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Greg Countryman was born on April 25, 1960, in Gadsden, Alabama, to Jerry and Elna Countryman. Jerry and Elna were high school sweethearts who were both in band with Jerry playing trumpet and Elna playing clarinet. They married during college and after earning a bachelor’s degree in music education, Jerry started his band directing career in 1956. Jerry was named the band director in Decatur, Alabama, in 1960 where he taught for the next twenty-four years. Jerry is a Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, and in 1983, was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Elna was a stay-at-home mother caring for Greg and his older brother, Randy, until Greg started school and then Elna became a middle school home economics teacher.

The Countryman’s years in Decatur were centered around band activities – football games, parades, concerts, contests, and band trips. The Decatur High School band was recognized as one of the top band programs in the state, and Greg and Randy both played clarinet under the direction of their father. Greg’s musical career started with piano lessons in the third grade and when he was in the fifth grade, he joined the band playing clarinet. Greg made the All-State Band all four years of high school and was drum major his senior year. Upon graduating from high school, Greg attended the University of Alabama for one year and then transferred to Louisiana State University, where he had the opportunity to learn from Frank Wickes. Greg was principal clarinet for three years and drum major of the LSU Tiger Band for two years.

Becoming a band director was in Greg’s blood. His father was a band director in Alabama and Texas for thirty-six years. His uncle, Dewey Countryman, was a band director in Alabama and a member of the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. His brother, Randy, was a band director in Louisiana and Texas for over 30 years. His nephew, Ty Countryman, just returned to civilian life after playing in the Marine bands in New Orleans and Hawaii for eight years. After graduating from Louisiana State University, Greg moved to Texas where he was hired by Charles Salyer in Alvin ISD. After two years in Alvin, he was hired by Collette Brown at Killough Middle School in Alief ISD. In his third year at Killough, Greg finally earned his first UIL Sweepstakes award. While at Killough, he began work on a master’s degree at the University of Houston where he had the opportunity to learn from Eddie Green. Greg was then hired by Robin Watson at Kemper High School in Fort Bend ISD where he taught for six years. He earned his master’s degree in 1992 and after being an assistant for twelve years, Greg became the Director of Bands at Quail Valley Middle School. Eddie Green and Tom Bennett, who was Greg’s second mentor, had a major influence on the development of the band program as they taught him how to develop individual players and teach ensemble skills. The Quail Valley band, under the direction of Greg and Keith Fickel, was selected as the TMEA CCC Honor Band and chosen to perform at the 2001 Midwest Clinic during their fourth year at the school.

In the fall of 2001, Greg was named the Director of Bands at Fort Settlement Middle School, Fort Bend ISD’s newest middle school. He and Sam Pugh quickly instilled a culture of excellence at the school as the band advanced to the state level CC Honor Band competition in the second year. Theresa Baragas became Greg’s assistant in 2008, and they worked together for twelve years. Countryman was at Fort Settlement for eighteen years and the band advanced to the state level honor band competition five times – three times in the top three, was awarded the Sudler Cup by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, was invited to perform at the Music for All Concert Band Festival in 2010 and received the 2012 Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Band Program Award. Bands under Greg’s direction received twenty-eight consecutive UIL Sweepstakes awards and were selected Best in Class fifteen times at various band festivals.

He has presented clinics for the Texas Bandmasters Association Professional Development Program, at The Midwest Clinic, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. Greg held several leadership roles throughout his career which included band facilitator for Fort Bend ISD, President of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, President of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and is currently the Executive Secretary for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. David Lambert and James Drew, who served as the Director of Fine Arts for Fort Bend ISD, played an important role in Countryman’s career and he thanks them for their support and friendship. Greg credits his success to hard work and the mentorship he received from Eddie Green, Tom Bennett and his father, as well as the many other directors he had the fortune to work with and learn from during his career.

Greg’s goals as a band director evolved during his career. He learned that by stressing the development of good work habits, perseverance, self-discipline, responsibility, time management, teamwork, as well as other character traits that would help his students be successful as adults, the development of musical skills happened automatically. Since his retirement in 2019, Countryman remains busy playing tennis and golf, fishing, and working as a consultant which he enjoys immensely, because he gets to do the fun parts of band directing – working with students and directors – without having to deal with the other tasks. He feels fortunate to have learned from several legends in Texas bands and his goal during retirement is to pass this knowledge on to others. Greg is humbled and honored to be recognized by the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu as a member of the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and appreciates the support he has received for his colleagues, family, friends, and former students.