Gamma Omega - Beta Omicron

The band at Texas Southern University was organized at Houston College for Negroes during the school year of 1945 - 1946.  At this time, the veterans were returning from World War II.  Many were also enrolling into this new school of higher education.  Mr. Allen E. Norton, acting Dean at that time, requested a list of at least twenty-five (25) names so that a college band could be added to the extracurricular activities.  Upon this request, thirty - five (35) interested musicians organized the first band of this institution.  Conrad Johnson was contacted to serve as the Band Director.  Welcome one and all to the greatest half time show of the ages.  Shortly, not only will you see, but you will hear some talented musicians who will entertain you.  So, don’t go away, or you’ll miss the show of all shows presenting, THE TIGER BAND OF T.S.U. LAND!  First, you’d see a group of girls representing majorettes.  They carried, and dropped quite often, batons of many shining colors - - red, blue, silver, and gold.  They wore white knee high boots, short skirts with blouses.  However, the head majorette wore maroon one piece outfits of glimmering fabric.  Next to enter the field were two rows of people playing woodwind instruments.  Alongside, forming a third row, were drummers beating drums of all sorts, sizes, shapes, and colors.  The bass drum, with its muffled sound, was flanked on both sides by two pairs of cracked cymbals, polished with a little rust for glamour.  Behind the percussion section, the blaring tubas marched, bringing with them the trumpets, the baritone horns, and a french horn.  Most of the band would wear the remainder of the maroon and gray uniforms which had seen their better and brighter days.  Most of the uniforms had patches, pins and paper clips.  The patches were sewn to cover the unwelcomed holes, the pins and paper clips were used to fasten together the pants and coats.  The band hats were box shaped with a white leather strap that fastened under the chin.  A secret about most of the hats, they didn’t have a top, only the brim and a leather strap existed.  The 1967 season included many other tricks and treats.  We were told to march from the Music Building to Jefferson Stadium.  As we started down Cleburne Street, dogs would bark, some tried to bite too, people would laugh and allow their children to throw garbage, tomatoes, and even raw eggs at us.  Some of us were hit by these items.  Believe me, we were all tired of being laughed at by the entire Southwestern Athletic Conference! (SWAC)  What could we do?  We tried, to no avail, talking to the band director about changing our shows, especially the music.  By the following season, 1968, we had been awarded new uniforms to encourage continual participation in the band.  They were a tremendous improvement over the uniforms of yesterday.  However, our hats resembled those worn by Milkmen with an added gray “feather” worn on top.  At the close of the Spring 1969 Concert Season, we heard rumors of a new band director for the Fall Season.  Based upon the facts of the rumors, the man was a black man.  Of course, experience had taught us not to build our hopes too high.  Previous years, the same rumor raged throughout our ears and each time David Peters would return with his “Everything Coming Up Roses”.  To our great surprise, this was no longer a rumor, but the divine truth.  July 1969, we were proudly introduced to our “Black Moses” in our time of trouble, Mr. Benjamin J. Butler, II and the birth of the “Ocean of Soul”.  From that day to eternity, “Mr. Soul” will always have a special place in my heart and memory for his musical inspirations.  Since the name “Ocean of Soul” was given to the Texas Southern University Band by a local radio show, talking about a mountain of soul for Houston, it has commanded the interest and attention of the public locally and nationally.  The flashy, pace setting, “Ocean of Soul” have appeared at numerous professional football games and recently, at the Battle of the Bands.  Also, in 1973, at this Battle of the Band performances, the “Ocean of Soul” revealed to the public, for the first time, its new band uniforms.  These uniforms were designed and represented the first class band, the “Ocean of Soul” band uniform is completely different from anyone else’s .