ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Whether it’s the West Texas Fair and Rodeo Parade or a Hardin Simmons football game, you have probably heard the whoops and chants of the World Famous Cowboy Band, and for 2025, they rang in the New Year across the pond in London’s New Year’s Eve parade.
The 2025 trip is only one of five made to London and dozens to other states and countries for the more than 100-year-old organization. Director of Bands Jay Lester says the band is getting back to its roots of traveling.
“We’ve taken probably a dozen overseas trips over the last 100 years. I haven’t counted that number, but we’ve been to 17 countries and 40 states. When I went to school here, music was a little bigger back then, and the band made international trips about every three or four years. We started that back up here three years ago.” Lester says.
The Cowboy Band offers something different than a traditional marching band, which drew sophomore Faith Gaines to join…