On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the pop rock band, Mobility, performed at Disney California Adventure at the Hollywood Backlot Stage. Mobility is a part of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. It is an energetic group that also is a lot of fun. The band performed at 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. It is one of several military bands that are performing during the 4th of July week at the Disneyland Resort.
During the course of their first set they played pop songs like Uptown Funk and also a Disney tune. In this case, the two lead vocalists performed Love is an Open Door from Disney’s Frozen. Daps Magic was on hand to capture the performance. It can be seen in full here:
Mobility is the high energy pop and rock band of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. They are stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. The band tours throughout the western United States where it performs in front of millions of people either live or through broadcast. It performs at military events, town festivals, school assemblies, professional sporting events and also deployed troops overseas. It has performed for U.S. Presidents and international dignitaries. Mobility has also performed with Kid Rock, Daughtry, and Brad Paisley. The band’s rock shows is the face of Air Mobility Command and Air Force recruiting.
Mobility, as a part of the Band of the Golden West, has a mission to “harness musical excellence to HONOR our nation and those who have served, INSPIRE patriotism and resilience in our Airmen, Guardians, and nations’ citizens, and CONNECT the Air Force with the American public and community partners.”
The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West is the only active duty Air Force band west of the Rockies. It has about 60 musicians that make up the group. It is under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Cristina Moore Urrutia. Along with performing in states in the west, the band also supports 13 Air Force Bases, 8 Air Force Reserve Wings, and 6 recruiting squadrons in over 250 annual performances for 1.5 million listeners.
History of the Band – One Wing
The band’s history dates back to 1941. It descends from two different bands, the 15th Air Force Band and the North American Air Defense Command Band. The 15th Army Air Force Band was stationed in Scott Field, Illinois, the Air Force Band was the oldest ancestor of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. It was formed on October 1, 1941. In the coming years, the band would be re-designated several times and then moved multiple times as well during World War II. After the war, the band was deactivated. In 1952, now known as the 23rd Army Air Forces Band, was re-activated and moved to March Air Force Base. It would remain there until 1991 when it was re-designated as the 15th Air Force Band of the Golden West. In 1994, the band was moved to Travis Air Force Base and merged with the America’s Band in Blue. After the merge, the band became the Air Mobility Command Band of the Golden West. At this time, it became the only active duty Air Force Band west of the Rockies. In 1997, the band was re-designated once again and became the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West.
History of the Band – The Other Wing
The band’s history can also be traced back through the America’s Band in Blue, which merged with the Fifteenth Air Force Band of the Golden West. Created in 1959, this band created the Air Force component of the NORAD Command Band. The NORAD band was a 90 member orchestra made up of members from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Canadian Royal Air Force. This group was usually called the Cavalcade of Music and performed on both radio and television. This included the Today Show, The Tonight Show, and the Dinah Shore Show. The full group retired in 1979. However, the United States Air Force portion continued on as the 504th Air Force Band of the Golden Gate. They were moved to Travis Air Force Base at this time. In 1991, the band was re-designated as the America’s Band in Blue. It was here that this band merged with the 15th Air Force Band of the Golden West in 1994 to become the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West.
Origins of a Name
The current band isn’t the only one that has been known as the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. Through the years, two other groups have also held this designation. The 574th and 575th Air Force Bands were the first to be designated as the Band of the Golden West. These were stationed at Parks Air Force Base in Pleasanton, California from 1952 until they were deactivated in 1954. These bands had performances at the Pasadena Rose Bowl parade on January 1st, 1953. For this performance, members of the band combined with Air Force bands from March Air Force Base, Edwards Air Force Base and George Air Force Base. The Band of the Golden West also was featured on KPIX channel 5 Television, San Francisco in 1953.
United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Groups
The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West has multiple groups that perform as a part of its organization, Mobility is just one of them. The following ensembles are all included as a part of this band:
- Concert Band – The largest performing ensemble within the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, it is a symphonic band.
- Ceremonial Band – This is the marching band for the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. It performs at official military ceremonies, military and civilian parades, and patriotic events for the general public.
- Mobility – The high-energy pop and rock band of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California.
- The Commanders – A 20-person jazz ensemble, it plays big band jazz.
- Brass Quintet – Travis Brass and Golden West Brass are brass quintets comprised of two trumpets, a French horn, trombone or euphonium, and a tuba.
- Woodwind Quintets – The Golden West Winds and Sierra Winds are comprised of flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon.
- Individual Musicians – Vocalists and Buglers from the USAF Band of the Golden West perform for official functions, ceremonies, as well as major sporting and community events, providing the appropriate dignity and honor required for those events.
More information about the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West can be found at: https://www.music.af.mil/Bands/US-Air-Force-Band-of-the-Golden-West/.
What do you think about Mobility and the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West? Have you seen them perform before? What do you like best about them?
