The familiar sounds of brass, woodwinds and beating drums fill Saluki Stadium each weekend as the Southern Illinois University football team battles on the gridiron — the rhythms and melodies of the Marching Salukis. The 59-year-old ensemble has become known as one of the most unusual, innovative and entertaining college marching bands in the nation, according to former director Mike Hanes. Founded in the 1960s by famed percussionist Don Canedy, the group has entertained and pushed the envelope on college marching bands — all the while being dubbed the “best-dressed band in the land."
This project captured vignettes from the Marching Salukis' 2019 season.
Mike Hanes, retired Director of Bands at Southern Illinois University, pauses while waiting to conduct the Marching Salukis on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, during a rehearsal for the homecoming performance at Lot 56 on SIU's campus in Carbondale, Ill.
Cameron Reed, a senior studying plant biology from Castle Rock, Colo., and Luis Prado, a senior studying geography and environmental resources from Westmont, Ill., practice their kicks while parading on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, during the Marching Salukis' annual band camp at the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility in Carbondale, Ill.
LEFT: Sherrie Schmelig, a senior studying social work from Wildwood, Mo., plays the mellophone on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, during the Marching Salukis' annual band camp at the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility in Carbondale, Ill. RIGHT: Emmanuel Scott, a percussion graduate assistant, listens in to the Marching Salukis drumline on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2019, at the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility.
Dylan Symons, a sophomore studying aviation management from Aurora, Ill., concentrates while playing on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, during a morning game day rehearsal at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Members of the Marching Salukis mellophone section play military songs on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, during a rehearsal for their Military Show at Parking Lot 56 outside the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility in Carbondale, Ill.
Tessa Barnes, a senior piccolo player and section leader from Champaign, Ill., is tackled and hugged by members of the piccolo section on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, after a morning game day rehearsal outside Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Members of the Marching Saluki color guard interlock pinkies while singing the alma mater on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, after rehearsal at Parking Lot 56 outside the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility in Carbondale, Ill.
Morgan Keith, a senior trumpet player from Litchfield, Ill., looks up at Dr. George Brozak, Director of Athletic Bands, at the end of a rehearsal on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, Parking Lot 56 outside the Lew Hertzog Track and Field Facility.
Sousaphone players play "Go Southern Go" while cheerleaders perform on Friday, Aug. 14, 2019, while rehearsing for the annual freshman convocation at Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale, Ill.
Members of the SIU Marching Salukis touch the tomb of Southern Illinois' original mascot, "King Tut," on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, before a game against the UT-Martin Skyhawks in Carbondale, Ill. Members of the football team and band alike touch the tomb for good luck going into that day's game.
Riley Wagner, a senior baritone player from Bismarck., Ill., far right, and Timothy Bailey, a senior mellophone player from St. Louis, Mo., kick while parading on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, during the Du Quoin State Fair Twilight Parade in Du Quoin, Ill.
Area residents watch on as the Marching Salukis go by on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, during the annual Southern Illinois University Homecoming Parade in Carbondale, Ill.
Morgan Brown, of Danville, Ill., embraces fellow mellophone player Zach Martine, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, before Southern Illinois takes on the Illinois State Redbirds in Carbondale, Ill.
Michalah Troutt, a junior bass drum player studying music education from West Frankfort, Ill., rests her head on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, after the Marching Salukis perform in the annual homecoming parade at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Josh Cooper, a sousaphone player from Chebanse, Ill, and the Marching Salukis sousaphone section run towards the end zone on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, before Southern Illinois' last home game of the season against the North Dakota State Bison at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
The Marching Salukis brass play towards the home crowd on on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, during the first period of a game between the Southern Illinois Salukis and the UT-Martin Skyhawks outside Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
Daniel Garcia Eustaquio, of Des Plaines, Ill., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, after a game against the UT-Martin Skyhawks in Carbondale, Ill.
The moon rises over the Marching Salukis on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, during a game between the Southern Illinois Salukis and the Illinois State Redbirds at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
The Marching Salukis play holiday music while passing by The Varsity Center on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 down Illinois Ave in Carbondale, Ill.
Caleb Hallock, a senior studying industrial design from Nashville, Ill., performs in the 2019 Carbondale Lights Fantastic Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 down Illinois Ave in Carbondale, Ill. The Marching Salukis are the largest musical ensemble at the university and one of the most visible as the group performs at multiple athletic and community events and celebrations.
Darryll Harlan, a junior bass drum player studying pre-medicine from Danville, Ill., weeps as he embraces Michalah Troutt, a junior bass drum player studying music education from West Frankfort, Ill., after the Marching Salukis' last performance of the season on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, outside of Altgeld Hall, in Carbondale, Ill.
Zachary Zappa, of Chester, Ill., Britt Peyton, of Norris City, Ill., and Riley Wagner of Bismarck, Ill., pose for a portrait on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at the Old Baptist Foundation building in Carbondale, Ill. The Marching Salukis are known in the college marching band world for their unique uniforms simulating a tuxedo.
This project was originally published in The Southern Illinoisan on Jan. 5, 2020. To keep up to date with your southern Illinois news, please visit www.thesouthern.com.