Did you know
First Brass Band The first Salvation Army brass band came into being at Salisbury in the autumn of 1878 when Charles Fry and his three sons, Fred, Ernest and Bert, responded to the need of early Army pioneers for protection from attack. With them they brought their instruments, two cornets, a valve trombone and a euphonium, with which they accompanied the open air meetings in the market place. The band was dissolved upon the death of Charles Fry on August 24th 1882
The First Corps Band Consett Corps, County Durham, was formed in December 1879 and went out on the streets playing at Christmas. The original band consisted of just four players, Bandmaster Edward Lennox, and Bandsmen George Storey, James Simpson and Robert Greenwood.
The International Staff Band The I.S.B. was formed in 1891 as the International Headquarters Staff Band, and Staff Captain Fred Fry was appointed to take charge. The first Bandmaster to be officially appointed was Jabez Lyne on September 23rd 1893, when Adjutant Thomas Marshall was also appointed first leader of the International Staff Band.