TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — William P. Foster, credited with innovating a much-imitated high-stepping style as founder and longtime director of the Florida A&M Marching 100 band, died Saturday. He was 91.
Foster died in Tallahassee, university officials said. They did not release a cause of death.
Foster served as the marching band's director from 1946 until his retirement in 1998. He created more than 200 half-time pageants for the band at the historically black university.
He is credited with innovating marching band techniques, including a high stepping style imitated by high school and college bands nationwide.
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Foster was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on Aug. 25, 1919. He began his music career by learning to play the clarinet at age 12.