A timeline of the Marching Royal Dukes...

1969 - Nov 22. First performance of the JMU Pep Band.
       The pep band was created by Phi Mu Alpha to support the Basketball Team.
       It was staffed by 15 volunteer musicians from the college at large.
       (Phi Mu Alpha - chapter Gamma Alpha was also founded this year.)

1972 - Marching Royal Dukes founded as the Madison College Marching Band.
       Initial director: Malcolm Harris

     - May 4. At the "Annual Honors Day" the Madison Jazz Ensemble introduces
       "The Fighting Dukes of Madison," the new fight song written by
       Dr. George West.

     - June 15. Organization date of the marching band.

     - Sept 10. First performance of the Madison College Marching Band.
       At this time the concert band and the marching band were the same ensemble.
       This was JMU's first football season.

     - MCMB performed at UVA game as the halftime band. (Madison College was
       not playing UVA in football. UVA had no marching band at the time and
       would hire bands to perform their halftime.)

1973 - "Get It On" by Bill Chase was the "new" Concert Feature tune of
       the season.

     - MCMB performed at UVA as the halftime band. (again)

1974 - Participated in the Apple Blossom Parade

     - Jan 12. Performed in Virginia Givernor Mills Godwin's inaugural parade

1977 - Madison College is renamed to James Madison University
     - Mike Davis takes over as director.
     - The band is expanded and now known as the "Marching Royal Dukes"

1978 - Oct 15. First NFL Halftime: Baltimore Colts vs NY Jets NFL game

     - Oct 28. Hosted the American Mideast Regional Championships of Bands of
       America

     - Nov 15. First recording produced.

     - Dec 3. Performed at the Redskins vs Dolphins NFL game

1979 - Kappa Kappa Psi chapter (Eta Omicron) started by 17 MRD members.
       (Installation completed November 9, 1980)

1980 - Performed at the Steelers vs Browns NFL game in Pittsburgh.

1982 - Dr. Pat Rooney takes over as director.

     - Sep 17. Band performs at UVA.

     - Jan 22, 1983. Performed at the Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys
       NFC championship NFL game halftime show.

1983 - The MRDs began recording annually.

1984 - MRD members, as part of the All-American College Band, perform for
       the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

     - MRD members formed the official Washington Federals Pep Band in the USFL

     - Sep 18. "Welcome Home" event for Virginia Olympians

1985 - Jan 20. MRD members, as part of the All-American College Band, perform for
       President Regan's inaugural.

     - Disney Store opening in NOVA (?)

1986 - MRD members, as part of the All-American College Band, perform at several
       events in NYC as part of the Statue of Liberty's 100th Anniversary and
       re-dedication.

1987 - MRD concert performance on Capitol Hill. (Originally scheduled as a
       Redskins game, the NFL was on strike.)

     - MRD members, as part of the All-American College Band, perform in
       the tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, CA.

     - March. Tau Beta Sigma chapter (Eta Rho) founded.

1988 - Nov 12. Featured at the Bands of America Grand National Championships.
       Performance at the Pontiac Silverdome.

     - First CD recording.

1991 - Nov 16. Featured at the Bands of America Grand National Championships.
       Performance at the Indianapolis Hoosier Dome

1992 - Performed at the Washington Redskins vs Atlanta Falcons NFL game.
       JMU alum Gary Clark ran by high fiving the whole band after
       scoring a touchdown.

1994 - Received the Sudler Tropy. National coverage in USA Today.

1995 - Oct 1. Performed at the Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys NFL game.

1996 - MRD website started. First music website for all of JMU

1997 - Jan 20. Performed in President Clinton's inaugural parade.

     - First european tour. Performed at the palace in Monaco for the closing
       ceremonies of the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi family. Also,
       performances in Cannes, France and Genoa, Italy.

2000 - Second European Tour. Performed at a New Years Celebration in Athens,
       Greece, before an audience of more than 500,000

2001 - Jan 20. Performed in President G.W. Bush's inaugural parade.

     - Nov 22. Performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2002 - Performed at Virginia Gov. Mark Warners inaugural ceremonies.

2003 - Third European tour. Featured band for New Years celebration in
       Dublin, Ireland and visited Heidelberg, Germany

2004 - Performed at the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game in
       Chattanooga, Tennessee

2006 - Performed at Governor Tim Kaine's inaugural ceremonies

2006 - Fourth European tour. Featured at the New Year's celebration in
       Dublin, Ireland.

2007 - Scott Rikkers takes over as director

2008 - Nov 27. Performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2010 - London tour.

2011 - The last recording produced of the MRDs

2012 - Largest size ever fielded by the MRDs: 497

     - New uniforms

2013 - Nov 28. Performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2014 - Terry McAuliffe's Governor's Inaugural Parade. (?)

2018 - Nov 22. Performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade