William James “Count” Basie was born on August 21, 1904.

Known to the world as the “King of Swing,” Brother Basie was initiated at the Mu Nu Chapter at Louisiana Tech University in 1970. He was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. In his lifetime, he earned nine Grammy Awards and made history in 1958 by becoming the first African-American to receive the award.

Basie and his Orchestra appeared in five films, all released within a matter of months in 1943: Hit Parade, Reveille with Beverly, Stage Door Canteen, Top Man, and Crazy House.

He has had an unprecedented four recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame – One O’Clock Jump (1979), April in Paris (1985), Everyday I Have the Blues (1992), and Lester Leaps In (2005), along with a slew of other awards and honors not only for his music, but for his humanitarianism and philanthropy around the world.

David Maslanka was born on August 30, 1943.

Brother Maslanka was initiated in 2008 at the Rho Tau Chapter at Appalachian State.

David was a world-renowned composer having composed over 150 musical works, which included nine symphonies, seven concertos, a Mass, and over fifty pieces for wind ensemble. His contributions to American Music were substantial and inspirational. Throughout his career, he had worked with hundreds of students and faculty sharing his love and passion for music.

Colonel John R. Bourgeois was born on August 31st, 1934

Colonel John R. Bourgeois was initiated at Loyola University New Orleans’ Zeta Pi chapter in 1956. He is well known for his career with the United States Marine Band that spanned nine presidential administrations and serving as the ensemble’s director from 1979 to 1996.

It all began with “The President’s Own” in 1958 when he joined as a French Hornist and arranger shortly after joining the Marine Corps. Later, as the ensemble’s director, Col. Bourgeois was the Music Advisor at the White House. He selected all the musical programs there and directed the band for four Presidential Inaugurations. He regularly conducted the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House appearing there more frequently than any other musician in the U.S.

Since retiring from the Marine Band, Bourgeois has been actively involved in music as a guest conductor, has published new editions of classic band compositions, and was named Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s “Man of Music” at the 50th National Convention in 2000.

Leonard Slatkin was born on September 1st, 1944.

Brother Slatkin was a 1987 initiate of the Alpha Alpha Chapter and has conducted virtually all the leading orchestras in the world. Born to a gifted musical family, Slatkin began studying conducting with his father, followed by Walter Susskind at Aspen and Jean Morel at Juilliard. An early conducting debut as artistic director and conductor of the New York Youth Symphony launched an extraordinary 50-year career that has earned him six Grammys and thirty-three nominations, rank in the French Legion of Honor, and a U.S. National Medal of the Arts.

Over the years, Slatkin has led several orchestras; highlights include the San Francisco Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C., and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He currently serves as Music Director Laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Directeur Musical Honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL) in France.

At the 49th National Convention in 1997, Brother Slatkin was awarded the Fraternity’s Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award for his outstanding dedication to the arts as a composer and conductor.

Archie N. Jones was born on September 20th, 1900.

Brother Jones was initiated into the Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1929. Jones was a past National President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Dean of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Brother Jones served as Phi Mu Alpha’s National President from 1950 to 1960, holding the record as Sinfonia’s longest-tenured president. Throughout his life, he was a constant and significant influence on the world of music advocacy.

During his career at the Conservatory in Kansas City, Jones was instrumental in the creation of the American Choral Directors Association. In February of 1959, a group of 35 choral conductors from across the country and formed ACDA as a way to promote excellence in the field of choral music through performance, education, composition, and advocacy.

Coinciding, with his active involvement in music advocacy, his tenure as President placed great emphasis on the Fraternity’s role in the advancement of music in America. To honor his dedication to the Fraternity’s Object and contributions to American choral music, Brother Jones was named Phi Mu Alpha’s 7th “Man of Music” at the 1964 National Convention in St. Louis, MO.

Earl V. Moore was born on September 27th, 1890.

Brother Moore was an alumnus of the University of Michigan and a 1914 initiate of the Epsilon Chapter. As a student, he served as the university organist starting in 1915 and would become a prominent figure in the school’s musical community. Moore served as director, and after a change in governance, dean of the U of M School of Music from 1923 to 1960. He composed several of the fight songs that the University of Michigan Marching Band still plays to this day.

As part of the long-range plans for the development of new land acquired by the university, a new school of music was to be constructed. In honor of Moore, the new building was named the Earl V. Moore Building and still stands today. When the building opened its doors in the summer of 1964, a special ceremony bestowed honorary degrees on Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Alice Saarinen, and Earl V. Moore.

For his significant contributions to the University of Michigan and dedication to America music, Brother Moore was named the Fraternity’s 3rd “Man of Music” at the 1956 National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.