The band is led by Major Lawrence Sale, he began his Army career in 1986 as a percussionist in The Band of The 9th/12th Lancers (Prince of Wales's) in Wolfenbattle, Germany.

As a pupil at Kneller Hall in 1991 he was awarded the Dennis Brady Memorial Trophy for the best percussionist, The Clive Biggs Memorial Prize for outstanding performance and a coveted Cousins Parchment. He rejoined The Band of The 9th/12th Royal Lancers in Herford, Germany touring in Switzerland and Vienna as part of the band's demanding concert schedule. On completion of the Bandmaster Course in 1996 he was among the first Student Bandmasters to be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Kingston University and a Licentiate diploma in conducting.

Major Sale has recently moved from Winchester and the post of Director of Music of the Band of the Adjutant General's Corps to Glasgow into the post of Personnel Officer and Career Management for Army Musicians.

Being a percussionist, and more specifically a Rock and Jazz drummer, Major Sale was educated by the sound of the Big Band.  He was privileged to be taken by his father at an early age to see bands such as the Buddy Rich Band, Louis Bellson, Lionel Hampton and Woody Herrman. It was always an aspiration to direct a band of this nature.

An opportunity arose in 2004 to form the Army Big Band by bringing together musicians from across the Corps of Army Music who enjoy the genre of music. Not surprisingly, a large number of musicians attended a Jazz & Big Band day at Kneller Hall from which individuals were selected to form the first Army Big Band under the leadership of Major Sale. 

Major Sale is looking to further increase the profile of the Army Big Band by performing with the established music colleges and conservatoires throughout the country and a number of high profile venues including the The Verve at Chichester on 4 September 2009.