Tiger Swing Band The 1915 Washington High School annual notes of the Massillon Football Band being a group of students bringing their instruments to the football games and playing to cheer on the team and pep up the fans. The name "The Massillon Tiger Swing Band" and the swing elements were created by George "Red" Bird in 1938 during the Paul Brown era of Massillon football. The band became known as "The Greatest Show in High School Football" and is still a very important part of the Massillon football tradition. The band's swing style includes moving formations and musicians marching with a swing step. Mr. Bird invented the 6 to 5 step. The Tiger Swing band begins every home football game with the traditional hometown songs of "Massillon Will Shine", "Stand Up and Cheer" (to acknowledge the other team), the National Anthem, "Eye of the Tiger" and the "WHS Alma Mater". At the beginning of each half time show, they perform what is known as "Opening Routine", this tradition that goes back for decades and consists of the band's entrance ("Turn Arounds") followed by "Fanfare", "Tiger Rag" and "Carry On". This entire routine is marched at 180 beats per minute. The band also learns and performs a new show for every home game.
tiger sWing band thE 1915 wasHiNgton hiGh SchoOl annUal nOtEs of The massiLLon football banD BeinG a Group Of stuDenTs BringiNG TheIR iNstrUmeNTS to The fOOTbAll gameS And playIng to cHeER On tHe teAm and pep up the fanS. tHE NAME "the MAssilLon tiger swing bAnd" aNd THe SwIng ElEmeNTs WERE creaTed By GEoRge "reD" bIRD In 1938 during ThE paul bRowN erA oF massIllon footbAlL. thE band became knoWn aS "the grEatest show in hiGH school fooTBaLL" and is stiLl A very impOrtant PART of THe MAsSiLlON fOotbaLL traditioN. the bANd's sWinG STyLe iNcludes mOViNg fORmaTIons and MUsIcians mArCHIng wiTh A SWInG step. mR. birD InVENted ThE 6 tO 5 step. the Tiger SwiNG Band BeGIns evEry homE football gamE wiTh tHE tradItIonAl hometown songs Of "mAssillON wiLl shINE", "stand up And chEer" (To AcknOwleDge tHE other tEAm), the NAtional AntHem, "eye Of thE TiGEr" And tHe "whs alMa maTer". At The BegInnIng of eACH half Time Show, THeY PeRFORM wHat Is knOwn aS "OPening rouTine", thIs tRadITion tHat GoeS back fOr DecadEs AnD consisTs of THE BANd's EntraNcE ("turn arOunDs") FoLloWed by "FaNfare", "TIgEr rag" AnD "cArRY on". this Entire rOUtinE IS marcHed aT 180 beats PEr MinUte. the baNd alSO learnS and performs A new sHoW for Every HOme gAme.