LSU football season is upon us, and that means game-day traditions like the march down Victory Hill, the goosebumps-inducing Pregame Salute, and “Hey Fightin’ Tigers,” all courtesy of the celebrated Golden Band from Tigerland.

Kick off Homecoming Week and join LSU Libraries Special Collections at 6:00 p.m.  (informal pre-talk reception to begin at 5:30) on Tuesday,  September 27, in the lecture hall of Hill Memorial Library as Faye Phillips discusses her recent book The Golden Band from Tigerland: A History of LSU's Marching Band (LSU Press, September 2016), co-authored with Tom Continé.  Director of Bands Emeritus Frank Wickes, who wrote a foreword for the history, will also be on-hand to sign copies with Phillips. Books will be sold on site by the LSU Barnes & Noble.

The event is free and open to the public.

The title is the most recent release in LSU Press’s Hill Collection Series. With over 150 spectacular photographs, many sourced from the LSU Libraries Special Collections, The Golden Band from Tigerland traces the group’s evolution from its inception over a century ago as a brass band started by eleven cadets of the Ole War Skule to the role Huey Long played in developing the band under the directorship of Castro Carazo, to the tenures of directors William F. Swor and Frank B. Wickes and the first female drum major, Kristie Smith, in 1999. Continé and Phillips highlight the band’s recent triumphs as well, including the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and traveling abroad to march in Hong Kong’s New Year celebration and Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In his foreword to the book, Mr. Wickes acknowledges the contributions of the thousands of Tiger Band students whose talent and energy transformed a small brass group into an acclaimed marching band.

Prior to her retirement in 2012, Phillips served as associate dean of libraries for Special Collections at LSU and worked as an archivist at the United States Senate, the National Archives and Records Administration, and many other institutions. Phillips is the owner of V F Phillips Consulting, an appraisal, archival services, and local history research consulting firm. Continé, a native of Louisiana and alumnus of the LSU Marching Band, led a distinguished career in education and professional development for three decades. In addition to publishing seven books on effective teaching, Continé contributed to Call Me Coach: A Life in College Football by Paul F. Dietzel.

For additional information about the event or image requests, contact Special Collections, 225-578-6544 or special@lsu.edu.  More about the book can be found at bit.ly/goldenband or contacting LSU Press, 225-578-8282 or erolfs@lsu.edu.