Recent Years

In the early and mid 50's under the direction of "Pop" Turner, the Cadets made tour after tour, staying in the homes of Aggie families. They sang for local churches and at banquets for VIPs (General Eisenhower's visit to A&M in 1951). The Singing Cadets performed for the State Legislature on Texas Independence Day in 1953. Ironically, the day after the performance, the Senate introduced a bill to make A&M coeducational. The number of members varied from 40-60, of which 45 were in the touring choir. They sang at Aggie Muster, an annual concert in Guion Hall each Mother's Day, annual Faculty Christmas programs, and Aggie Follies. Tours were throughout Texas and Monterrey, Mexico (in 1952). Included were performances in: Laredo, Tyler, Houston, Wichita Falls, Amarillo, NTSTC, TSWC, Alice, Harlingen, Brownsville, San Antonio, Brownwood, Goliad, Orange, Marlin, Waco, Sherman, Denton, Dallas, Lamesa, Yoakum, Brenham, Baytown, Liberty, Greenville, Pasadena, Gatesville, San Angelo, Longview, West Columbia, Gonzales, and others.
1960	Robert L. Boone becomes director after Dr. Turner left to become the head of the Department of Music at Stephen F. Austin State College. He begins immediately to embark on a program to widen the already wide popularity of the Cadets. Soon, the Singing Cadets are soon averaging fifty shows each year, in over twenty cities and towns throughout the state. Mrs. June Biering serves as the accompanist for the group.
1963	On Easter, 50 Singing Cadets stop to sing a selection at every street corner in the pouring rain at Six Flags Over Texas. Mr. Charles Meeker first heard the Singing Cadets then, and the following fall was very influential in gaining national recognition for the Singing Cadets, making them feature performers on the Miss Teenage America Pageant, a nationally televised event that the Singing Cadets would participate in for 8 years.
1968	Mrs. John Connally, wanting to present some Texas talent to promote the 1968 Hemisfair,asks the Singing Cadets to appear with her on the Mike Douglas show from Philadelphia that also featured Anita Bryant.
1970	Singer Sergio Franchi appears with the Singing Cadets at the Miss Teenage America Pageant and is very impressed by their version of "No Man Is An Island".
1971	Mr. Franchi requests the Singing Cadets sing backup to his version of “No Man Is An Island” on the Ed Sullivan Show and to perform a solo spot as well. However, an earlier group ran overtime and the Singing Cadets were bumped. As a result of this cancellation, the Singing Cadets were asked by the Ed Sullivan Show to return the next year. Unfortunately, Mr. Sullivan died a few months later and the show was cancelled. The Ed Sullivan appearance leads to a 45 rpm single being released into the national music scene by Sergio Franchi and the Singing Cadets of Texas A&M. "No Man Is An Island" was released in the Spring of 1971, and despite surging sales in the College Station area, never cracked the Billboard's Top 100 Pop Chart. Senator John Tower invites the Singing Cadets to sing for a worship service at the White House. In attendance were President and Mrs. Nixon, David and Julie Eisenhower, U.N. Ambassador George Bush, three cabinet secretaries, and Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier. The group performed three hymns for more than three hundred guests in the East Room of the White House. Afterwards, a reception in the State Dining Room was held, and the members mixed with notables present. On the front steps of the White House after the reception, the Singing Cadets gave an impromptu concert for the press corps and White House staff. President Nixon came out, greeted each member, and talked informally for about thirty minutes. Later, he told the press corps that the Singing Cadets were one of the "finest choral groups in the land", and Mrs. Nixon, "could have listened all day" according to the Dallas Times-Herald.
1973	Singing Cadets perform at Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe’s inauguration.
1974	International Tour: Romania Through the efforts of Congressman Olin E. Teague, Mrs. John Connally, and Sergio Franchi, the Singing Cadets are asked by the American Council of Nationalities Service and Friendship Ambassadors to tour Romania for three weeks. Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe commissioned each cadet as Official Ambassador of Goodwill for the State. While in Romania, the Singing Cadets were greeted by formal receptions and festive dinners at many of the towns visited, even appearing on Romanian national television and in keeping with the tradition of out of town tours, the group stayed in peasant family homes for one night.
1976	Texas A&M's Centennial Year Singing Cadet history by two joint performances with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, one in Rudder Auditorium and one in Houston's Jones Hall. Singing Cadets performed to a packed Kyle Field at the halftime Centennial show when the Aggies played Texas Tech.
1979	National Tour: Hawaii that is highlighted by a second place finish at an International Choral Festival.
1980	Singing Cadets perform with the Aggie Band at the Penn State game halftime show dedicating the Kyle Field expansion.
1981	Singing Cadets perform the pregame show and the National Anthem in the Astrodome at a nationally televised Astro/Dodger game.
1983	International Tour: Mexico (Mexico City, Acapulco, Cuernavaca) that is highlighted by a second place performance in an international choral festival and a globally broadcasted morning show appearance.
1986	Texas’ sesquicentennial birthday bring celebrations statewide and the Singing Cadets perform at the Washington-on-the-Brazos, the San Jacinto Battlegrounds, and Texas A&M Sesquicentennial celebrations.
1987	International Tour: Europe (Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Wales) highlighted by a performance in front of thousands at the Charles Dickens Festival and a joint concert with the Welsh Mixed Chorus.
1988	Mrs. Condy Carter joins the group as accompanist. Tours include Alvin, Lake Jackson, El Campo, Sinton, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Alvin, La Grange, Austin, Rockwall, Plano, Dallas, Ennis, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Seabrook, Fredericksburg, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Ft. Worth, Longview, DeKalb, Marshall and the State Convention of the National Guard in Ft. Worth, travelling 3200 miles overall. Singing Cadets sang for the National Convention of the National Guard in San Antonio, a local television special, a concert for the Texas State House of Representatives in the Capital Rotunda, the International Communicators National Convention and at commencement, where President Bush was the speaker. Tours include San Antonio, Temple, Belton, Nacogdoches, Jacksonville, Rockwall, Granbury, Abilene, Big Lake, Coleman, Waco, Austin, Tomball, Houston, West University, Kerrville, Columbus, Huntsville, Gainesville, Dallas and Arlington
1990	Four state conventions this year including the Daughters of the Confederacy, State Rotary, Air Force Association, and John Sharp Recognition Dinner. Tours include Lubbock , Groesbeck, Ennis, Dallas, Eastland, Coleman, Odessa, Ft. Stockton, Del Rio, Kerrville, Austin, Ft. Worth, Houston, Houston, Kingwood, Tomball, Plano, Greenville, Rockwall, Fredericksburg, San Antonio, and New Braunfels. International Tour: West Germany and Hungary
1991	Mrs. Bobbye Sue Bass serves as our interim accompanist but Condy Carter returns to make our Christmas tour and finish the year. Tours include Dallas (Clayton Williams Dinner with President Bush), Bryan, Rosenberg, Lake Jackson, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, McAllen, Eagle Pass, Uvalde, Austin, Houston, Henderson, Greenville, Dallas, Houston, Liberty, Texas City, TV Special (Patriotic Show) with our 61 members travelling over 3100 miles.
1993	National Tour: Hawaii
1995	Mr. David Kipp becomes director following Coach Boone's retirement
1996	National Tour: New York City and Washington DC
1999	International Tour: England
2001	International Tour: England, Scotland, and Wales
2003	National Tour: New Mexico and Arizona
2004	International Tour: Australia
2006	National Tour: Washington DC
2007	International Tour: South America(Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay)
2009	National Tour: Boston and Kennebunkport, highlighted by performances at Old North Church, Fenway Park (Yankees v. Red Sox) and surprise guest at President George Bush ‘41’s 85th Birthday Party and a performance at the Bush’s home in Walker’s Point
2010	International Tour: South Africa