The Mighty Sound of the South, the University of Memphis’ marching band, normally wears the school’s familiar colors of blue and gray. But this football season, the band debuted a uniform that celebrates the U of M, the city of Memphis and its renowned musical heritage.

Those uniforms — the “Memphis Blues” uniforms — are featured in the winter 2018 U of M President’s Report magazine. If you haven’t received your copy of the magazine, it’s online at memphis.edu.

“The version we unveiled during the UCF football game on Oct. 13, we are calling the ‘Memphis Blues’ uniform,” Will Plenk, associate director of bands/director of athletic bands, said in the President’s Report. “This look was inspired by the Blues Brothers, whose outfits were a nod to the classic bluesman style of coat and fedora, a tradition with very deep Memphis roots — something you might see on Beale Street. This uniform concept was born out of a desire for a unique look among college bands that also had connections to Memphis.”

If you weren’t fortunate enough to be at the Liberty Bowl that afternoon, here’s video of the band’s performance:

The Mighty Sound of the South, a university tradition since 1940, is part of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music in the College of Communication and Fine Arts at the U of M.

Below are more photos from the winter 2018 President’s Report:

— Phillip Tutor, CCFA media coordinator, email: potutor@memphis.edu