Paladin Regiment

Last updated
Paladin Regiment
School Furman University
Location Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Conference Southern Conference
Founded1920
DirectorJay Bocook and Sue Samuels
Members230

The Paladin Regiment is the marching band of Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. The band performs at all Paladin home football games and usually travels to one away game each year. The band is under the direction of Drum Corps International Hall of Fame arranger Jay Bocook and Furman Director of Bands Dr. Sue Samuels. The Paladin Regiment is open to all Furman students and students from Greenville Technical College. [1]

The band has performed before audiences at professional football games and Disney World shows. The band has also performed at numerous regional exhibitions, including state marching championships. The Paladin Regiment is composed of woodwinds, brass, percussion, color guard, twirlers, and a dance troupe.

The band started in 1920. Dan Ellis became its director in 1958. [2] In his first year, the marching band fielded about 40 members. [3] By 1972, Ellis had built the band up to 120 members. [4] Ellis also started the annual Furman University Marching Band Competition in 1968. [5] From 1980 to 1986, this high school band contest was one of eight regional Tropicana Music Bowl events, with the winners invited to perform in the Orange Bowl Parade. [6] The Music Bowl proceeds benefited the Greenville Shriners Hospital for Children, and the annual contest served as a recruitment tool for the Furman band program. [7]

Jay Bocook served as Director of Bands from 1982 to 1989. [8] During his tenure, the band adopted corps-style marching and recorded marching band music for promotional albums by Jenson Publications, where Bocook was an arranger, between 1983 [9] and 1988. [10] The band grew to a peak of 193 members in 1983 and was the subject of an article in Southern Living in 1984. [11]

After Bocook’s departure, John C. Carmichael served as Director of Bands from 1989 to 1993, [12] followed by Dr. Leslie W. Hicken from 1993 to 2019. [13] During Hicken’s tenure, the marching band was renamed the Paladin Regiment in 1995, [14] and Jay Bocook returned in 2000 in the newly formed position of Director of Athletic Bands. [15] The band continued to embrace corps-style marching, expanded its front ensemble (pit) substantially, and added dance breaks, electric guitars, and electronic enhancements. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenville, South Carolina</span> City in South Carolina, United States

Greenville is a city in and the county seat of Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 census, it is the 6th-most populous city in the state. Greenville is located approximately halfway between Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, along Interstate 85. Its metropolitan area also includes Interstates 185 and 385. Greenville is the anchor city of the Upstate, a combined statistical area with an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023. Greenville was the fourth fastest-growing city in the United States between 2015 and 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furman University</span> Private university in Greenville, South Carolina, US

Furman University is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826 and named after Baptist pastor Richard Furman, Furman University is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. It became a secular university in 1992, while keeping Christo et Doctrinae as its motto. As of Fall 2021, it enrolls approximately 2,300 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students on its 750-acre (304 ha) campus.

Jay Bocook is a professional composer and arranger, and also the Director of Athletic Bands at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He was born in Clearwater, Florida in 1953 and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University in 1975, and went on to receive a Master of Music degree from University of Louisiana at Monroe,. He is an alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national men's music fraternity. Bocook became a Sinfonian at Furman University, joining the Gamma Eta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 1972. He was also inducted into the Theta Lambda chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota as a National Arts Associate in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furman Paladins</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Furman University

The Furman Paladins are the varsity athletic teams representing Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, in intercollegiate athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel–Furman football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Citadel–Furman football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by The Citadel Bulldogs football team of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Furman Paladins football team of Furman University.

Alvah Tindal Sublett was a college football and baseball player.

The 1988 Furman Paladins football team represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their third year under head coach Jimmy Satterfield, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 13–2 with a conference mark of 6–1, sharing the SoCon title with Mashall. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Delaware in the first round, Marshall in the quarterfinals, Idaho in the semifinals, and Georgia Southern in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game.

The 1999 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1999 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bobby Johnson, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a conference mark of 7–1, sharing the SoCon title with Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they were upset by UMass in the first round.

The 2001 Furman Paladins football team represented the Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by Bobby Johnson in his eighth and final year as head coach, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 12–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the SoCon title with Georgia Southern. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Western Kentucky in the first round, Lehigh in the quarterfinals, and Georgia Southern in the semifinals before losing to Montana in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game.

The 2004 Furman Paladins football team represented the Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Bobby Lamb, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, sharing the SoCon title with Georgia Southern. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Jacksonville State in the first round before losing to the eventual national champion, James Madison, in the quarterfinals.

The 1985 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their eighth year under head coach Dick Sheridan, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 12–2 with a conference mark of 6–0, winning the SoCon title. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Rhode Island in the quarterfinals, Nevada in the semifinals, and were upset by Georgia Southern in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game.

The 1978 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Dick Sheridan, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 8–3 with a conference mark of 4–1, winning a share of the SoCon title.

The 1985 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the Furman Paladins and the Georgia Southern Eagles. The game was played on December 21, 1985, at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. The culminating game of the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season, it was won by Georgia Southern, 44–42.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furman–Wofford football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Furman–Wofford football rivalry, sometimes referred to as the Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry or the I-85 rivalry, is an American college football rivalry game played by the Furman Paladins football team of Furman University and the Wofford Terriers football team of Wofford College. The teams have played 96 times in total, dating back to first game in 1889. Furman currently leads the series with 56 wins, to Wofford's 34, with 7 ties.

The 1974 Furman Paladins football team represented the Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. Led by Art Baker in his second year as head coach, William & Mary Furman the season 5–6 overall and 2–4 in SoCon play to place seventh.

The 1958 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1958 college football season. In their first season under head coach Bob King, Furman compiled an overall record of 2–7 with a mark of 1–2 in conference play, placing eighth in the SoCon.

The 1965 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth season under head coach Bob King, Furman compiled a 5–5 record, with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing eighth in the SoCon.

The 1972 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their 15th season under head coach Bob King, Furman compiled a 2–9 record, with a mark of 1–6 in conference play, placing seventh in the SoCon.

The 2002 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their first year under head coach Bobby Lamb, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a conference mark of 6–2, finishing tied for second in the SoCon. Furman advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they were upset by Villanova in the first round.

The 2006 Furman Paladins football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In their fifth year under head coach Bobby Lamb, the Paladins compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a conference mark of 6–1, finishing second in the SoCon. Furman advanced to the playoffs, where they were defeated by Montana State in the first round.

References

  1. "Marching and Pep Bands". Furman University. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  2. Beckford, John (Winter 2008). "Dan Ellis: Man with a Golden Heart". Furman Magazine. 50 (4): 30. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  3. "Bonhomie Volume 59". Furman University. 1959. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  4. "Bonhomie, Volume 73". Furman University. 1973. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  5. "Bands Will Play at Furman Game". Greenville News . September 15, 1968. p. 14.
  6. "Marching Bands Compete Saturday". The State . September 18, 1980. p. 6-C.
  7. Lucas, Lynne (October 3, 1986). "Strike Up the Band!". Greenville News . p. 1-C.
  8. "Jay Bocook". Hal Leonard. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  9. "The Sound of Excitement - Marching Band '83 from Jenson Publications". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  10. "Feel the Heat - Marching Band '88 Vol. 1 from Jenson Publications". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  11. Childress, Mark. "A Song for the Band." Southern Living. September 1984. Football Section: All-South '84, pp. 12s-18s.
  12. "Expanded Bio". John C. Carmichael, Conductor. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  13. "Symphonic Winds Concert April 12 Honors Retiring Professor Les Hicken". Furman University News. April 1, 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  14. "Bonhomie, Volume 96". Furman University. 1996. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  15. "Jay Bocook". Hal Leonard. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  16. "Tiny Furman Band Wows with Styx Show". College Marching. 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2021-11-07.