Jamaica Military Band facts for kids
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The Jamaican Military Band (JMB) is one of two main military bands in the Jamaican Defence Forces (JDF). Their most important job is to play music at all national and military events. They mostly play classical music and marching tunes.
During times of war, the band members also help out in other ways, like working as medical assistants.
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What the Band Does
The JMB is a very busy group! They take part in many different activities, including:
- Concerts for the public
- Military parades
- Special dedication ceremonies
- National holidays
- Important state events
- State funerals
The band is part of the JDF's Ceremonial and Investigation Division. It includes a parade band, which can also play as a concert band, and a corps of drums. They also have solo musicians who play special parts.
The JMB is one of only three musical groups in the world that still wear the traditional uniform of the zouaves. The other two are the nouba of the Tirailleurs in the French Army and the Band of the Barbados Regiment.
The band celebrates its birthday every year on February 26. They play a very important role in the Independence Day celebrations at National Arena. They have also performed on many radio stations, including ZQI, which was once Jamaica's only radio station. Musicians in the band come from all over the country, including the National Youth Orchestra.
A Look Back: The Band's History
The Jamaican Military Band started on February 26, 1927. It grew out of the much older Band of the West India Regiment. This makes the JMB the oldest group in the JDF that has been serving continuously. The old regimental band had been around for 131 years before it was officially stopped in 1926.
Its last performance was at Trafalgar Park House, which was then the home of the British Army Commander in Jamaica. Prince Albert, the Duke of York, and the Duchess of York were there to watch.
On December 8, 1926, the Mayor of Kingston, Hubert Simpson, suggested that the band should continue. This idea was approved, and so, on February 26, 1927, the JMB was officially formed as Jamaica's own military band.
Even when Jamaica was part of the British Empire, the band played for important visitors like British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Just weeks before Jamaica became independent in 1962, the JMB was the first to publicly play Jamaica, Land We Love, which is now Jamaica's national anthem. This performance happened at the Lyndhurst Methodist Church Hall. When Jamaica gained its independence, the band became its own separate group.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the JMB developed many of the traditions and activities it still follows today. In 1977, the band celebrated its 50th anniversary. The City of Kingston honored them and gave them the Freedom of the City. That same year, they visited the United Kingdom and took part in the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 25 years on the throne.
In 1985, a French horn player from the band performed on the Bob, Peter, Bunny & Rita album by Bob Marley & the Wailers. In July 2015, the JMB also shared information and learned from the 257th Army Band from the District of Columbia Army National Guard in the United States.
Famous Musicians from the Band
Many talented musicians have been part of the Jamaican Military Band:
- Band-Sergeant Arthur Sullivan Nibbs was honored in 1955.
- Corporal Herbert George Nelson was honored in 1965.
- Warrant Officer Cecil Leonard Warren was honored in 1968.
- Major Robert George Jones was a Director of Music.
- Band Sergeant-Major Eldon Leigh Stewart.
- Major Joe Williams was the band's director of music from 1974 to 1995. He also helped start the Jamaica Copyright Licensing Agency.
- Lester Sterling, a famous Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player, was a member in the 1950s.
- David Madden, a solo trumpeter, played with the band. He is known for being part of the band Zap Pow and for playing on records by Bob Marley and other reggae artists.
- Johnny Moore, a founding member of the famous Jamaican ska and reggae band The Skatalites, was also in the JMB. He left the band after three years because he insisted on keeping his dreadlocks, which was not allowed in the army at the time.
Songs Written by Band Members
Some of the band members have also written their own music:
- The Jamaican Defence Force
- Independence Day
- Support and Services Battalion March
- Sky Waggons
- The Men of Steel
- Gloria (arranged by Staff Sergeant Gregory Nicholson)
See also
- Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Military Bands Department
- Royal Bahamas Police Force Band
- Fiji Military Forces Band
- Jamaica Constabulary Force Band
