Fort Valley State University Blue Machine Marching Band

The Fort Valley Valley State University’s Band consists of Concert Band, Jazz Band, and The Blue Machine Marching Band also known as The Sound and The Fury!! Fort Valley State University’s band made its first appearance on homecoming day, November 16, 1946. The band was under the direction of Mr. E.N. Weston. During halftime of the game. The band, along with a group of young ladies marched to the center of the field and formed the letters ‘F’ and ‘V’ after which they played the college hymn and marched off the field.

The Blue Machine Marching Band was the first SIAC band to play the famous jazz tune of “Black and Blues” by Al Jarreu, which was arranged by the then director Eric Baskin. In 2005 The Blue Machine Marching Band also appeared in a Church’s Chicken commercial. The Blue Machine aired in their first televised football game against Fisk University on ABC in 1975. The Blue Machine had one of its largest marching bands in 2004 with a total of 164 members. February 6-9, 2016. The Blue Machine marched the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans, Louisiana for the first time.