Ferko String Band

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.

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

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 Ferko led the "Fralinger String Band" for several years, placing third in their 1915 attempt[1] but winning in 1920.[2]

The "Ferko String Band" had its beginnings in 1922.[3] Ferko left the Fralinger pharmacy in 1921 to open his own establishment. He led the "North Philadelphia String Band" for the 1922 parade, but later that year founded his own band,[1] co-founded by 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 within the United States,[7][8] Canada,[9] as well as places 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 in contests in 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 follow suit, 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] Their recording of "Four Leaf Clover" was picked up for national distribution by King Records.[14] This 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]

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 from 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] 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
YearAwards
19232nd - musical
19243rd - musical
19252nd - musical
19262nd - musical
19271st - musical
19283rd - musical
19291st - musical[11]
19301st - musical[5]
19311st - musical[5]
19321st - musical[5]
1933no official parade
1934no official parade
19353rd - musical
19361st[28]
19371st[28]
19381st[28]
19391st[28]
19403rd - musical
19415th - musical
19422nd - musical
19436th - musical
19442nd - musical
19453rd - musical
19464th - musical
19471st - musical[5]
19482nd - musical
19492nd - musical
19501st - musical[29]
19511st - musical[29]
19522nd - musical
19532nd - musical
19542nd - musical
19559th - musical
19564th (tie) - musical
19573rd - musical
19581st - musical[5]
19594th - musical
19604th - musical
19612nd [30]
19624th - musical
19635th - musical
19644th - musical
19653rd - musical
19666th - musical
19672nd - musical[31]
19682nd - musical
19691st - musical[5]
19705th - musical
19715th - musical
19723rd - musical
19734th - musical
19741st - musical[5]
19753rd - musical
197613th - musical
19773rd - musical
19786th - musical
19792nd - musical
19802nd - musical
19814th - musical
19821st - musical[5]
19834th (tie) - musical
19845th - musical
19852nd - musical
19864th - musical
19876th - musical
19884th - musical
19894th - musical
19903rd - musical
19915th - musical
19924th (tie) - musical
19932nd - musical
19941st - musical[5]
19952nd - musical
19961st - musical[5]
19971st - musical[5]
19981st - musical[5]
19993rd - musical
20003rd - musical
20015th - musical
20024th - musical
20033rd - musical
20044th - musical
20054th - musical
20063rd - musical
20073rd (tie) - musical
20084th - musical
20094th - musical
20102nd - overall
1st - musical[32]
5th - Captain[33]
20112nd - musical[34]
4th - Captain[35]
20124th - musical
5th - Anthony Celenza, Captain[36]
20135th - musical
11th - Anthony Celenza, Captain[36]
20147th - musical
2nd - Anthony Celenza, Captain[36]
20155th - musical
Tied for 3rd - Anthony Celenza, Captain[36]
20162nd - musical
6th - Anthony Celenza, Captain[36]
20175th - musical
1st - Thomas D'Amore, Captain
20185th - musical
Tied for 4th - Thomas D'Amore, Captain

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 [37]
Alma Mater - Cornell U. - Fight On, Penn. Palda 105 [37]
Auld Lang Syne - Drunkard's Medley Palda 106 [37]
Heartbreaker 21 Kelly & H-A-R-R-I-G-A-N Palda 109 [38]
(I'm Looking Over a) Four Leaf Clover - Heart of My Heart Palda 110 [37]
Alibi Baby - Roll 'Em Girls Palda 114 [39]
Two Timer - You Darlin' Palda 116 [40]
1955 Alabama Jubilee 14 Sing a Little Melody Media 1010 [41]
You Are My Sunshine 29* Ma (She's Making Eyes At Me) Media 1013 *"Coming Up Strong" chart[41]
1963 Golden Slipper Strut - Ferko's Monkey Argo 5451 [42]

Albums
  • Circa 1956 — 'Happy Days Are Here Again' , Somerset Stereo—Fidelity - 33rpm 12" LP. Reissued on CD in 1990 on Alshire.[43]
gollark: What are you actually aiming to achieve here versus using some preexisting serialization format?
gollark: You could use protocol buffers, or msgpack/CBOR, or even JSON.
gollark: But... seriously, why are you making your own weird packet format?
gollark: It's probably just converting each byte of the buffer to separate... words... in the Uint16Array.
gollark: https://facebook.github.io/zstd/

References
  1. "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. "Meet the Band". The Ferko String Band. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  5. "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. "Ferko String Band Is Coming Back to Nasua". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. May 12, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  9. "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. "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. 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. 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. "Record Reviews". Billboard. May 10, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  23. "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. Darrow, Chuck (January 3, 2002). "4th-straight victory lifts fallen Mummer". Courier-Post. p. B.1.
  29. "Show Staged by Mummers". Reading Eagle. January 2, 1951. p. 7. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  30. "Above is a photograph of the famous Joseph A. Ferko String Band". Gettysburg Times. September 12, 1962. p. 4. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  31. "1967 Greeted by Mummers". Reading Eagle. January 3, 1967. p. 23. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  32. 5th - Anthony Celenza, CaptainLyons, Jeff; Petitti, Michael (Winter 2011). "The Right Strut" (PDF). The Philadelphia Lawyer. PBI Press. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  33. "2010 Results". Mummers.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  34. 4th - Anthony Celenza, Captain"The order of march for the 2012 Mummers String Bands". Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 30, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  35. "2011 Results". Mummers.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  36. "2012 Results". Mummers.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  37. "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. January 17, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  38. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 155. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  39. "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. May 15, 1948. pp. 9, 31. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  40. "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. May 29, 1948. p. 37. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  41. Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 219. ISBN 0-89820-139-X.
  42. "Singles Reviews". Billboard. September 21, 1963. p. 27. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  43. "Ferko String Band Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
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