About. |
Early History
The Fort Worth City Band began in 1960 as the Lions Club Band, organized by members of the 28 Fort Worth Lions Clubs. The inaugural ensemble was conducted by TCU Band Director James A. Jacobsen, and in early 1961 the group gave its first major performance at the Lions Mid-Winter Conference in Denton.
That same year, the group was asked to perform during lulls in the action at the Cotton Bowl during Dallas Texans games and changed its name to the Texans Band. It wasn't long before the Texans moved on to Kansas City, and the Dallas Cowboys took their place. So of course the group changed its name to the Cowboys Band and hung around playing for the Cowboys games until 1975. At the end of a fifteen year run as a football band, the group once again evolved to meet the needs of the day, becoming the Metroplex Band to reflect its growing service to North Texas.
That same year, the group was asked to perform during lulls in the action at the Cotton Bowl during Dallas Texans games and changed its name to the Texans Band. It wasn't long before the Texans moved on to Kansas City, and the Dallas Cowboys took their place. So of course the group changed its name to the Cowboys Band and hung around playing for the Cowboys games until 1975. At the end of a fifteen year run as a football band, the group once again evolved to meet the needs of the day, becoming the Metroplex Band to reflect its growing service to North Texas.
1980s and Onward
Circa 1984, the Band was invited to play at an official Fort Worth function. At this city-wide event, one of our founding members, local weatherman and cornetist extraordinaire Harold Taft, was approached by Mayor Bob Bolen.
"Who IS this group of musicians?" the Mayor asked, "Are y'all some kind of city band?" Taft replied, "Why, we can be whatever you want us to be, Mr. Mayor!" About this same time, dignitaries from Fort Worth's "Sister City" of Trier, Germany, came to visit Cowtown and brought their own "city band" to play a concert.
Mayor Bolen did not want Fort Worth to be without its own city band. Shortly after this conversation, the City Council officially proclaimed our group to be The Fort Worth City Band.
"Who IS this group of musicians?" the Mayor asked, "Are y'all some kind of city band?" Taft replied, "Why, we can be whatever you want us to be, Mr. Mayor!" About this same time, dignitaries from Fort Worth's "Sister City" of Trier, Germany, came to visit Cowtown and brought their own "city band" to play a concert.
Mayor Bolen did not want Fort Worth to be without its own city band. Shortly after this conversation, the City Council officially proclaimed our group to be The Fort Worth City Band.
Our Goal
For over six decades, the band has enriched civic life through concerts, parades, and cultural celebrations. Its mission is ‘to provide members of the community a place to create and foster their love of music.’ We meet once weekly to rehearse and perform at various locations in and around Fort Worth on a regular basis.
Our amateur musicians come from across the metro area and span over six decades in age, with members as young as 20's to those more seasoned instrumentalists in their 80's. We are teachers, lab techs, law enforcement professionals, warehouse workers, court officials, physical therapists, mental health professionals, military veterans, realtors, a few band directors, and retirees of all stripes.
We consider ourselves to be a true community band where people from all walks of life are welcome to join as we serve the community of Tarrant County and beyond!
Our amateur musicians come from across the metro area and span over six decades in age, with members as young as 20's to those more seasoned instrumentalists in their 80's. We are teachers, lab techs, law enforcement professionals, warehouse workers, court officials, physical therapists, mental health professionals, military veterans, realtors, a few band directors, and retirees of all stripes.
We consider ourselves to be a true community band where people from all walks of life are welcome to join as we serve the community of Tarrant County and beyond!
Our Conductors
Robbie Edwards
Edwards was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. Upon graduating from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1985, he began his career as a high school band director in a small Oklahoma town where he taught for three years before coming to his senses and returning to his Texas roots. A member of TEA, TMAA, TBA and Phi Beta Mu, Edwards has taught at every level in the public schools where his bands were consistent winners of the UIL sweepstakes award, as well as being selected "Best in Class" or "Best Overall" at concert and marching competitions across the state and beyond. Though retired, Robbie remains active as an adjudicator and clinician who enjoys working with bands at all levels; and is especially thrilled to be part of the Fort Worth City Band. He has a beautiful wife, Sherri, four 'finally-out-of-the-house' children, three exceptional grandchildren, and a rambunctious but loveable Golden Pyrenees named Teddy.
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Gene Lamb
Gene Lamb is a product of the great Paschal High School Bands of the 1960s. After Paschal, he graduated from TCU with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in 1973 and 1975. His Brewer High School Bands of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards winners, Texas State Marching Band Contest contestants, Best in Class winners, and sometimes First Place overall, beating out bands from larger classifications. After 19 years of band directing, he entered into public school administration in the White Settlement and Castleberry Independent School Districts. Gene lives in Fort Worth near his son, daughter, 10 (!) grandchildren, and is now in real estate.
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