44th Army Band

Celebrate Independence Day Weekend with us! Family friendly, fun and FREE!

The 44th Army Band is “New Mexico’s Own” Army National Guard Band and the state’s musical military ambassador. The band’s roots can be traced back to 1590, and the band served during significant periods of the nation’s history, most notably during World War II as the 200th Coast Artillery Band. On April 9, 1942, the band was surrendered to the Japanese and forced to march in Corregidor and on the Bataan Peninsula, thus earning their nickname “The Battling Bastards of Bataan.” The band was deactivated in the 1960s and remained inactive until the late 1970s when it was re-activated as the 44th Army Band. In 2011, the band deployed a team to Kosovo where they performed over 60 missions in five months.  

Today, the 44th Army Band performs in support of military, civic, and diplomatic events across the state of New Mexico. The band currently consists of the “44th Army Band Jazz Orchestra” 1940s-style big band; “Brass Street Boys” brass band; “Mariachi Adelante” traditional mariachi ensemble; “M-9 Sax Pistols” saxophone quintet; “Green Chile” rock band; and any other formation required to accomplish any musical mission.

 LEADERS:

Captain Silas N. Huff, Commander

First Sergeant Fidel Archuleta, Enlisted Bandleader