Christian Brothers Band in 1931-32
Captain Charles Harrison (Front Center)
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL BAND
DETAILED HISTORY
1931-1932
Christian Brothers Band in 1931-32
Captain Charles Harrison (Front Center)
In 1931 the Christian Brothers Band went through a sort of re-organization. Events leading up to the re-organization are unclear but seem to be due to a nation wide interest in school bands brought about by the popularity of the national band contests of the late 1920's. Also a factor in the re-organization was the efforts of Mr. Saul Bluestein, owner of the Melody Music Shop. Mr. Bluestein was responsible for employing Mr. Charles Harrison to organize school bands in Memphis, Eastern Arkansas, and Northern Mississippi. Harrison, who had received an engineering degree from Mississippi State University, was employed by a local elevator company and played lead trumpet in Malcolm Burks Dance Band.
Captain Charles F. Harrison
On September 22, 1931, Christian Brothers hired Captain Charles F. Harrison to re-organize the band. The Knights of Columbus gave the school a loan of 24 musical instruments. Captain Harrison was employed by several schools in the area to jumpstart band programs all over the city.
The band room at 612 Adams
Captain Charles Harrison (back row, third from left)
On November 11, 1931, the forty piece band, in uniforms of purple and gold, marched with the contingent of CBC students in the Armistice Parade to be awarded the trophy. Participation in this parade was an annual feature, and CBC repeatedly carried off the trophy. The November 11, 1931 issue of the Memphis Press Scimitar reads: "10,000 March in Peace Pageant...CBC got the Lloyd T. Binford cup offered to prep schools and colleges."
Some students participating in the Band consisted of: S. Baker, R. Brinkley, J. Freeman, A. McGee, J. Walsh, J. McCarter, R. Brown, F. Sampietro, R. Wallace, L. Cooney, M. McGianis, G. Osterloh, J. Folladori, A. Brown, J. Gibson, R. O'Brien, E. Crockett, R. Gibson, J. Sheridan, and E. Wade.