Discover This Former Aggie Bandsman’s Instrumental Experiences With the Pulse of the Spirit of Aggieland

The echo of trumpets, the crisp movement of drum major maces, a booming drum cadence and perfection at halftime has defined the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band for decades, connecting generation after generation with this famed tradition. Growing up with an Aggie bandsman for an uncle, Billy Joe Jay ’75 was exposed to this Aggie staple at a young age through his uncle’s exhilarating band tales. Deeply inspired by the pulse of the Spirit of Aggieland, he knew he’d someday be a part of it.

Marching in his uncle’s footsteps gave Jay the experience of a lifetime, eventually performing in the Aggie Band himself and later serving as a graduate assistant director for the esteemed organization. His time in the Corps of Cadets and working with the Aggie Band became the anthem of Jay’s Aggie lifestyle, ultimately leading him to orchestrate a gift that will impact the lives of Texas A&M University students for generations to come.

Constant Camaraderie

Jay’s childhood dream first unfolded in fall 1971 when Wichita State University came to town for the Aggie football season opener—his first time marching on Kyle Field. “I can’t recall much about the game, but I remember marching off to ‘Recall, step off on Hullaballoo’ and it was surreal,” Jay shared. “Those three senior drum majors in their boots looked like gods to me.”
 

Time for an Encore

In 1978, Jay was given a unique chance to work with the Aggie Band yet again. While in graduate school at Texas A&M, Jay’s brother, Daniel “Dan” Jay ’78—a senior Aggie Bandsman at the time—informed him of a sudden opening for the graduate assistant director position, and the rest was history. “It was an opportunity to work with the band I loved so much, and I enjoyed it immensely,” Jay said.

Along with beaming pride and an influential experience, the position left Jay with many story-worthy memories. Since a large part of his job pertained to instrument upkeep and inventory, travel operations for the Aggie Band often put Jay’s managerial skills to the test—especially in the case of the 1979 football matchup between Texas A&M and Rice University in Houston.

“A moving van was hired to transport instruments, but when we arrived in Houston, the instruments weren’t there—the truck broke down somewhere between Hempstead and Waller, so we had to march in the stadium without instruments,” he recalled. “But with 9:43 left in the second quarter, the instruments finally arrived, and we did the fastest unloading in history.” As Jay still vividly remembers, the Aggie crowd erupted as the basses walked down to the end zone for the halftime performance and completed a perfect drill without a hitch.

Whether it was inventorying new trumpets sent as a gift by the Marine Corps, holding the honor of announcing the Aggie Band at away games, or meeting the author of “The Aggie War Hymn,” Pinky Wilson ’20, Jay’s time assisting the Aggie Band was summarized by countless unforgettable experiences. “Taking that position was a decision I never regretted for a moment,” he said.

An Aggie Through and Through

Following his time as a graduate assistant director, Jay moved back to his hometown where he met his wife, Nerissa, and eventually opened his own frame shop and art gallery that he ran until retiring in 2023. Despite the time and distance between him and Aggieland, Jay’s maroon-blooded connection never faded.