Professor George W. Edwards was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. on November 5, 1948 to George and Beulah Edwards. In 1970, he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Music at Florida A&M University. In 1969, he joined Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. In 1976, he received a Masters in Music Education from Michigan State University.
Edwards came to Prairie View A&M University in 1978 as assistant director of bands, and served in capacity of music arranger. Six years later, Edwards rose to the position of head director of both the Prairie View A&M University marching band and jazz band.
Under Edwards’ leadership, the band acquired the name and reputation of “The Marching Storm.” His technique and passion for the art of marching band was characterized by his quest for perfection, and the motto that the band came to live by was: “Make It Happen!”
Senior and drum major James Lott said, “Professor Edwards influenced not only my life but everyone who he was in contact with. With Edwards’ determination for perfection, I’ve learned to ‘dig on in’ and ‘make it happen.’ There is a fire in all of us and Professor Edwards gave everyone the support needed to help us find it and to make the fire grow.”
For 30 years Edwards collaborated with friend and associate, Dr. Margaret Sherrod on music arranged especially for the jazz and precision high kick choreography of the “Black Foxes” majorette line that he always urged to live up to their reputation as a “class act.”
The Marching Storm was led by Edwards to performances that include President George W. Bush’s 2001 Inaugural Parade, four consecutive years to the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, the 2009 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.
In 2007, Edwards’ compassion and fierce dedication was captured by the New York Times in a video and article which covered the band leading up to the annual Labor Day Classic football game between Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University. Edwards has received countless awards for his outstanding work in the field of music.