Musicology Commons^™

The Stanocola Refinery Band: Industry, Tradition, And Community, Katlin L. Harris

LSU Master's Theses

Following World War I, many American businesses began to sponsor musical ensembles to promote their commercial interests and boost the morale of their workers. Although these industry-sponsored ensembles were created to serve the needs of businesses, they often played vital roles in their communities. One such ensemble was a wind band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, affiliated with the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana (known as “Stanocola”). The Stanocola Band (1919–1950) made its first public appearance in 1920. Under the auspices of the oil refinery in Baton Rouge, the band thrived throughout the Great Depression and World War II, only disbanding …