PVAMU’s Marching Storm Director “George Edwards” Passes
It is sad news coming from Pantherland as we mourn the loss of Professor George Edwards, Director of Bands at Prairie View A&M University.
You touched plenty, you taught many and you will be missed by all of us. We will march forth with the wisdom you gave us and continue to teach that to those we encounter.
Prof, you will surely be missed and we love you.
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Edwards completed his undergraduate studies at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Florida. As a student he was selected as Student Arranger for the “Marching 100” and also won the “Outstanding Senior Award” for his work with the world renowned band. Also, some of his arrangements were performed by the “Marching 100” at the “Super Bowl”. He received his Masters Degree from Michigan State University where his marching band arrangements were performed at half-time and recorded by the Spartan Marching Band.
As Director of Bands at PVAMU, Mr. Edwards has built the “Marching Storm” from a struggling band into a world-renowned first-class band of musical athletes. He was the first of the HBCU marching band directors to incorporate percussion features during half-time performances (1989).
As director Mr. Edwards has performed for President George W. Bush, Jr.; Colin Powell, Secretary of State; President George W. Bush, Sr.; Bryan Gumbel’s C.B.S. Morning Show; Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Football Game with Destiny’s Child and Beyonce. Having been invited to the London New Year’s Day Parade and Festival, Mr. Edwards attended a dinner meeting with the Queen Elizabeth’s Chief Representative, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Roger Bramble.
His work was featured in the London Times Newspaper 2005, New York Times 2007. In 2005 the Texas State Senate honored him with a State Resolution which was presented to him on the floor of the chamber, a great tribute as most resolutions are presented from the gallery.
REST IN PEACE PROFFESSOR GEORGE EDWARDS
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY YOU CRABBED?
I TOOK PRIDE IN THE FIRST DAY THAT YOU CRABBED.
WELCOME TO THE PRAIRIE VIEW A & M MARCHING BAND IS WHAT I SAID “I AM PROFESSOR GEORGE EDWARDS AND THESE ARE MY OLD HEADS”
REMEMBER THE FIRST GAME THAT YOU MARCHED
THE DRUM MAJORS BLEW THE WHISTLE AND HALFTIME STARTED. IT WAS THE LABOR DAY CLASSIC, TEXAS SOUTHERN VS. PRAIRIE VIEW
I WAS SO HAPPY AND PROUD OF YOU.
REMEMBER THE BAND TRIPS AND HOW MUCH FUN WE HAD?
REMEMEBER THE PILLOW FIGHT WHEN I GOT HIT BY PAT?
I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES ABOUT EACH ONE OF YOU
AND FOR EACH ONE OF MY MEMORIES I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TWO.
CHOP CHOP CHIEF, IS WHAT I LIKED TO SAY
I WANT TO SEE YOUR KNEES TO YOUR LIPS WHILE MARCHING IN PLACE .
STRAIGHTEN THAT LINE AND BACK TO THE HOLE
THESE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE TOLD.
THOSE WERE SOME GOOD TIMES, AND THESE MAY SEEM BAD, BUT THE BEST TIMES WERE THE ONES THAT WE HAD.
FOR ASHES TO ASHES AND DUST TO DUST, HE TOOK ME HOME SO IN GOD I TRUST.
THAT HE KNOWS WHAT’S BEST FOR ME SO MY GOING AWAY WAS A MUST
SO WEEP NO MORE AND SMILE AGAIN
BECAUSE I WILL ALWAYS BE WITHIN,
YOUR HEART, YOUR MIND, AND YOUR MEMORIES
THAT’S BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ME
FOREVER KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO,
CAUSE I’LL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.
SO REMEMBER TO SMILE AND DON’T BE SAD
AND CHERISH ALL THE GOOD TIMES THAT WE HAD
REST IN PEACE PROF. ED WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!
‘SKIP’ (Author)
RIP Prof! And may GOD encourage and comfort all that knew and loved him.
PRAYERS UP TO TO THE EDWARDS FAMILY!!!!!
PRAYERS UP TO THE PANTHER FAMILY!!!!!
Skip… beautiful poem. Everything in it is sooo true and brings back fond memories with a smile. You will be missed Prof!!!
This is a great loss for the whole SWAC,I have knowned him for over 30 years,he was always a professional,and a hard worker.I can’t believe he is gone.
RIP Prof. Davis gone but his legacy will remain! AEA!
It’s Sunday morning and God is still on the thrown of grace. Prof Edwards was a blessed man,I know this because he touched my life and thousands of others in the band and in the seats of football stadiums,parade routs and on the yard. Prof Edwards lives very strongly in many of us in our every day lifes. Not because all of us became band directors or musicians but because we learned what it meant to be determined and committed to winning in this race that we call life through Prof leadership and guidance. What he gave me you can’t buy, it’s priceless but meant to be shared just the way he shared his life with us. Hard work, sacrifice,love, patience,determination,boldness,excellence….this is Prof. and his legacy. Keep it going Skip and the rest of you my brothers and sisters. Marching Storm coming ATCHA
We love you Prof.
God bless
R.I.P. Prof.Edwards you may have left in physical but never in spirit. God Bless the Edwards family & may all of the former and current marching storm know that our leader has left us with great memories for a life time.I truly know that Pro Edwards made me a better man and shared a great lessons about life & accountability in whatever commitment in life you choose.He trusted in me to be the first to write & perform a rap song and gave me the confidence to do what i do chief.and i today cherish for a life time that year being named freshman band member of the year.Yeah Prof. Edwards was a man of true honor i will miss you Chief but i will know in my heart you knew how much you meant to me as a Mentor in music in life. May He Rest In Gods Hands.
So many lives you touched. So many memories. I showed up at band camp in the summer of 88. A boy of 17, my manhood began on your watch.
You demanded the best of us, and you demanded we find the best within ourselves. How could you be gone from us so soon?
“Don’t be late for practice!!” “Better have that music memorized weeks before game day!!” “Popin 90s!” “I want it so quiet in the hole you can hear a fly piss on cotton!”
Be with God my friend. Be an Angel amongst Angels. We will see you again.
thank u prof..marching for you in 89 changed my life to this day I still say chop…chop.I will forever remember your legacy…..victor anderson…..tuba section 89
R.I.P. Prof. My dad asked if I heard about the loss and I was like no. When I finally saw confirmation and saw it in the paper, I was like wow. It is such a big loss for SWAC, MEAC and just music programs worldwide. Prof was well known. He was a musical genius.
I agree with you Vic, Chop chop, back to the hole. I was like..dang…i thought we did it right. He wanted perfection and thats what he got. Talk about that “V” never being straight. I could be on mid field and see Prof’s lips moving and him screaming. I didnt know what he was yelling during Entertainment Tonight, but I knew something wasnt right. Practice definitely made perfect.
Storm, keep your head up.
Tuba Section (14K), Fall 2002.
Man Prof Edwards, you will be greatly missed. It seems like yesterday when you said you would take on the role of being our first manager for the group IDEAL. You taught me so much, you were like a father figure to us. I remember just chillin at your house like it was my own. Thanks for all you have done to make me the man I am today. My life wouldn’t be complete without you in it. R.I.P.
Charles Vienn II
(14K) Tuba Section 1992-1993 Marching Storm
My condolences go out to his family and the Prairie View family. He will be missed.
Snare drummer(Mad Drummers Inc.)UAPB M4 Class of 81.
I’m so glad I went to PVU !!
From Crenshaw HS to PVAMU. The Funk Box of 1980 was an experience I will cherish for ever. Only the remarkable talent of Prof Edwards could have and did make it better. I can still hear his arrangement of “One in a million” He made us proud to be playing songs like “theme from the love boat” Why? his love was in it. The musicianship he demanded he deserved and we are all the better for it. “Going” and God Bless the Edwards family. http://www.myspace.com/revpajones
I thank GOD for having the pleasure of meeting such a talented musician during my freshman year in Prairie View A & M Marching Band. He touched & shaped so many lives with his experience and caring spirit. My prayers are with the Edwards family and friends.
Trombone ’87-’88
I REMEMBER FLUNKING HIGHSCHOOL TILL I WAS 21 SELLING ON THE BLOCK AND PROF CAME TO MY SCHOOL AND SAID I WANT YOU TO COME TO PV NOT BECAUSE YOU PLAY SNARE WELL OR BECUSE YOU KNOW PEOPLE. HE WANTED ME TO COME BECAUSE I WAS SOMEONE EVERYBODY GAVE UP ON BUT PROF SEEN COMETHING IN A SOMEBODY THAT EVERYBODY CALLED A NOBODY. LOVE YOU MAN!!!!! BOX *2004*
My deepest sympathies to the Edwards family. Professor Edwards and I were graduates of the Florida A & M University “Marching 100″. He’s truly missed, and achieved tremendous accomplishments along with shaping and influencing the lives of many; especially in the field of music. God Bless his soul, and continued blessings to his family. Ronald King
PROF. IT’S BEEN A YEAR SINCE YOU LEFT AND THE HURT STILL STINGS. GOD KNOW WHAT’S BEST AND I HATE TO QUESTION HIM BUT WHY WAS IT YOUR TIME SO SOON? YOUR WORK IS STILL UNFINISHED AND YOUR LEGACY LIVES ON INSIDE OF US. I MISS YOU PROF. I MISS YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR WISDOM. REST IN PEACE