MBA State Band Clinic Pictures

Perry Brooks Dennis Jr. was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, in 1917, and he began his band experience there playing cornet under the direction of J.E. Cuper. When Roy Martin became director, he changed to tuba and also served as drum-major and student conductor. When he was a sophomore in Henry Wamsley’s band at Mississippi State University, (then Mississippi A. & M.) Dennis began teaching the Starkville High School Band, which he served from 1935 to 1941. Among other honors, the SHS Band won top ratings at the District VII National Contest in 1941. Dennis received his Bachelor or Science degree from MSU, and he later received his BMEd from VanderCook School of Music in Chicago.

Through his leadership of the “Cadets”, a college “big band”, eh met and later married Clara King of Durnat. After a brief sojourn with the Dallas Public Schools, Dennis became band director at Carr Central High School in Vicksburg and developed it into a most formidable competitor in band contests. The University of Michigan awarded him a MMEd degree in 1951. Dennis followed his friend, Roy Martian as director of Greenwood High School Band, and later became band director of the LaGrange High School Band in Lake Charles, Louisiana where he taught from 1959 till 1970. These bands won many honors.

While working on a Doctorate at the University of Southern Mississippi, he was offered a position at eh university which he held for 12 years, retiring as Associate Professor of music and Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. Dennis was President of the MMEA Band Division in 1950 and President of the Mississippi Music Educators Association 1974-1976. He holds membership in the Phi Beta Mu (Honorary Life), Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, and Phi Delta Kappa. He was Lion’s All-State concert director in 1952 and 1953, and he was awarded the Order of Silver Horn.