Purdue All - American Marching Band The Purdue " All - American " Marching Band is the marching band of Purdue University and the main source of auxiliary entertainment for Purdue Boilermakers football games . AAMB does many service performances for high schools , junior high schools , and elementary schools , and has been the host band of the Indianapolis 500 race every year the race has been held since 1927 . The band has grown from an original 5 members to 373 members , making it one of the largest marching bands in the world . The two most distinctive features of the AAMB are the World ' s Largest Drum and the feature twirler , the Purdue Golden Girl . History . In 1886 the Purdue Student Army Training Corps formed a five - member drum corps to play music for the cadets during their morning conditioning runs . While operating without a director until 1904 , the band had started playing at Purdue football games and had grown to over 50 members . However , during this time it played sporadically , as there usually wasn ' t anyone available to direct them . Additionally , they received almost no training and had to provide most of their own equipment . In 1904 , Paul Spotts Emrick , a freshman from Rochester , joined the band . His experience as a conductor resulted in his election as band president and director the next year . During his senior year at Purdue , the band became the first to break ranks and form a letter on the field — the famous Block " P " . Emrick stayed on as director after his graduation in 1908 . In 1921 Emrick commissioned the Leedy Manufacturing Company of Indianapolis to construct the world ' s largest bass drum . The " Big Bass Drum " has been a part of the marching band ever since . In 1935 , during a Purdue football game at Northwestern University the band donned lights on their uniforms while performing at halftime . With the stadium lights turned off for the performance , the band drew such awe from radio broadcaster Ted Husing , he referred to them as a " truly All - American marching band , " hence the current title of the band . Emrick retired in 1954 , and to date the band has been under the direction of just five other men : In 1995 the " All - American " Marching Band was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy , the most prestigious award a college marching band can receive . Currently , the " All - American " Marching Band is the only band from a university without a school of music to have received this award . Featured Twirlers . The Purdue band is also famous for its four Featured Twirler positions : the Golden Girl , the Girl in Black , and the Silver Twins . Purdue ' s Golden Girl ranks among the nation ' s best twirlers and is at the top of her art form . This talented performer is selected by audition each April , and serves as a leader of the AAMB as well as an ambassador for Purdue University . Recognized nationally for her unique talents , this coveted position has roots going back to the early history of Purdue Bands . The tradition of the Golden Girl was begun in 1954 during the era of quarterback Len Dawson , whose poise on the field prompted the press to nickname him Purdue ' s " Golden Boy . " At the same time , Dr . Al G . Wright ( now Director of Bands Emeritus ) brought his first twirling protégé to the field , Juanita Carpenter , who earned the title of " Golden Girl . " When Dawson graduated Purdue was left without a Golden Boy , but Carpenter ' s graduation didn ' t have the same effect on her title . Instead Golden Girl evolved into a movable crown that ' s been passed down through generations , and the position has become the standard for excellence within the twirling community . Golden Girl # 27 MerrieBeth Cox , a senior from Roselle , IL and the reigning Miss Indiana , continues as Golden Girl for the 2012 - 13 season . In 1962 , another solo twirler position was created to compliment the Golden Girl . June Ciampa was the first to fill this position . Dressed in Purdue ' s other color , black , she first performed as the International Twirler . This title was later replaced with " Girl in Black . " The Girl in Black for the 2012 - 2013 season is Cecilia Daizovi , from Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic , who is also the first legacy feature twirler in the band ' s history . Jordan Foster of Massachusetts and Alyssa Lyzen of Ohio take on a special role as novelty twirlers for the Purdue " All - American " Marching Band in the 2012 - 13 season . The position of Silver Twins was created by Al G . Wright in 1960 for identical twins . In auditions for the position , identical twins are given preference but twirling duos may also compete . Marching band pioneers . The Purdue " All - American " Marching Band has pioneered a number of accomplishments . It was the first marching band to : Band composition . As the band stands now , it contains numerous woodwind , brass , percussion , and auxiliary members . The wind instruments are organized into ranks of 10 people . The band currently contains 27 ranks . The percussion consists of a drumline , drum major s , and the World ' s Largest Drum ; auxiliary performers are organized by their type of performance . A section of Big Ten Flag carriers exists for pregame and halftime drill .