The tradition of community bands in Easton can be traced back to at least 1824, when Pomp’s Cornet Band (later the Easton Band) played for General Marquis de Lafayette during his tour of America.  Over the next century, the city of Easton was home to numerous musical performance groups.  Future research may provide a link between at least one of these groups and today’s Easton Municipal Band; however, the band’s documented history begins in 1926. As is the case with many modern community concert bands, which trace their roots to fife corps, brass bands, or drum corps, our ancestor organization, the Brown and Lynch Post #9 American Legion Trumpet and Drum Corps, looks somewhat different than the Easton Municipal Band of today, and our history represents the changing face of American band music in the early 20th century.
 
The original corps boasted 75 members from the Brown and Lynch American Legion Post.  Its first public appearance took place on August 21, 1926, in Easton’s Centre Square.  In May 1929 the corps was adopted as Easton’s official musical organization and was presented the city flags by (appropriately) Mayor Samuel Horn. The Brown and Lynch Drum Corps was originally led by Corp Commander Charles W. Neumoyer, followed by Anthony Lucchetti, who saw the band through its transition from a drum corps, composed exclusively of brass and percussion instruments, to a marching and concert band, which included woodwinds among its instrumentation, in the 1930s. We no longer have access to membership rolls, concert programs, or any other documentation from that era which would definitively establish overlap in the membership between the drum corps and the band. Public records demonstrate co-existence of these organizations until around 1942; as of 1937 Mr. Luchetti was directing both the drum corps and the band, and continued to direct the band until 1958, after the drum corps ceased to exist. Based on both organizations’ sponsorship under the Brown and Lynch banner and the consistent leadership by Mr. Luchetti through the transition from drum corps to band, we recognize 1926 as the founding date of our ancestor organization.  
 
Unfortunately, in October 1974, a fire destroyed the Brown and Lynch Post, then housed on Northampton Street, and the band lost its records, much of its library, instruments, uniforms and equipment.  The members, led by president John Falcone, endeavored to keep the band going.  They even managed to march in the Easton Halloween Parade later that month.  Funds and help were forthcoming from the community, and the band was able to have a full summer concert season in 1975.
 
A major supporter of the band’s recovery was the Easton Moose Lodge on South 4th Street, who provided a rent-free facility for storage and rehearsals.  In 1976, the band agreed to affiliate with The Moose Lodge and rename itself The Easton Moose Band.  From 1976 through 1987, the band had a most successful run, participating in many parades and holding concerts throughout the community.  The Peace Candle lighting, Heritage Day and concerts at Riverside Park and Meuser Park were among the many venues.  In 1987, the Moose Lodge closed, and the band was again without a home.
 
After the closing of the Moose Lodge, the band found rehearsal and storage space at the YWCA on North 3rd Street.  Not wanting to struggle with any more name changes, another set of bylaws was adopted, and the band began its current era as the Easton Municipal Band.  Director Gerald Bender, a music teacher in the Easton School District, arranged a move to the Easton Middle School at 12th and Northampton Streets.
 
The band gained permission from the city to use the name; however, it was not recognized by the city officially until 1996, when, through the efforts of Band President Robert Schaller and Director Olwen Bougher, Mayor Thomas Goldsmith recognized the band as the Official Band of the City of Easton.  This designation was re-confirmed by the reading of Mayoral Proclamations at public concerts on August 11, 2000, and July 20, 2024.  
 
The Easton Municipal Band is proud to be the last existing concert band in our community. Since the 19th century, some 14 bands were organized, but were unable to sustain operations. Among these were The Tredwell Band, Ingersoll-Rand Band, The Commonwealth Band, The Elks Band, Charlie Porello’s Triple City Band and, most notably, The Easton Band. The latter band was directed by nationally-renowned Easton native, Thomas Coates, who became its leader sometime before 1850.
 
Currently, the band is directed by Albert J. Shimkus, Jr. and rehearses at United Fellowship Lutheran Church Washington Blvd in Wilson Borough. 
 
Still going strong after 100 years, the Easton Municipal Band is proud to carry on the tradition of Easton’s community concert bands!