The Baltimore Westsiders Marching Band

The Baltimore Westsiders, Inc

In the later year of 1963 some of our neighborhood guys started playing around with drum tunes they enjoyed. The girls in the neighborhood imitated marching like the drum corps that were seen throughout Baltimore. At this point the idea began to show reality for the youth in West Baltimore.

In 1964, a marching band was formed with 25 youth in the West Baltimore Community under the direction of Mr. Jeff W. Pitts. They were named “The Westside Cadets”. Mr. Pitts recruited Aaron Davis to train the youth using his military experience. Mr. Pitts recruited Mrs. Pitts to sew uniforms. Other parent volunteers in the community joined in to assist with the creation of our newly formed group colors of red, white and black.

In 1966, the group had grown to 150 to 200 children from all parts of Baltimore. Mrs. Dorothy Pitts proudly named them “The Baltimore Westsiders”. The first drums were donated by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Thaxton (President of the Winchester Improvement Association) when they became the Baltimore Westsiders.

The colors were transformed at this time to a brilliant red and white. The colors were to stand for the red blood of our hearts, and white for the purity of our youth. A touch of “black” has been restored from our days as The Westside Cadets, and we display this color as a symbol of our strength.

The Baltimore Westsiders are a proud band representing the city of Baltimore. We are a non- profit organization with a mission, a goal and a vision to succeed. We have ages ranging from 2 to 48 years old. The family environment brings members to The Baltimore Westsiders. We are structured to encourage youth to be the best in what ever they choose to do in their lives. We are proud of our Morgan graduates, our ministers, and professionals that have succeeded, but continue to come back and provide guidance to our youth.

We were the first Black community marching band in Baltimore City. We have marched in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Atlanta Georgia, New Orleans, Chicago, D.C., Philadelphia, Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia, all parts of Maryland and the Eastern Shore.

We have a trophy list that would be too long to list, after all 40 years is a long time. Each year we give our children trophies from the year before, so they may proudly display them in their homes.

We provide specialty and excitement to any event. We faithfully participate yearly for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Visionary Arts Museum of Baltimore Maryland. Art Modell, owner of “The Baltimore Ravens” request us faithfully as his favorite band. We have dazzled wedding guest, shocked a birthday boy or girl and proudly participated in Black tie affairs as coordinated entertainment by “PW Feats” for Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Unit.

In December 2001, we brought the house down at the AOL/Time Warner Christmas Party where six thousand guests attended in Washington, DC.

The Baltimore Westsiders will remain the most sought after band in Baltimore. We were featured in the City Paper July 4, 2001, after 3 months of in-depth interviews by Editor Charles Cohen.

Our owners Jeff and Dorothy Pitts have received the “13” salute, and a letters from former Presidents for outstanding accomplishments with the youth of Baltimore City.

The Baltimore Westsiders under the direction of Corlis Greene, the daughter of Jeff and Dorothy Pitts continue to seek new visions for our youth and young adults. Her dream is to march in Disney World and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. She promotes a shield of victory and growth, with “GOD” as her guide.

“No weapon formed against us shall prosper” is the motto of the Baltimore Westsiders. We intend to promote talent, not violence in our organization. We promise to provide entertainment with a burst of energy like you have never seen before.

If this is your first time… We proudly introduce to you,

The Baltimore Westsiders

www.baltimorewestsiders.com

Links

Strike up The Band

Dorothy Pitts 

And The Band Played