Signing Off: Aggie Band’s Voice, Brewer ’81

https://twitter.com/AggieNetwork/status/1332715878924869632

After 40 years, the voice of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is signing off. 

Watch Col. Jay O. Brewer ’81’s final halftime announcement Saturday on Texas A&M’s social media during the A&M-LSU game. 

Brewer told The Association recently, “I can’t begin to articulate the honor it’s been for me as a former bandsman and a graduate of A&M to be given this opportunity to spend my entire professional career right here in Aggieland working with and for an organization that I truly believe changes young people’s lives, and that’s an emotional topic for me.”

Currently the band’s senior associate director, Brewer played bass trombone in the Aggie Band as a student.

He has been the band’s announcer since he joined the staff in fall 1981 after graduation, and will retire in spring – his last day on staff will be spring 2021’s Final Review.

Brewer made his last “Now forming at the north end of Kyle Field” announcement on the morning of Nov. 5, 2020, as the Aggie Band recorded video of its drill for the LSU game. 

During the 2020 football season, Aggie Band performances for home games have been recorded in advance in Kyle Field and played on the stadium screens at halftime, due to COVID-19 restrictions from the SEC that permit only essential personnel on the field and sidelines during games.

To watch at halftime Saturday, go to A&M’s social media channels (@TAMU on Twitter and Facebook).

[Update: Below are A&M's gameday tweet and a video interview with Brewer. The Eagle profiled new announcer Capt. Russell Tipton on Sept. 18, 2021.]

https://twitter.com/TAMUCommandant/status/1339653338913271813

https://twitter.com/tamu/status/1332868834261430274

The Association of Former Students has a bold vision to engage 100,000 donors annually for Texas A&M by the end of 2020. To learn more, visit tx.ag/100Kby2020. To help us help more Aggies and continue to provide funding to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, make a gift at tx.ag/Give.