NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana State University Tiger Band is set to be inducted this weekend into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame — the only college marching band to receive such an honor.
The band, known as the “Golden Band from Tigerland,” had a fight song written by Louisiana Gov. Huey Long and had internationally known jazz orchestra leader Castro Carazo as its band director in the 1930s.
“This band’s history in Louisiana is deep,” said Mike Shepherd, executive director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame organization. “Huey Long saw that band as a form of entertainment, a way to bring joy and good during a tough time like the Depression.”
Castro and Long collaborated on a number of compositions famous at LSU, including “Touchdown for LSU,” ”Darling of LSU” and “LSU Cadets March.”
Castro and Long will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony at LSU on Friday. The Tiger band will be inducted during halftime of Saturday’s football game between LSU and Vanderbilt, Shepherd said.
“I can’t think of a better way to induct that band than during a halftime show,” he said.
 
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