I am currently researching the "ancient history" of the Robinson Band Program.  If you know any early directors, when or how the band program started, or have any other early band information, please e-mail me: 

      A band program at Robinson was quite possibly started somewhere in the late 1950's.  Mr. Lloyd Derden, a long time road representative for Bean Music Company remembers calling on Mr. Chafin when he came to work for Bean Music Company in 1959.  The Band Program that exists today was formed in the fall of 1960 with Herb Chafin as director. He was also Choir Director for much of his tenure.  Concerts were presented and football games saw the band perform as well.  Mr. Chafin formed the first marching band in 1962.  He saw the longest tenure of any director at Joe T. Robinson so far. During Mr. Chafin's  tenure in the Pulaski County Special School District, band directors' salaries were paid with monthly fee money collected from students.

     Obviously, directors including Mr. Chaffin served because of a love of music and a love of teaching young people.  Mr. Chafin was also involved in the televsion industry in Little Rock during this time period as an announcer. Somewhere between 1965 and 1967 band directors were put on a salary schedule.  Fees continued to be a source of music and instrument repair money.  The last school year that band fees were collected for this purpose in PCSSD was the 1972-73 school year.

     The program continued to grow throughout the 1960's and 1970's.  The first recorded appearance at a Region Band Festival was in March, 1975. Duane Barbour was the conductor.   By 1980, the program was quite developed, making appearances at Region and State Band Festivals that school year.

     In the 1981-82 school year, the present Robinson Senior High opened.  This was a tremendous facility for the band. The band room had a high ceiling and was large enough for future growth of the program. Things had never looked better for the school and band program. Band Director Doug Cunningham saw a period of growth in his band program. Participation in Region Events was very high. The Robinson High School Band earned a rating of  I II II at the 1980 Region Festival.   During this time period, Robinson Middle School FIRST appeared, but in just two or three years in the old Robinson High School Building again became Robinson Junior High.

     Then, two significant events occured in the 1980's that had a strong effect on Joe T. Robinson and the band program as well.  J.A. (Gus) Fair High School was opened in the southwest part of Pulaski County.  This had a negative effect on the enrollment of Robinson.  The other event was the court ordered transfer of many schools within the PCSSD to the Little Rock School District. (including newly built J.A. Fair High)  This event took place during the summer of 1987.  Enrollment at Robinson again was decreased with this court ordered action. This was ordered by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Originally, Federal Judge Henry Woods had ordered Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County Schools consolidated.

     As devastating as this action was, it was much milder than the original plan of Judge Woods.  Several band directors served at Robinson in the 1980's, each making  contributions to the RObinson Band Program. (Please see the chart below) Darrell Smith stayed three years at Robinson to end the 1980's.  Many fine ratings at Region Concert and Marching Festivals were recorded.

       Russell Robinson followed Mr. Smith.   New uniforms were ordered for the Senior and Junior Bands during the 1990-91 school year by  Russell Robinson. The Junior High Band received a rating of "Excellent" at Concert Festival. The Senior High Band, although small in numbers received the same rating at marching festival.  Performances attended by the writer in 1991 showed a genuine quality of excellence.  Russell Robinson went home to Springdale, where he is the Band Director at Springdale High School today.

      Patrick Kinnison, Paul Taylor and Beth Boehm each made contributions to the band program at Robinson in the mid to late 1990's.  Mr. Taylor currently teaches at Ridgeroad Middle School in North Little Rock.  Mrs. Boehm is currently teaching band at Oak Grove Sr - Jr High in PCSSD.  She stayed at Robinson for five years. This was the longest tenure of any Robinson Band Director in many years.

      The area around Robinson is growing at an astounding rate today. New homes are constantly being built. Plans are being made for 1400 new homes close to Roland.  Both the Senior and Junior High Schools have developed a fine reputation as an execellent school in which to learn.  Many black students from the Little Rock School District choose to transfer to Robinson Senior and Junior High Schools, because of the reputation of the schools.

     The  1999-2000 Robinson Junior High School Band became the first Robinson Band to receive a Superior Rating  (First Division) in Concert Competition at Region Band Festival in March, 2000.  This band also received a rating of Superior in Sightreading at the same festival. This entitled the same band to a Junior High Band Sweepstakes Trophy.

     The  2000-01 Robinson Senior High Band became the first Robinson Senior High Band to earn a First Division (Superior) Rating in Concert Competition at the Region VI Band Festival in March, 2001. This band also received a First Division Rating in Sightreading.

     The Senior High Band for 2001-02 was 50-55 members strong in grades 9-12.   The Middle School Band Program has grown to a very impressive 166 members who are signed up before school begins in grades 6-8.

  Securing adequate instruments is a major priority now with the Robinson Band Program, since it has grown from 88 members in May, 2000 to a projected 220 members for the fall of 2002.

A Brand New Set of  Senior High Band Uniforms was approved by the PCSSD Board on April 10, 2001.  This set the Robinson Band Program far ahead of any projected goals for the next five years in this realm.  Thanks to PCSSD Board Members, Dr. Smith (Superintendent of PCSSD during this period of time), and Mrs. Jo Wilcox (PCSSD Coordintor of Music and Activities.)  WHAT A BOOST FOR OUR PROGRAM!  The Uniforms included coats, shako hats, plumes, and trousers.

NEW FULL SENATOR BAND UNIFORMS IN THEIR FIRST PERFORMANCE Friday, October 26, 2001 

All in the Robinson Band Community were extremely grateful to those who supported the purchase of the new band uniforms.

     The Robinson Bands secured a loan from the PCSSD  in 1991 of some $13,000.00 for new band uniforms.  This was the only avenue available at the time to acquire badly needed band uniforms.  Approximately $9100.00 of the debt was still outstanding in August, 1999 and $ 4600.00 of the debt remained as of the May 9, 2001 PCSSD Board
Meeting.  The money to reduce the debt from $9100 to $4600 was secured by various individuals, parents, student fund raising efforts, friends of the Robinson Bands within the Robinson Community

On May 9, 2001, The PCSSD School Board voted to forgive all band uniform debts within the District. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smith supported this measure. Board Members Ruth Tucker (our zone), Jim Burgett (1936-2002) (North Pulaski's zone), Gene Manfredini (Sylvan Hills Zone) and Susie Roberts (Oak Grove Zone - which includes some of our schools.) all voted in favor of the motion.

The 2002-03 School Year finds the Robinson Band Program at a strength of approximately 200 students. The Senior High Band continued to achieve during Marching Season. The band went to three marching festivals, two of which were rated festivals. The band traveled the entire state during football playoffs. The playoff destinations included Harrison, AR, which is in the extreme Northern part of the state. The next week found the band in Wynne, AR, which is in the Eastern part of Arkansas. Students continue to achieve at All Region Tryouts. A record number of eighth and ninth graders earned All Region Honors this year. The Senior High also had the most students in Region that have qualified in a number of years.

Mr. Joseph Botwinick came on board this August as the Assistant Band Director. This marked the first time that Robinson has ever had two band directors. The fact that the two directors are allowed to team teach for the entire day has really been a major factor in the program's success. A goal for 2003-04 is to have 75% of all Sixth Graders in Band!

    Compiled by Lee Clark  (Jim Mc Elmurry and Lloyd Derden provided much of this information. More was compiled  from Lee Clark's observations in his 30 years in PCSSD as a band director.)

Band Directors at Joe T. Robinson and approximate dates of tenure

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