A band that plays an important role in the ministry of the Church of God of Prophecy attained its 90th anniversary in March, but the Bahama Brass Band's milestone will be recognized by the church during the entire year.

Band public relations officer and member G. Sean Gibson said this year's anniversary celebrations would highlight the band's stellar achievements over the past nine decades. Gibson has been a band member for more than 30 years and is a lay minister at the church.

He has penned a book on the band entitled "The Making of a Band: A history of the world-famous Bahama Brass Band". Gibson has described music as a "heavenly gift" and one of the only gifts that transcends the barriers of language and creed.

"The inspirational and charismatic music of the Bahama Brass Band stirs a range of emotions from overwhelming peace and contentment to sheer bliss," said Gibson. He said the harmonic arrangements combined in the music of the Bahama Brass Band are the culmination of many influences, the most important being heritage and faith in God.

The band was organized in 1925 by four ministers -- Bishop Hermis Ferguson, Bishop Alvin S. Moss, Bishop James R. Cooper and Pastor Frank Cunningham -- when the Church of God of Prophecy experienced a major denominational transition after a disruption in 1923 in Cleveland, Tennessee, where the church leadership was separated.

In The Bahamas, there was a breakaway in 1924 resulting in the emergence of a Pentecostal church. Around that time, Moss, Ferguson, Cooper and Cunningham, who were already skilled in music, decided to form a brass band.

The coming together sparked the interest of others, and as time went by, a full band was realized in 1927 when the Bahama Brass Band made its first appearance during a baptismal parade. That parade cemented the band's presence and highlighted the church's name.

Church leaders knowing this made full use of the historic auxiliaries Youth Ministry, Women's Ministry, and the Church Marker Association during those parades with their colorful uniforms to add color and flavor.

According to Gibson, the Bahama Brass Band fame became international when the band made its first trip to the worldwide General Assembly in 1938.

Since then it has become the official brass band for the church's general assembly, where it is still serving.

Further expansion and growth in the band came along in the late 1960s when a few of the Bahama Brass Band members went to Grand Bahama to assist with a band that was established in 1963.

The band members received training in percussion and brass marching music, which prepared them for their first appearance in 1970 during The Bahamas Convention.

Other growth came about in 1971 with the startup of the church's junior band comprised of children; the junior band still exists today. Today the band's membership exceeds 100.

Its music ministry has been heard throughout the Bahamian islands, the Caribbean, the United States, United Kingdom and African countries. The band has also led delegations and performances on a number of Carnival Cruises and ports of call.

The band also played during the country's independence celebrations on July 10, 1973 before Charles, Prince of Wales, and Sir Roland Symonette, former premier of The Bahamas; former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling and ministers and government representatives from St. Lucia, Jamaica, Bermuda, St. Kitts, Grenada and Latin American countries.

The Bahama Brass Band, is led today by David G. Beneby, national band director and director of bands; John L. Butler, assistant director; Charles Hanna Jr., assistant band director; Pastor Barry Morris, director of Grand Bahama segment; and Billy Dickerson, assistant director of the Grand Bahama segment.

During its 90th anniversary year, the band will host a Band Fest in October, a Night of Legends in November and an end of year appreciation service.

Gibson's 200-plus page book on the famous band can be purchased at Amazon.com or Authorhouse.com.

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