Wilner Burke was the Green Bay Packers band director from 1938-81. He never missed a rehearsal or performance with the Packer band over 44 seasons. Burke arranged pre-game and halftime entertainment as the Packers band director.

In 1938, Packers president Lee Joannes asked Wilner Burke to form an official Green Bay Packers band.

Burke asked many musicians from the Green Bay area to join and used the name ‘Lumberjack Band.’ During the Lombardi Era, Burke was asked to discard the Lumberjack theme.

In the Packers’ formative years, teams of children played football at the half. As television increased the emphasis on halftime shows, Burke recruited high school and college marching bands to perform.

To see Wilner Burke’s personal website, click here.