How the Salvation Army Texas Gulf Coast Area Band Was Formed

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Refrain

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.

Refrain

Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.

Refrain

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.

Refrain

 One day shortly after Major Frierson was appointed to Command the Houston City Command, the advisory board gave him a brand new Tuba as a gift. There was no "great" band in Houston for him to play in. One day he was talking to Curtis and said, "Where's the band?" Curtis asked him if he "really wanted" a great band. Major Frierson answered in the affirmative so Curtis asked him if he would mind having some former Salvationists in the band. Once again Major Frierson answered in the affirmative. Like me, Curtis always had a list of prospective bandsmen in his mind. He made some phone calls, and Voila! An instant band appeared.

Curtis had been an officer and he knew how to get a crowd. As an officer, he frequently had over a thousand people in his Sunday School. He cheated. He would give out tickets for a raffle of a used car. For each person a Sunday School attender brought to the corps he would get extra raffle tickets.

Curtis not only played Bass in the band (very well, I might add), but his daughter played a really great cornet. She sat second chair in the Solo Cornet section. Major Frierson ahd two daughters in the Solo Cornet section and Curtis had one daughter in the Solo Cornet section. When Curtis called me, they needed a Trombone player so I played Second Trombone.