Hampton University Mourns The Loss Of Director
of Bands Barney Smart
July 6, 2004
Hampton, Va. – The Hampton University community mourns
the death of Mr. Barney E. Smart, who departed this life
on the afternoon of Friday, July 2, 2004 at Sentara CarePlex
Hospital in Hampton, Virginia. A memorial service will be
held Friday, July 9 at 1 p.m. at University Chapel on the
campus of HU.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University
and the Masters of Music from the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor. At Alabama State he served as a Student Assistant
in the Music Department and was president of the band his
senior year. At Michigan, he was the president of the Black
Music Student Association and was the first recipient of
the Belinda Harris Music Scholarship for the university’s
outstanding minority music student.
Smart spent 14 years at Hampton University where he helped
turn “The Force” into one of the most well respected
marching bands in college football. He founded the Symphonic
Winds Ensemble in 1991, and established a high school band
camp and directors clinic. In 1996, Smart became the first
African American and native Alabamian to Adjudicate the state
band festival in Alabama. He became a member of the Board
of Directors of the Intercollegiate Music Association (IMA)
and was elected as Vice President in 1999 before serving
his term as President beginning in May of 2000.
Prior to coming to Hampton, Smart’s collegiate experiences
included being Director of Bands at Alabama A&M University
and the Conductor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn
Wind Ensemble. While at Alabama A&M, he was selected
twice as the College Band Director of the Year by the Birmingham
Grid Forecasters.
Some of Smart’s most notable performances include
performing for United States Presidents Richard Nixon and
George Bush. He has been a Guest Conductor with the University
of Michigan Symphony Band, the Cleveland State University
Wind Ensemble, The Intercollegiate Music Association Symphonic
Band, the Omaha Nebraska All-City High School Band and the
Hampton All-City Concert Band. In addition, the HU Symphonic
Winds performed to a standing ovation at the Black Music
Caucus in Nashville, Tennessee in 1993. The Hampton University
marching band, “The Force,” has given stellar
performances in New York, Detroit, Jacksonville, Baton Rouge
and Boise, Idaho. National television networks BET, TNT,
HTS and ESPN have broadcasted performances by Mr. Smart and
his band.
Mr. Smart is survived by his wife Mrs. Mary Ann Smart and
two sons, Barney II and Tory Franklyn.
