Prairie View Band Director Dies After Tragic Car Accident
Nationally Renowned Band Director to be buried June 5, 2009 at Prairie View A&M University.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) June 5, 2009 -- Nationally renowned Prairie View Band Director, George Edwards, died May 28th due to complications from a traffic accident in Houston, Texas on May 10th. Edwards, who was 60, directed the Prairie View "Marching Storm" for 30 years. He first arrived in Prairie View in 1978. Edwards performed under the legendary director, Dr. William P. Foster, as part of the Florida A&M "Marching 100" and obtained a Masters Degree in music education from Michigan State University.
"On behalf of the entire PVAMU community, we offer our deepest condolences to the entire Edwards family. For three decades we were fortunate to have George contribute to our community…," said PVAMU President George C. Wright, in an official university statement.
Edwards took over a band that numbered 25, had fewer instruments, and built it into an international powerhouse. One of the stars of the new generation of university band directors, Professor Edwards took the FAMU concept of innovative formations, fast stepping and added drum routines, clever framing, along with the "Black Foxes," and raised black college halftime performances to another level. In 2008, the Prairie View band marched more than 310 and was known from coast-to-coast simply as the "Storm." By 2008, he had his pick of the top high school band members from across the country nationally.
His creative collaborator for more than three decades, Dr. Margaret Penn-Sherrod, founder and director of the Prairie View "Black Foxes" offered her perspective on the man known simply as "Prof."
"George Edwards truly mastered the fine art of arranging music, specifically, for half-time choreography; it was the foundation for the jazz and high kick precision style of the 'Black Foxes'," reflected Sherrod. "For thirty years, ours was a creative collaboration the success of which Prairie View A&M University's Marching Band had never known. He loved music and cherished the opportunity to train and inspire young people, all of whom will miss him deeply."
Story