The Longhorn Band was founded in 1900 by a distinguished professor of chemistry, Dr.E.P. Schoch. Envisioning marching bands as an inspiring addition to the turn of the century football season, Dr. Schoch, along with Dr. H.E. Baxter, the first director, recruited sixteen students and spent $150.00 at Jackson's Pawn Shop in downtown Austin for instruments, and began what was later to become "THE SHOWBAND OF THE SOUTHWEST".

The sixteen charter members, who wore uniforms of white linen dusters and white caps with black bills, were not just music majors, but students from various academic disciplines. These students shared one common goal much like that of today: to promote pride and spirit throughout the University by way of musical excellence and leadership.

Dr. Baxter guided the Band for five years after which Dr. Schoch took complete control. After five years of leadership, he had to step aside because of vocational duties but continued to act as the band's chaperone. During the seven years after his retirement, students directed the band.

In 1917, Mr. Burnett "Blondie" Pharr became the director. Pharr was credited for taking the Longhorn Band after World War I and developing it into one of the most outstanding band organizations in the country. Pharr's band made performances in seventeen states, including the Chicago World's Fair, Washington D.C., and Madison Square Garden of New York. The Band was also the guest of Governor Lehman of New York, Mayor LaGuardia of New York City, and President Roosevelt at the White House. Pharr served until 1937.

From 1937-1949, Colonel George E. Hurt assumed the directorship. During this time, the band grew to over 200 members and gained popularity. "Colonel Hurt and his bandsmen have become a part of the life of all Texans. When they give us 'The Eyes of Texas,' a lump comes in our throats and there is a pricklish feeling in our noses and we blink our lashes together and swallow hard - and thank God for Texas," said one editor of the Daily Texan in 1940. In 1949, Colonel Hurt suffered a stroke, and Moton Crockett assumed the position of director until 1955.

For the next twenty years, Mr. Vincent DiNino served as director of the Longhorn Band. During this period, the band grew in both size and reputation, and attained the level of quality that is characteristic of the band today. During DiNino's reign as director, many traditions in the band were formed including the Longhorn Alumni Band, Big Bertha, Big Flags Brigade, cowbells, and a scholarship program.

A major change that took place in the history of the Longhorn Band during the DiNino era, was the admission of women. Until 1956, the only women in the marching band were the majorettes. Ten girls were admitted in the fall of 1956 and the first to march with the Longhorn Band was Leah Raye Sexton, in January 1957 during the Governor's Inaugural Parade. In the fall of 1957, an Asian flu epidemic swept through campus. So many bandsmen were ill the weekend of the Oklahoma game that women were called to the rescue and have been marching ever since.

In 1975, Mr. Tom C. Rhodes was appointed director and remained in that position until the spring of 1980. In the fall of 1980, Mr. Glenn A. Richter returned to his alma mater as Director of Longhorn Bands. During this time, the Longhorn Band was officially recognized as the nation's top collegiate marching band by being awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Trophy in 1986. Prof. Richter served until the fall of 1995 when Ms. Paula A. Crider was named Longhorn Band Director. Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole took over in 1999 to lead the Centennial edition of The Showband of the Southwest into the 21st century. Dr. Robert M. Carnochan is the current Director of the Longhorn Band, taking the reigns in 2002.

During the many directorial changes, the Longhorn Band went through many location changes as well. The first Longhorn Band Hall was a little shack on campus known as the chemistry lab. Later, the band moved into more "spacious quarters," the caretaker's room, built around the base of an old water tower which stood on campus. After this, it moved to various buildings, including Gregory Gym, and finally was located in a converted barracks building on 23rd Street across from Memorial Stadium in the fall of 1947. This building, provided by the Ex-Students Association, served as the band hall until August of 1969, when the band moved into its current residence at 500 East 24th Street. Officially known as the Music Building East, the present building is also called the "Longhorn Band Hall" around campus - the first building on campus to be named after a student organization. The original plans called for just the band portion, but a choral room, orchestra room, and upstairs studios for the wind and percussion faculty were added as an afterthought. The Proctor W. Day Band Hall is the rehearsal room for the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and the Longhorn Marching Band, Concert bands, Jazz bands, and Basketball Band.