History of the Warrior Band

updated 7/25/11

Although we do not know exactly when the instrumental music program at SMS started, there is evidence that it dates back at least to the 1940′s, possibly even the late 30′s. (We have pictures showing the WB wearing capes even back then!)  The very first KC Honor Music Festival was held in the Standard Auditorium very early in the 1950′s.  The Warrior MARCHING Band has existed since at least 1950. The oldest trophy on our shelves is dated October 29, 1950 for the GOBARINO festival. A google search indicates that this might have been an Oildale event held in at least 1950&51.( Anyone with more details is welcome to contact SMS.)  The 2010 marching season marked the 60th anniversary of the first known marching event of the Standard Warrior Band!

Standard Band is luckier than most, having had a very stable staffing situation over the years.  In fact, there have only been TWO band directors in 62 years.  Mr. Richard Grubbs took the baton in 1950 and retired in 1988, after 38 years.  Standard was his first and only band teaching position.  In 1988 then passed the baton to one of his former students, Grady Walls, a member of the Warrior Band from 1965-69.  (EDITOR’s NOTE: Mr. Richard Carlyle “Dick” Grubbs passed away on July 15, 2011, at the age of 85.)  The 2011-12 school  year marks Mr. Walls’ 24th year as director of the SWB, and 33 years as a music educator. 

There are many more competitions for JH/MS bands available now then there were even 20 years ago. Currently, the SWB competes in 3-4 competitions each year without having to leave Bakersfield, but Mr. Walls has also led the band to success in competitions in Arvin, Shafter, Taft,and as far away as Fresno and Pismo Beach. In the distant past, there may not have been as many competitions available, but the Warrior Band stayed busy doing community parades and events, a tradition that continues to this day.

The list below is probably incomplete but shows how active the band has been over the years before Mr. Walls took over.

  • *March 31, 1975: played for President of the United States Gerald Ford on his visit to Bakersfield!
  • *1950- GOBARINO festival
  • *1955- Wasco FFA parade, 1st annual Disneyland Christmas Parade
  • *1956- Wasco Spring Festival Parade, Santa Claus Parade, 2nd annual Disneyland Christmas Parade
  • *1963- Kern County Fair
  • *1981- Disneyland
  • *1985- Shafter Band Review
  • *Taft Christmas Parade, at least 15 times between 1963 and 1981
  • *Taft Oildorado Days Parade (only held every 5 years): 1955, 1960, 1975, 1980
  • *Shafter Cotton and Potato Festival Parade
  • *Arvin Christmas Parade 1961,1966-67-68
  • *Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Parade 1958, !960-61, 1965, 1967
  • *Oildale Christmas Parade…very first one 1973 and probably every one since then!
  • *Downtown Bakersfield Christmas Parade: 1958-59-60, 1962, 1964-65-66-67-68-69-70-71, 1985 (parade was not held for awhile in the 70′s and 80′s)
  • *Veteran’s Day Parade: 1968-69-70-71-72-73-74, 1977-78-79-80-81, 1985-86-87

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