Strummin’ and hummin’ with the Quaker City String Band

by NANCY BERGER

From Bourbon Street to Broad Street has been the Quaker City String Band’s theme for 2004, garnering them a second prize in this year’s mummer’s parade. They’re just … well … seasoned (a euphemism for “old”) … and terrific … the best. You can experience them at the Pastorius Park concert on Wednesday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The band was, according to its Web site, organized in 1920, disbanded, but was reorganized in 1931. The Quaker City String Band, as we now know it, performed in the 1932 Mummers Parade and has been entertaining parade watchers and mummers fans ever since, many of whom annually brave the frigid temperatures of downtown Philadelphia on New Years Day to watch those great performances.

The band has used its creativity and innovative style to become a consistent prizewinner. Each New Year’s Parade requires a different theme with new challenges to mold top-notch music, costume and choreography into the ultimate presentation.

Quaker City has taken its unique form of entertainment to audiences all over the world including Cuba, Mexico, England, Canada, France and Italy. Since 1986, the band has performed in Texas for the annual Mardi Gras-Galveston and has performed every year since 1988 in Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland, for their annual St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Its members are comprised of people from all walks of life — and all ages, from 11-80. Many of the members are family.

Ray Endriss was captain of Quaker City from 1931 through his retirement in 1971. Bob Shannon Jr. is only the second captain since the band's reorganization. Standing at an imposing six feet, ten inches tall, “Captain Bob” fronts the band as they play many favorite tunes, both old and new. The band encourages audience participation in many phases of their show, especially when Shannon persuades the spectators to join him in a sing-a-long or to strut with him to the foot-tapping string band sound of the Quaker City String Band. This concert will surely be a treat for the whole family.

Following the Quaker City String Band concert, the Pastorius Park concert series will continue with soul singer Amos Lee on August 4; the Savoy Company performing Gilbert & Sullivan favorites on August 11; and Zydeco a Go Go on August 18.

Supporting the concert series this year are North by Northwest, Citizens Bank, Magarity Ford and Magarity Chevrolet, Merrill Lynch-Sarian / Nottingham Group, Eichler & Moffly, McNally’s and the Chestnut Hill Business Association.

Brochures are available at the CHCA office at Town Hall, 8434 Germantown Ave. The concerts are funded by the Chestnut Hill Community Fund, the CHCA’s nonprofit arm, which raises money for community programs from area residents and businesspeople.

The Pastorius Park concert committee is selling t-shirts featuring the series’ new green and blue logo and tagline ”Pastorius Park Music under the Moon” created by Mt. Airy graphics artist Ed Bednow. The shirts are available in children’s and adult sizes and are being sold at the concerts as well as at Town Hall. T-shirts are $10 for adults and $7 for children.

Admission is free but donations will be requested from concertgoers.