World Famous Cowboy Band Marches in Mardi Gras Parades

(ABILENE, Texas)– The World Famous Cowboy Band traveled to New Orleans and marched in two Mardi Gras parades and performed two stand-still performances from Feb. 21-24.

Students in the Cowboy Band performed for guests as they board the Steamboat Natchez.

The band performed at Washington Artillery Park and then participated in the Krewe of Endymion parade on Feb. 22. The following day, the Cowboy Band marched in the Krewe of Thoth Parade and performed on the dock as people boarded the Steamboat Natchez for dinner and a jazz cruise. The band then joined the voyage.

Mardi Gras is a French term for “Fat Tuesday,” and is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. It is called Fat Tuesday because of the traditional binging of rich, fatty foods the night before the fasting of the Lent season begins.

Named after a mortal from Greek mythology who was granted eternal youth from Zeus, the Krewe of Endymion began in 1967. In 1974, however, it became known as one of the Carnival’s ‘Super-Krewes’ when more floats and celebrity guests were added. Endymion is the largest parade with around 3,100 riders and 37 floats.

Founded in 1947, the Krewe of Thoth was named for the Egyptian Patron of Wisdom and Inventor of Science, Art, and Letters. This parade originally created its route for those who were unable to attend the other parades in the city. During the route, they passed 14 institutions that cared for people with various disabilities and illnesses. Now with over 1600 riders and 50 floats, the Krewe of Thoth has been able to continue its route and pass by more healthcare facilities.

President of the HSU Cowboy Band, Seth Myers has been looking forward to this trip.

Students experience a Cajun Pride swamp boat tour of the bayou.

“This truly is the trip of a lifetime,” said Myers in an interview before the event. “Not only will we get to experience the culture of something new, but we get to represent Hardin-Simmons. On top of all of that we get to reestablish the ‘World Famous’ title to the Cowboy Band. Being the president, it brings me amazing joy to be able to accomplish that while being here.”

While the Cowboy Band normally marches in parades no longer than two miles, these parades covered more than five miles.

“Many of the students have been exercising, running, and conditioning to help them be better prepared,” said Mr. Bill Harden, HSU Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands.

In an interview before the trip to Louisiana, Harden explained how excited he was for the band to play in front of an audience while showing more people around the world who the Hardin-Simmons University World Famous Cowboy Band is.

“I think it’s going to be a truly remarkable experience for the students to perform for such a large and energetic audience…,” he said. “The Cowboy Band is very well known in Abilene and the surrounding areas, but people from faraway places haven’t really been exposed to our style of entertainment.”

During the parades, the band played songs such as, “Eyes of Texas,” “Hey Baby,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” and the HSU School Anthem, which was played at a march tempo.

For more information about activities happening at Hardin-Simmons, look at the online events calendar.