Lumberjack Band

Lumberjack Band
The Lumberjack Band in a 1950 program
Nickname	"Green Bay Packers Band"
Location	Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Founded	1921 (1921)
Director	Wilner Burke (1939–82) Lovell Ives (1982–97)
Fight song	"Go! You Packers! Go!"

The Lumberjack Band, later known as the Green Bay Packers Band, was the official marching band of the Green Bay Packers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Band, which got its name from its plaid flannel uniforms, traced it roots to volunteer groups in the 1920s that would play during Packers' games. The Band was formalized in 1938 and a year later was put under control of the Packers, with Wilner Burke named as band director.

Two of Green Bay's most notable coaches, Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi, each took special roles in supporting the Band. Lambeau provided a dedicated bandstand in the Packers' stadiums; he was convinced that the Band helped enhance the gameday experience and motivated the team to play better. Decades later, Lombardi updated the Band's look, modernized their performance, and renamed them to "Green Bay Packers Band". Burke served as director until 1982, when he handed off his role to his deputy Lovell Ives. The Band was disbanded in 1997, as video screens and recordings took their place. The group was reformed as small groups called the "Green Bay Packers Tailgaters" who would play in the parking lot of Lambeau Field during pre-game tailgating.

The Green Bay Packers were formed in 1919, playing two seasons against local teams in the Wisconsin region. In 1921, the team was admitted to the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which would be renamed a year later to the National Football League (NFL).^[1] That same year, the Lumberjack Band was established, originally as a volunteer group made up of fans.^[2] George DeLair founded the Band to travel with the Packers as they went on the road to play teams in the region.^[3] The Band's goal was to entertain fans and create a lively gameday experience, similar to college marching bands. Although primarily based at City Stadium, the Packers' home stadium from 1925 to 1956, the Band also travelled to road games with the team. The Band's name was derived from one of the prevailing industries in the area, logging and lumber, and the plaid flannel uniforms that bandmembers wore. In 1931, the Band first played "Go! You Packers! Go!", the team’s official fight song.^[4]

In 1938, the Packers took over control of the Band, formalizing its membership and performances. A year later, Wilner Burke was named as the band director, a role he would hold until 1982.^[5] Burke played for the Band in the 1930s, while also playing for an American Legion band.^[6][7] In 1942, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that Band members were paid by the Packers for their performance and rehearsals, while also providing all the necessary facilities to play. Although they were paid, most of the musicians were affiliated with other local musical groups. World War II impacted the Band's membership, causing the Packers to bring in high school and college students.^[8] In addition to musicians, the Band incorporated other performers, including women.^[9] The Band performed before games, during halftime, and in between plays, and featured a mix of polkas, fight songs, and popular tunes of the era.

Curly Lambeau, who co-founded the Packers with George Whitney Calhoun and became the team's first head coach, was convinced that the Band played a role in many Packer victories.^{[citation needed][2]} A bandstand was built at one corner of City Stadium and early designs for Lambeau Field (called New City Stadium when it was first proposed), showed separate stands with a bandstand in one corner, before the decision was made to have a bowl-shaped stadium. When Vince Lombardi became head coach and general manager, he upgraded the Band's look, saying the traditional flannels did not fit with the team's new stadium. He also did not want to "contribute to the myth that anything north of Milwaukee was a logging camp."^[10] The band was renamed simply "The Green Bay Packer Band" and was set up in the southwest corner of the field. The uniforms changed to green military-style outfits. In the 1961, the Press-Gazette noted that the Band was 30 members in size, played swing and marching music, and in addition to their gameday obligations, the Band also played public concerts.^[3] At the time of Lambeau's death in 1965, he was dating Mary Jane Sorgel, a majorette for the Band.^[11] After Burke retired as band director in 1982, his deputy, Lovell Ives, took over.^[6][7] Lombardi called the Lumberjack Band "the best playing band in the National Football League."^[5]

In the 1990s, the use of recorded music and the airing of advertisements on video screens led to the band's playing time being cut back. By 1997, the band was disbanded and re-formed as three six-piece bands called the "Green Bay Packers Tailgaters", which roam the Lambeau Field parking lot before games, playing songs by request for tailgating fans.^[12][13] Although the Packers no longer have an official pep band, their game-day traditions, like the playing of "Go! You Packers Go!", continue to honor the spirit of the Lumberjack Band. The Packers were one of the first professional American football teams to incorporate a dedicated band, influencing other franchises to explore similar entertainment. The Packers Heritage Trail included a statue in its plaza of a band member, honoring the history of the Lumberjack Band.^[14]

• Baltimore's Marching Ravens
• Washington Commanders Marching Band