New Voice of the Big Red Marching Machine

NORMAL, Ill. – The Big Red Marching Machine will undergo a large change this year as their iconic voice Dave Colee says goodbye.

“Dave Colee served as the iconic voice of the Big Red Marching Machine for over 30 years,” said Associate Director of the Big Red Marching Machine Dr. Mack Wood.

A member of the Redbird Hall of Fame, Colee has been involved at Illinois State University for almost 40 years when he retired at the end of the season last year.

The Big Red Marching Machine has been a staple at Illinois State over its storied 90-year history.  The most recent iteration of the band was established by then director, Ed Livingston who in 1977 coined the term “The Big Red Marching Machine.”

Since then, the band has been all over the country attending events at Soldier Field, the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1998, and even going to celebrate St. Patrick’s in Dublin, Ireland in 2017.

“The marching band is comprised of students that represent every college at ISU. These are great human beings that represent ISU at the highest level at all times,” said Wood.

This year a new voice will be booming through Hancock Stadium announcing the band as ISU grad Tina McGuire, who is now a teacher here on Campus, takes over the position for the retiring Colee. McGuire was a Member of the Big Red Marching Machine here during her time as an undergraduate student.

McGuire and the rest of the amazing Big Red Marching Machine can next be heard this homecoming weekend, as the Redbird football team will take on South Dakota at Hancock Stadium on October 15th.