Mike Leckrone - Moments of Happiness: My History with the UW Marching Band

Michael “Mike” Leckrone (born July 30, 1936) was the director of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band from 1969 to 2019. He is noted for his extraordinary ability to remember the names of all the past and present members of the band, as well as where they were from, and what instrument they played.

When Leckrone became director of the Wisconsin Marching Band, interest in the program was low. By creating a new, demanding marching style, "stop at the top", a pre-game run on, and emphasizing showmanship, he turned the program around. Talking about his half-time shows, Leckrone said, "I have always patterned my shows around the old Ed Sullivan Television Show. The most important thing the Sullivan Show had going for it was variety. If you didn't like an act that Ed introduced, you knew that in a minute or two, there would be something entirely different." He also extended his efforts off the football field by establishing the Varsity Band to play at other sporting events.

The Wisconsin Band, under the direction of Leckrone, has performed to sell-out crowds in performances ranging from Camp Randall and the Kohl Center to Lambeau Field, Rose Bowls, numerous other Bowl games, and the Final Four Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis.

Leckrone retired in 2018 after 50 years but continues to share moments of happiness to audiences throughout the nation.

In the immortal words of Leckrone:

“If it was easy, anybody could do it.”

“I don’t want excuses, I want results.”

“My strength is the strength of 10 because my heart is pure.”

“I’d like to think that the tuba section is one of the finest in the country. They’re not, but I’d like to think that.”

“When you’re in the Wisconsin Band, you’ve got to be tough enough to eat a rock.”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some others have greatness thrust upon them. Choose one of the above.”

“They are able who think they are able. Those who are not able had better get there.”

“Genius does what it must, and talent does what it can. You guys do what you can, I’ll do what I must.”

“When that one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you performed at half-time!”

“If there’s anything I can’t stand, it’s a band that sounds like somebody laid a blanket over them and they’re sweating.”

“Don’t do what I say, do what I think!”

“You can always take pain as long as you know when it will end.”

“You can’t catch cold from exposure.”

and most importantly: “When You Say ‘Wisconsin,’ You’ve Said It All!”

https://badgerband.wisc.edu/history/the-leckrone-years (amended)