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Ferko String Band

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Ferko String Band
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Genresstring band
Years active1922 – present
LabelsAlshire, Argo, Media, Palda
Websitewww.ferko.com

The Joseph A. Ferko String Band or Ferko String Band is a perennial performer in Philadelphia's Mummers Parade. They gained national popularity through their hit recordings in the 1940s and 1950s.

History

In 1914 pharmacy student Joseph A. Ferko asked the owner of Fralinger's Drugs to sponsor a string band in the Mummers parade. The request was granted, and Joseph led the "Fralinger String Band" for several years, placing third in the initial 1915 attempt[1] and winning the event in 1920.[2] The Ferko String Band itself had its beginnings in 1922.[3] Ferko had left the Fralinger pharmacy in 1921 to open his own establishment. Ferko led the "North Philadelphia String Band" for the 1922 parade, but later that year the eponymous band was begun,[1] co-founded by Ferko, Walter Butterworth, and Charles Keegan.[4] Ferko first won the string-band division in 1927 with an entry entitled "Cards."[5] The 1929 incarnation not only won the event, but it was estimated that its parade float was the largest ever up to that point.[6] In addition to the Mummers Parade, Ferko also has a long history of performing in various parades and special occasions in other locations in the United States,[7][8] and Canada,[9] and places as far away as France and Hong Kong.[10] Although Ferko has always been primarily purposed for Philadelphia, highlights of 1929 contests culminated in top placement at New York, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Washington, and York, PA.[11] They played for Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Presidential inauguration.[12] Although Philadelphia string bands had been exclusively a "male's club", in 1935 Joseph Ferko started a ladies' auxiliary which brought women into club activities. This action influenced other string bands to act accordingly, although female participation in the actual parade was almost non-existent until the late 1970s.[13] In 1947 they began recording sessions at the WIP studio for the Miller Brothers' new Palda Records.[14] The recording of Four Leaf Clover was quickly picked up for national distribution by King Records.[14] This success prompted Paul Miller to commission new songs specifically for Ferko. One of the resulting songs, Heartbreaker became a national hit, in part thanks to the 1948 musician's strike[14] because as amateur musicians, they were not covered by the American Federation of Musicians.[15] The profits from these Ferko records would later enable the Miller brothers to launch the career of Bill Haley.[14] By Spring 1948 Billboard estimated they were among the top 25 musical attractions in 5 out of 8 national regions, and most popular in the Southeast United States where they ranked number 18 among all musical acts.[16] In May 1948 the band appeared on the cover of Billboard, in which it was announced that they had sold more than 350,000 records for Palda, and that their theme song Hello, written by bandmembers Harry Leary and Robert Traub,[17] was selected for use at the Republican National Convention.[18] Their 1955 recording of "Alabama Jubilee" sold more than 1 million records.[19] The group found popularity in Germany in 1956 with a recording of "Happy Days Are Here Again", charting as high as position 15.[20] By the late 1950s the band was funded by the Continental Baking Company.[21] Founder Joseph A. Ferko died in 1964,[4] but the group has continued and is a consistently popular participant in Mummery, playing in every Philadelphia Mummers parade since its founding.[4]

On January 1, 2018 Ferko dedicated their Neverland themed performance to former captain William Speziale who passed away in November 2017. To make this performance special, William's granddaughter, Samantha Speziale, appeared as Tinker Bell, making her the first official costumed Female to perform on New Years Day with Ferko.[citation needed]

Performance style

The band typically has around 60 performing members,[8] but recorded performances can involve anywhere from a couple dozen to a couple hundred participants.[14] The age of group members is wide-ranging, known to encompass members 15 to 80 years old.[4] Performances consist of familiar tunes arranged specifically for the band.[8] Instruments used include accordion, banjo, bells, drums, Glockenspiel, guitar, mandolin, saxophone, and violin[8][19] but the details of musical balance are largely ignored[22] yet often achieved.[23] The elaborate costumes are such essential part of the performance that a 1995 theft of the apparel caused the cancellation of several shows.[24] Marching maneuvers are a typical part of the presentation.[25]

Appearances in film and television

The Ferko String Band can be seen briefly in the movie Miracle on 34th Street. They have also appeared on the television shows Good Morning America, The Jackie Gleason Show, To Tell the Truth and I've Got a Secret, with host Gary Moore, and Today.[9]

Controversy

The group's 2013 performance aroused controversy when their theme for the year alluded to blackface minstrelsy in a performance entitled "Ferko's Bringin’ Back the Minstrel Days". The performance celebrated the music of Al Jolson and his contributions to early American music and theater. This performance was criticized by some, for the portrayal of performers within a vaudeville act, including the University of Pennsylvania professor of Africana Studies Guthrie Ramsey, among others.[26][27]

Philadelphia Mummers Parade results

As of 2016, the Ferko String Band, in 94 years, has failed to place in the top-5 only a total of seven times.[28] They have marched in the Annual Philadelphia Mummers Parade, every year since their first in 1923, making the Joseph A. Ferko the oldest continuous String Band and participant in the event.[29]

Year Awards
1923 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1924 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1925 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1926 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1927 1st - Band Prize[29]
1928 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1929 1st - Band Prize[11]
1930 1st - Band Prize[5]
1931 1st - Band Prize[5]
1932 1st - Band Prize[5]
1933 no official parade[29]
1934 no official parade[29]
1935 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1936 1st - Band Prize[30]
1937 1st - Band Prize[30]
1938 1st - Band Prize[30]
1939 1st - Band Prize[30]
1940 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1941 5th - Band Prize[29]
1942 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1943 6th - Band Prize[29]
1944 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1945 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1946 4th - Band Prize[29]
1947 1st - Band Prize[5]
1948 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1949 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1950 1st - Band Prize[31]
1951 1st - Band Prize[31]
1952 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1953 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1954 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1955 9th - Band Prize[29]
1956 4th (tie) - Band Prize[29]
1957 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1958 1st - Band Prize[5]
1959 4th - Band Prize[29]
1960 4th - Band Prize[29]
1961 2nd - Band Prize[32]
1962 4th - Band Prize[29]
1963 5th - Band Prize[29]
1964 4th - Band Prize[29]
1965 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1966 6th - Band Prize[29]
1967 2nd - Band Prize[33]
1968 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1969 1st - Band Prize[5]
1970 5th - Band Prize[29]
1971 5th - Band Prize[29]
1972 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1973 4th - Band Prize[29]
1974 1st - Band Prize[5]
1975 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1976 13th - Band Prize[29]
1977 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1978 6th - Band Prize[29]
1979 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1980 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1981 4th - Band Prize[29]
1982 1st - Band Prize[5]
1983 4th (tie) - Band Prize[29]
1984 5th - Band Prize[29]
1985 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1986 4th - Band Prize[29]
1987 6th - Band Prize[29]
1988 4th - Band Prize[29]
1989 4th - Band Prize[29]
1990 3rd - Band Prize[29]
1991 5th - Band Prize[29]
1992 4th (tie) - Band Prize[29]
1993 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1994 1st - Band Prize[5]
1995 2nd - Band Prize[29]
1996 1st - Band Prize[5]
1997 1st - Band Prize[5]
1998 1st - Band Prize[5]
1999 3rd - Band Prize[29]
2000 3rd - Band Prize[29]
2001 5th - Band Prize[29]
2002 4th - Band Prize[29]
2003 3rd - Band Prize[29]
2004 4th - Band Prize[29]
2005 4th - Band Prize[29]
2006 3rd - Band Prize[29]
2007 3rd (tie) - Band Prize[29]
2008 4th - Band Prize[29]
2009 4th - Band Prize
11th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2010 2nd - Band Prize
5th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2011 2nd - Band Prize
4th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2012 4th - Band Prize
5th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2013 5th - Band Prize
11th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2014 6th - Band Prize
2nd - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2015 5th - Band Prize
Tied for 3rd - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2016 2nd - Band Prize
6th - Captain, Anthony Celenza
2017 5th - Band Prize
1st - Captain, Thomas D'Amore
2018 5th - Band Prize
Tied for 4th - Captain, Thomas D'Amore

Captains

The Joseph A. Ferko String Band has a very rich history of captains. The band founder, Joseph A. Ferko himself served as the organizations first captain. Mr. Ferko was referred to as "The Dancing Captain", having perfected what is now called "The Mummers Strut." Overall, the band has had seven captains in its history. Those captains are Joseph A. Ferko (1922-1964), Curtis Steur (1966-1968), Joe Blass (1969-1979), William Speziale, Sr. (1980-1999), Phil Rotindo (2000-2008), Anthony Celenza (2009-2016), and Thomas D'Amore (2017- ).

Discography

"Alabama Jubilee", Ferko's biggest selling record

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions B-side Issued on Album
1947 Dilly Dally Polka - When You Wore a Tulip Palda 101 [22]
Hello - Golden Slippers Palda 102 [23]
1948 Bowery Boys - I Want a Girl Palda 104 [34]
Alma Matter - Cornell U. - Fight On, Penn. Palda 105 [34]
Auld Lang Syne - Drunkard's Medley Palda 106 [34]
Heartbreaker 21 Kelly & H-A-R-R-I-G-A-N Palda 109 [35]
(I'm Looking Over a) Four Leaf Clover - Heart of My Heart Palda 110 [34]
Alibi Baby - Roll 'Em Girls Palda 114 [36]
Two Timer - You Darlin' Palda 116 [37]
1955 Alabama Jubilee 14 Sing a Little Melody Media 1010 [38]
You Are My Sunshine 29* Ma (She's Making Eyes At Me) Media 1013 *"Coming Up Strong" chart[38]
1963 Golden Slipper Strut - Ferko's Monkey Argo 5451 [39]

Albums

  • Circa 1956 — 'Happy Days Are Here Again' , Somerset Stereo—Fidelity - 33rpm 12" LP. Reissued on CD in 1990 on Alshire.[40]

References

  1. ^ a b "The History of the Fralinger String Band". Fralinger String Band. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  2. ^ Masters, Patricia (2008). The Philadelphia Mummers: Building Community Through Play. Temple University Press. p. 157. ISBN 9781592136117. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "Meet the Mummers: Ferko String Band". PHL17.com. WPHL-TV. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d "Meet the Band". The Ferko String Band. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Historical String Band Results". Mummers.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Masters, Patricia (2008). The Philadelphia Mummers: Building Community Through Play. Temple University Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9781592136117. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  7. ^ Wood Smith, Elizabeth D. (2006). The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival. Arcadia Publishing. p. 101. ISBN 9780738542102. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "Ferko String Band Is Coming Back to Nasua". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. May 12, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Lavishly costumed musicians to play". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. January 7, 1995. p. 4A. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  10. ^ Bergen, Douglas (July 21, 2011). "Ferko String Band". Ocean City Patch. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Prize-Winning Quaker City Band May Take Part in 1930 Festival". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. April 2, 1929. p. 7. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  12. ^ U.S. Inaugural Committee (1933). Blue Book of the Inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Nance Garner: As President and Vice President of the United States, March 4, 1933. Ransdell Incorporated. p. 16.
  13. ^ Masters, Patricia (2008). The Philadelphia Mummers: Building Community Through Play. Temple University Press. pp. 88–90. ISBN 9781592136117. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e Dawson, Jim (2005). Rock Around the Clock: The Record that Started the Rock Revolution!. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 42. ISBN 9780879308292. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  15. ^ "String Band Fad Receives Nourishment". Billboard. March 13, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  16. ^ "Box-Office Barometer". Billboard. April 24, 1948. p. 18. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  17. ^ "Music As Written". Billboard. May 15, 1948. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  18. ^ "That colorful string-band craze!". Billboard. May 15, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Bloodworth, Susan (January 23, 1992). "Winter Is the Busiest Season for East Polk entertainment". Lakeland Ledger. p. 7W. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  20. ^ Franz, Manfred J. (2013). Deutsche Musik-Charts 1956. p. 79. ISBN 9783944307053. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  21. ^ "Concert Here Set Tomorrow By Ferko Band". The Free Lance–Star. October 22, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Record Reviews". Billboard. May 10, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Record Reviews". Billboard. June 21, 1947. p. 131. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  24. ^ "Thief steals truck of band costumes". Lakeland Ledger. January 12, 1995. p. 5B. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  25. ^ "4000 See and Hear Ferko String Band at Festival". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. September 28, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  26. ^ Tom, Brittany (January 3, 2013). "Philadelphia's Mummers parade features blackface performance". The Grio. MSNBC. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  27. ^ Murtha, Tara (January 4, 2013). "Mummers Are Willing to Talk Rationally About Blackface, So We Should Too". PhillyNow. Philadelphia Weekly. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  28. ^ Tarr, Andrea (January 23, 2013). "Mummer Anthony Celenza — Captain of the Ferko String Band". Jersey Coastal Live!. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn Maher, Brian. "The Philadelphia Mummers' String Band Record". stringbandrecord.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  30. ^ a b c d Darrow, Chuck (January 3, 2002). "4th-straight victory lifts fallen Mummer". Courier-Post. p. B.1.
  31. ^ a b "Show Staged by Mummers". Reading Eagle. January 2, 1951. p. 7. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  32. ^ "Above is a photograph of the famous Joseph A. Ferko String Band". Gettysburg Times. September 12, 1962. p. 4. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  33. ^ "1967 Greeted by Mummers". Reading Eagle. January 3, 1967. p. 23. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  34. ^ a b c d "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. January 17, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  35. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 155. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  36. ^ "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. May 15, 1948. pp. 9, 31. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  37. ^ "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. May 29, 1948. p. 37. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  38. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 219. ISBN 0-89820-139-X.
  39. ^ "Singles Reviews". Billboard. September 21, 1963. p. 27. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  40. ^ "Ferko String Band Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
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