JWG Wolverine

August 27th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^

Today’s featured Michigan Marching Band release was supposed to be next Nix-era record The Blue Album (2008), but after failing to find anything about it beyond just encyclopedic listings I decided to move away from the MMB-specific discography for perhaps the most famous compilation album in college band history…

Released under Vanguard in 1961, Touchdown USA features a Revelli-directed iteration of the University of Michigan Band program playing several all-time fight songs in the sport. The first side is an all-Big Ten medley (when there were few enough teams in the conference to do such a thing), and the second side goes national with it. Nearly all of the arrangements played were unique ones done by longtime MMB legend Jerry Bilik — and his artistic voice plays a strong role in the nature of the album (most notably a wild key change during the MSU fight song, making it impossible for Sparties to sing along in tune).

LISTEN: Internet Archive has samples available for every song, and this Facebook page has several of the songs uploaded in full as videos.

BUY: Discogs has 32 listings (most of which on vinyl, but some CDs and even a reel-to-reel copy!), Amazon has 27 listings, eBay has tons more.

DISCOGS INFO: https://www.discogs.com/release/15791158-University-Of-Michigan-Band-Touchdown-USA-The-Big-Ten-And-Other-Great-College-Marches-Of-The-Gridiron

JWG Wolverine

August 27th, 2023 at 8:32 PM ^

Also worth noting that Jerry Bilik turns an energetic and healthy 90 years old this season, and goes hand-in-hand with the 125th birthday for "The Victors" as the main historic angle of this season for the MMB.

Here he is conducting Band 126's first-ever run through (with all members present) of his "M Fanfare" last week...

Enjoy!!

JWG Wolverine

August 27th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^

Today’s NIL Spotlight stars the #6 featured on the big stage above, and he is joined by freshman defensive back Brandyn Hillman!

JOHNSON: Twitter/Instagram

HILLMAN: Twitter/Instagram/YouTube

https://nxconnect.me/cornelius.johnson

https://www.mden.com/search.html?S001=cornelius+johnson&x=0&y=0

https://revelmoments.com/products/wolverine-plus

BUY THEIR JERSEYS: https://www.mden.com/customized-jerseys.html#1

For their (and their teammates') NIL offerings: https://valiantmanagementgroup.com/marketplace/

For business inquiries: https://dash.inflcr.com/exchange/university-of-michigan

COLLECTIVES: Champions CircleHail! ImpactStadium & MainAnn Arbor NIL ClubMGoDAO

FUTURE SUPPORT: MPower