50 Moraga Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94129

At the Presidio of San Francisco, military bands supported the ceremonial functions of the Army – from providing signals for maneuvers to sounding reveille. They also became an essential part of Bay Area culture, performing public concerts everywhere from seaside amusement parks to major civic occasions. In fact, musical luminaries – from trumpeter Chet Baker to members of the legendary Dave Brubeck Octet  got their start in the Presidio’s Sixth Army Band.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day that ended World War I, there will be a special presentation by CW2 (CA) James Lamb and the California State Military Reserve Band evoking the spirit of the era. When the US entered the war in 1917, the Presidio sent three regular Army and one California National Guard infantry regiments that were deployed for overseas duty “over there.” These ranged from units like the 16th, which was with General Pershing (former Commander of the 8th Infantry Brigade at the Presidio) and was one of the first regiments to arrive in France with the “Big Red One”, to the 6th regular and 159th National Guard regiments that were deployed as replacement units, to the 63rd that made it as far as Maryland when the war abruptly ended days before they were to embark. The presentation will blend narrative, images, and video with live performances of the music that was important and unique to each regiment.

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-music-presidio-bands-over-there-tickets-48749071786?ref=elink