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The Somercotes Black Diamonds were formed by Mr & Mrs Derbyshire in 1980. They were originally known as the Derbyshire Black Diamonds, but the name was changed during 1981. They performed during the height of the marching band popularity, and appeared at competitions, jamborees, fetes and carnivals all over the country. As members of the United Kingdom Federation of Jazz bands, in 1983, they qualified to enter the World Championships, which in that year were held at Bradford, Yorkshire. They were placed a creditable eleventh in the Junior Section. In October 1985 they won the United Kingdom Championships held at Pwllheli, Wales.

Over the following years the Somercotes Black Diamonds entered many competitions and performed at many other events, and in 1988, at Himley Hall, Dudley they were crowned World Champions. In the same year, they also won the Overall Marching Band Trophy at the UK Championships.

The decision to move from junior to senior level in competitions during 1989 saw a decline in the number of trophies they won, although older members of the band were able to continue beyond the age of eighteen, the cut-off age for the junior section.

During the 1990s, interest in marching bands slowly waned, and it became difficult to find new members and to fund the organisation. Although they continued after many others had ceased to exist, the decision was taken in 1998 to disband the Somercotes Black Diamonds.

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