The Alabama State University family lost a legend this week, when former longtime ASU band director, Dr. Thomas E. Lyle, died.
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Dr. Thomas E. Lyle, legendary director of the ASU Mighty Marching Hornets, died on Thursday, June 9, 2011.
Lyle served as director of bands at Alabama State University from 1964 to 1988. He is credited with taking the band to national performance platforms such as nationally televised halftime shows of National Football League games during the 1960s and 1970s.
Those who served under “Professor Lyle” remember him as a leader who believed in discipline.
“He was a man who had very high expectations of us as band members and as individuals,” said James Oliver, the current director of the Mighty Marching Hornets. “He never raised his voice, but he had a subtle way of letting you know what he wanted and making sure that you did it.”
Oliver was a band member from 1975 to 1980. He said Lyle had his own style as a band director.
“He would only put 144 members on the field because that’s 12 by 12 … a perfect square. Dr. Lyle was unique,” Oliver added.
ASU Alumni Affairs director Cromwell Handy was Oliver’s roommate and fellow Marching Hornet.
“There are two words to describe Prof. Lyle … pride and discipline,” Handy said. “He instilled in us pride in our University. He also made sure that we were disciplined as band members. If you came without your instrument, you didn’t march; if you came with only one glove, you didn’t march. You had to be ready when it was time to take that field.”
Handy said Lyle was more than a director; he also was a talented musician and writer. Handy said he wrote the downfield march and arranged the music for the University’s alma mater. Another Marching Hornet trademark instituted by Lyle is the demanding “double time” steps … 360 steps per minute.
“Practice for us was like a military boot camp,” Oliver said. “Dr. Lyle knew that in order to do the quick step, we needed to be in military condition. He made sure that we were. Dr. Lyle was also a very caring man. He was one of my mentors and really supported me when I became band director. My goal was to bring the ‘Lyle Style’ back to the Marching Hornets. He knew that wouldn’t be easy, so he called me two or three times a week just to give me an encouraging word. I’ll never forget that.”
Dr. Lyle was a graduate of Tennessee State University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After retiring from Alabama State University in 1988, he later became band director at Stillman College.
A wake to celebrate Dr. Lyle’s memory will be held on Tuesday, June 14, at 6 p.m. at Fresh Anointing House of Worship, located at 4870 Woodley Road, Montgomery, Ala. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 15, at 11 a.m. at the Fresh Anointing House of Worship Main Campus, located at 150 East Fleming Road, also in Montgomery.
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Dr. Thomas E. Lyle was and will continue to be a great inspiration to us all. R.I.P DOC.
Rest in Peace Dr. Lyle. You will truly be missed by Alumni, Fans and Foes.
Mr. Half Dead
Trunk-o-Funk
So sorry to hear this news! I met him twice and both were plesant experience! He had a presence that commanded respect before he opened his mouth! Truly a classic man of music1 May god be with his family and the Alabama State family!
So sorry to hear this news! I met him twice and both were plesant experience! He had a presence that commanded respect before he opened his mouth! Truly a classic man of music1 May god be with his family and the Alabama State family!
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