The eighties era Big Green Machine proved to the world that there was life after Papa Lou's departure. Throughout the eighties and well into the nineties, Charles Driver and Lu Graham's editions of the Big Green Machine continued on the path of success that had been laid out for all to follow by the master Louis Bean. During this era of the Big Green Machine they would earn such honors as Champions of the All American Judges Association Grand National Championship in 1983: Best High School Unit in the St Patricks Day Parade in New York City 1984: North Carolina Official Representative in the 50th Presidential Inauguration Day Parade in in Washington DC 1985:
Grand Champions at the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade in Louisville Kentucky with Band Front taking Grand Champion Trophy as Best Auxiliary Unit 1987: Superior Rating at the Cary Band Day Invitational 1988: Winter Guard Flags and Majorettes Named Carolina All American State and overall Grand Champion in State Finals in Myrtle Beach SC 1988: "Band of the Day" and 1st Place Central North carolina Band Festival 1989: Champions in the "Battle of Flowers" Parade in San Antonio Texas in 1990 and Participant in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and Performed at Niagra Falls and Canada 1993: Performed at the Standstill Field Show and Indoor Guard Grand Championships at the Musicfest Orlando Competition in Orlando Florida 1996: Quite an impressive list of accolades for any high school marching band, but this of course was the Big Green Machine and success like this was just expected. |
High expectations can put any program in the hot seat year after year whether it be football or band, and the Big Green Machine seemed to shine it's best when the heat was it's hottest. As the football program was basking in it's newly found success, the Big Green Machine were already seasoned veterans, and expected the bar to be set high. Seldom did they fall below their expected potential. Carrying this title meant high expectations from the very start for each edition of the Big Green Machine. Every new member understood that they were carrying the banner for each new edition and nobody wanted to let those that preceded them down. The eighties era Big Green Machines carried the banner proudly and paved the way for the next decade to follow.
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1987-88
The Tradition of the "Baby Buggy"
"The Sophomore Right of Passage into the Big Green Machine"
In the politically correct world we live in today "Hazing" as it is commonly called is not tolerated in high school or college and can come with severe consequences if it happens and is condoned. As with anything in life, common sense must be applied when it comes to the application of harmless traditions and rituals. Case in point the sophomore "Baby Buggy" that was adopted by the Big Green Machine in it's early inception. The "Baby Buggy" was created especially for all the new sophomore recruits as a right of passage into the Big Green Machine by it's upperclassmen. With juniors and seniors having already paid their dues by one or two years of competitions and practicing in the heat of July and August, it was suggested and agreed upon that the incoming sophomores should not have an "Easy Ride" their first year. With that said the "Baby Buggy" was born. It is not clear just when this kiddie cart for the unfortunate underclassmen came into existence, but it has been traced back to the earliest years of the original Big Green Machine.
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Sophomores would have their own specially designated bus that was proudly festooned with the appropriate markings letting the entire world know that these particular band members were just cutting their teeth within the organization. The ride however was just the tip of the iceberg. Sophomore members were assigned tedious tasks of menial labor deemed inappropriate for the battle hardened upperclassmen, namely the polishing of some two hundred or more marching shoes. This was a task expected to be completed by the riders of the "Baby Buggy" at every engagement or competition, and was to be completed to the upperclassmen's liking. Sophomores were also the last to leave the practice field having to wait their turn behind the juniors and seniors of the band.
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To sophomore members of the Big Green Machine, what at the time seemed like demeaning tasks assigned to them by the upperclassmen, made it possible for bonding experiences to happen between classmates in cities far and wide that many hold dear today. It was the right of passage into a brother and sisterhood that was passed down year to year, and as each year passed, those members who once had to perform these dubious tasks got their shot at dishing out some payback to a new class of babies in the buggy.
The Eighties Gallery
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A.L. Brown Fight Song
Performed by the 1986 Big Green Machine
The Big Green Machine Under the Direction Of
"Masters and Mistresses of Ceremony who Led the Charge 1970-2003"
(Not Pictured 90-91, 99-00, 02-03)
"Some Noteworthy Drum Majors of the Original Big Green Machine"
(Pictured Left) Miss Teresa Waldroup: Second female drum major for the Big Green Machine leading the charge during the 1974-75 marching season. Waldroup's beauty and statuesque presence brought an air of regalness to the Big Green Machine during her tenure. Waldroup's pristine strut onto the field charged up any crowd before a game. Waldroup would go down in history as the last solo female drum major for the Big Green Machine.
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(Pictured Left) Mr Brian Lambert: Lambert Became drum major for the Big Green Machine in the 1980-81 marching season. Lambert would share responsibilities with co drum major Edwin Norris in the 1981-82 marching season. Lambert would go down in history as the last solo drum major for the Big Green Machine and the first to hold the title of drum major for two consecutive years.
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(Picture Right) Camilla Hall and Tim Crainshaw: Hall and Crainshaw would become the first drum major duo in the history of the Big Green Machine during the 1978-79 marching season. They were also the first male/female combination to share drum major responsibilities.
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(Picture Left) Kristi Nicholson and Keith Hunter: Drum Majors 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. Nicholson and Hunter would go down in history as the last drum majors for the final Big Green Machine of 2003-04 marching season.
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The Seventies
70-71 Larry Harris 71-72 Mike Haithcock 72-73 Joan Campbell ** First Female Drum Major** 73-74 Billy Rogers 74-75 Teresa Waldroup 75-76 Wayne Peoples 76-77 Ben Jones 77-78 Eric Richardson 78-79 Tim Crainshaw and Camilla Hall 79-80 Louis C Bean and Rusty Spry |
The Eighties
80-81 Brian Lambert 81-82 Edwin Norris and Brian Lambert 82-83 Everette Wallace and Mary Weatherbee 83-84 Brent Lambert and Gina Norwood 84-85 Jeff Cannon and Sabrina Smith 85-86 George Wiseman and Angie Miles 86-87 Jay White and Ben Dupree 87-88 Luanne Thomlinson and Susan Vaughan 88-89 Thomas King, Belinda Eaves and Richard Moore 89-90 Jeff Clement and Trent Meadows |
The Nineties
90-91 Melissa Wells, Billy Garrin and Wendy Pate 91-92 Antiffia McElrath, Heather Wilhelm, Jodi Jackson 92-93 Kristen Byrd, Kenya Bridges and David Johnson 93-94 Amy Todd, Kenya Bridges and Gina Thomasson 94-95 Gina Thomasson, Amy Hazeltine and Amy Todd 95-96 Shunda Smith, Bobby Maddox, Vontriece Mcelreth 96-97 Meredith Macon,Vontriece Mcelreth,Shunda Smith 97-98 Nikki Purser, Elliot Bradley and Alex Elliot 98-99 Alex Elliot, Nikki Purser, and Elliot Bradley 99-00 Miriam Kirk, Sunni Goodson and Ashlyn McCree |
2000-2003
00-01 Sunni Goodson, Ashlyn McCree, Jennifer Furney 01-02 Sunni Goodson, Jennifer Furney 02-03 Kristi Nicholson, Keith Hunter 03-04 Kristi Nicholson, Keith Hunter |
Nineties Gallery
Gallery #1
Gallery #2
Gallery #3
Gallery #4
Gallery #5
A.L. Brown High School Proudly Presents
"The Big Green Machine"
"Live Video Gallery"
1983 Only Time Will Tell
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1983 Billy Jean
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1983 You've Lost That Loving Feeling
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1986 Aztec Fire
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1986 Sing Sing Sing
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1986 A.L. Brown Fight Song
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1989 Halftime Show
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1990 Halftime Show
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1991 Halftime Show
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1992 Halftime Show
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1993 Halftime Show
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1994 Halftime Show
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The Hits List
"Music the Big Green Machine Mastered through the Years"
McBeth-Fanfare
St Louis Blues Colonel Bogey Well, Git it Blow Gabriel Blow Me and My Shadow Release Me Step to the Rear Rampart Street Parade Ol Man River |
Franco's Italian Army
25 or 6 to 4 Get it On America the Beautiful Castle Gap March Stars and Stripes March Drammatico Misty Servicemen on Parade II Bersagliere March |
On Broadway
Temptation Cumana Over the Rainbow Georgie Dueling Banjos Take the A Train Still Tico, Tico Billy Jean |
Only Time will Tell
That Loving Feeling Aztec Fire Sing, Sing, Sing America California Girls Georgia On my Mind Malaga She Believes in Me |
Long Time Gone
"The Big Green Machine's Swan Song"
2000-2003
Historically speaking, the original Big Green Machine were always known to be a very large and musically active organization within the community. As the decade of the nineties came to an end, ushering in the new millenium, a radical shift in the status quo was about to begin. The nineties would prove to be the final decade in the era of the "Big Bands" within the area high school ranks. The closing of Cannon Mills, block scheduling, extracurricular activities that were not available to kids in years past and most importantly funding to musical programs that were so prevalent in decades past were reduced exponentially. All these factors took it's inevitable toll on the Big Green Machine as we once knew it. By 2000 it was becoming evident that interest in participating in the marching band was waning as numbers on the field reflected. The 2000 Big Green Machine would field 152 members with the 2001 version fielding 165 members. In the final two years the 2002 edition would field 160 members with the 2003 edition fielding 158 members. The 2003 Big Green Machine would go down in the history book to be the last A.L. Brown Marching Band to carry that prestigious title. In 2004, the moniker that had become synonymous with this larger than life musical extravaganza for three decades in Kannapolis was retired. What was once known to many in K-Town for three decades was now reduced to a fond memory.
The Marching band's numbers continued on a steady decline until 2007 when numbers hit it's lowest point. The 2007 A.L. Brown Marching Wonders as they are now called fielded only 58 members total, almost one hundred and fifty members short of the norm. To many of the lifelong residents of K-Town, The Big Green Machine didn't seem like an appropriate name for a band fielding such small numbers. The A.L. Brown Marching Wonders as they are called today came under the direction of several different directors after Charles Driver's retirement in 2002. Today the A.L. Brown Marching Wonders are under the direction of Mr Gordon Snyder who took over in 2008. Since then, participation in the marching band has picked up some since 2007, but the continuing economic hard times and the lack of financial support for music programs within the area schools has made growth slow. Hope remains that there will be a rejuvenation in the music programs within the area schools and that one day being in the marching band will once again be the cool thing to do.
The Marching band's numbers continued on a steady decline until 2007 when numbers hit it's lowest point. The 2007 A.L. Brown Marching Wonders as they are now called fielded only 58 members total, almost one hundred and fifty members short of the norm. To many of the lifelong residents of K-Town, The Big Green Machine didn't seem like an appropriate name for a band fielding such small numbers. The A.L. Brown Marching Wonders as they are called today came under the direction of several different directors after Charles Driver's retirement in 2002. Today the A.L. Brown Marching Wonders are under the direction of Mr Gordon Snyder who took over in 2008. Since then, participation in the marching band has picked up some since 2007, but the continuing economic hard times and the lack of financial support for music programs within the area schools has made growth slow. Hope remains that there will be a rejuvenation in the music programs within the area schools and that one day being in the marching band will once again be the cool thing to do.
2000-2003 Gallery
Gallery #1
The Original Big Green Machine
"Epilogue"
Looking back at this great moment in time of the original Big Green Machine makes me realize how fortunate I was to be able to personally witness the magic they created. Today, the mere mention of the original Big Green Machine Conjures up a truck load of fond memories for folks like myself who remained in K-Town after the mill closed it's doors in 2003. Memories of a time when bigger was always better, and the commitment to excellence in the marching band was as much a tradition as it was with the football program. It may sound cliche, but when I say (If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand) that statement couldn't ring more true when it came to experiencing the sights and sounds of the original Big Green Machine live during it's glory years. Some 8920 students have participated in various editions of the Big Green Machine during it's heyday, and each member has their own individual story to tell of what a thrill and honor it was to have been part of that distinguished group. Nobody can deny the level of excitement and energy the original Big Green Machine brought to football contests, parades, and competitions during this glorious era of big marching bands. The original Big Green Machine left enormous footsteps to be filled by those that came after them. It's a daunting task for any band to take on, but their legacy lives today as an inspiration to those marching bands of the future. Inspiration for them to strive to achieve the same level of excellence and musicianship the original Big Green Machine did so long ago or perhaps surpass it. -The editor
"Often Imitated, Never Duplicated"
Editor's Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
This page is a tribute and homage to the original Big Green Machine that was historically born in 1973 and who graced the field at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium some three decades after. This page is not intended to detract or otherwise slight any A.L. Brown Marching Band that did not carry the title of the Big Green Machine. Every marching band that preceded it or came after has done an exceptional job and has contributed to the history of the A.L. Brown Marching Band admirably.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to thank the following contributors for donating their time and materials to this effort,
so that this page could serve as a fitting tribute to the glory years of the original Big Green Machine. The Hinson History Center and Kannapolis History Associates, Teresa Waldroup Bean, Brian and Brent Lambert, Evan Parton, Derrick and Amy Brammer, Elizabeth Norris, Lora Duplisea Smith, Rick Metcalf, Rhonda Beasley Pierce, and Gordon Snyder.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to thank the following contributors for donating their time and materials to this effort,
so that this page could serve as a fitting tribute to the glory years of the original Big Green Machine. The Hinson History Center and Kannapolis History Associates, Teresa Waldroup Bean, Brian and Brent Lambert, Evan Parton, Derrick and Amy Brammer, Elizabeth Norris, Lora Duplisea Smith, Rick Metcalf, Rhonda Beasley Pierce, and Gordon Snyder.