The United States Air Force Band of Liberty was a United States military band of forty-five active duty members, based at

Hanscom Air Force Base Hanscom Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located predominantly within Bedford, Massachusetts, with portions extending into the adjoining towns of Lincoln, Concord and Lexington. The facility is adjacent to Hanscom Field ...

, Massachusetts. It entertains audiences in New England,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, and New Jersey. The band was inactivated in summer 2013. Some of its personnel joined the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, which took up some of its functions.

History

The band is a select group of professional Airmen-musicians who support the global Air Force mission by providing musical products and services for official military, recruiting, and community relations events, and by fostering America's rich national heritage. Originally known as the 541st Air Force Band of the Southwest, stationed at Luke AFB, Arizona, the unit relocated to Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1978. Renamed the Air Force Band of New England, the band brought its musical message of pride, patriotism, and professionalism to concerts and events throughout New England. In 1991, the band received its current name and was assigned to Electronics Systems Center,

, in Massachusetts. This change fostered another new name: the United States Air Force Band of Liberty. The Band of Liberty consists of forty-five active duty personnel assigned to two primary ensembles—the Concert Band and the Afterburner popular music group. The organization has several subgroups, including the Ceremonial/Marching Band, Liberty Big Band, Colonial Brass, New England Winds woodwind quintet, and the Bay State Winds clarinet quartet. The band performs around four hundred engagements a year, and has appeared at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York City and the Hatch Shell in Boston. On 20 January 2009, the Band of Liberty's Colonial Brass provided musical support at the Farewell Ceremony of President

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

. On 3 January 2007, members of the Ceremonial Band performed at Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids, Michigan for the state funeral of

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. He was the only president never to have been elected ...

, 38th President of the United States. As part of larger restructuring of and cuts to military bands, the band was disbanded in mid-2013.

Mission statement

''Support the Global Air Force Mission''—by fostering our national heritage and providing professional musical products and services for official military, recruiting, and community relations events

Vision

''World Class—Mission Ready Air Force Music Professionals''
using the ''power of music'' to:
– ''Inspire'' our Air Force and the great nation we serve
– ''Produce'' innovative musical programs and products
– ''Communicate'' Air Force excellence

Performing Ensembles

*Concert Band *The Ambassadors Big Band *Liberty Big Band *Afterburner pop music group *Ceremonial/Marching Band *Colonial Brass *New England Winds Woodwind Quintet *Bay State Winds Clarinet Quartet *Liberty Saxophone Quartet *Protocol Jazz Combos

Discography

* ''The New England Winds/The Colonial Brass''—January 2008 * ''On Silver Wings—Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force''—July 2007 (Concert Band) * ''Sampler''—May 2007 (Afterburner) * ''The Most Wonderful Time''—November 2006 (Concert Band/Liberty Pops) * ''Rock Rhythm & Blue''—July 2005 (Afterburner) * ''Ain't Nothin' Nu''—December 2004 (Liberty Big Band née Ambassadors Jazz Ensemble) * ''New England Holidays''—December 2003 (various ensembles) * ''Salute to the American Spirit''—July 2003 (Concert Band)

Musician Education/Experience

* 41% possessed Master's degrees * 45% possessed

Bachelor's A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...

degrees * The members of Afterburner had over 30 years combined professional music experience beyond their Air Force careers, and performed with Lee Ann Womack, Lee Greenwood, Ben Vereen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds,

Rita Moreno Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano; December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer. Noted for her work across different areas of the entertainment industry, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and thea ...

, Phyllis Diller and

Joel Grey Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz; April 11, 1932) is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical ''Cabaret'' on Broadway as well as in the 1972 fil ...

Guest Artists and Collaborations

* The American Belles—singing/dancing trio *

Frank Battisti Frank Joseph Battisti (October 4, 1922 – October 19, 1994) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Battisti's career featured groundbreaking—and sometimes controversial—rul ...

—Conductor Emeritus, New England Conservatory of Music * Mike Brignola—jazz baritone saxophonist, Woody Herman and Jaco Pastorius big bands * Ann Hampton Callaway—Broadway singer ('' Swing!'') * Charlie Daniels—country music artist * Gregg Edelman—actor ('' Spider-Man 2'') and Broadway singer ('' Camelot'') * Colonel (ret) Arnald D. Gabriel—Conductor Emeritus, United States Air Force Band *

Crystal Gayle Crystal Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb; January 9, 1951) is an American country music singer widely known for her 1977 hit "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". Initially, Gayle's management and record label were the same as that of her oldest sist ...

—country singer * Greg Hopkins—jazz trumpeter/composer/educator,

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

Jack Jones Jack Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *Jack Jones (American singer) (born 1938), American jazz and pop singer *Jack Jones, stage name of Australian singer Irwin Thomas (born 1971) *Jack Jones (Welsh musician) (born 1992), Welsh mu ...

- Jazz singer * Darlene Love—actress ('' Lethal Weapon'' movies) and Broadway singer ('' Hairspray'') * Michael Maguire—Broadway singer ('' Les Misérables'') * Maureen McGovern—actress ('' Airplane!'' and '' The Towering Inferno'') and Broadway singer (''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

'') * The Mills Brothers vocal group * Bill Pierce—jazz tenor saxophonist/educator,

* John Pizzarelli—jazz guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader *

Helen Reddy Helen Maxine Reddy (25 October 194129 September 2020) was an Australian-American singer, actress, television host, and activist. Born in Melbourne to a showbusiness family, Reddy started her career as an entertainer at age four. She sang on rad ...

-Australian-American singer *

Byron Stripling Byron Stripling is a jazz trumpeter who has been a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. Career He was born Lloyd Byron Stripling on August 20, 1961, in Atlanta, Georgia.He attended Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the Interloc ...

—trumpet virtuoso * Jiggs Whigham—jazz trombonist/educator * Phil Wilson—jazz trombonist/composer/educator,

* Sharon "Zee" Zeffiro—classical-crossover singing sensation

References

External links

United States Air Force Band of Liberty Home
{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Air Force Band Of Liberty Wind bands Military units and formations in Massachusetts Bands of the United States Air Force Military units and formations established in 1978 Military units and formations disestablished in 2013