In 1921, Paul ‘Spotts’ Emrick decided that the “All-American” Marching Band needed something to set them apart from other bands. Emrick’s idea called for a bass drum larger than any other. The idea ...

For long periods of time between 1940 to 1954, the Purdue Big Bass Drum sat ... Once again the drum took its place at the center of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band on the football field. Over ...

Finally, frustrated by the incongruity of 170 red-coated, instrument-bearing Harvard bandsmen, marching irresistably ... employed sitting on top of the big bass drum wielding a mammoth beater.