Ferko String Band

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

History

In 1914 pharmacy student Josesph 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 estimasted that it's 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 influence 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]

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". This performance was heavily criticized by University of Pennsylvania professor of Africana Studies Guthrie Ramsey, among others.^[26][27]

Philadelphia Mummers Parade results

As of 2013, the Ferko String Band, in 95 years, has failed to place in the top-5 only a total of six times.^[28] They have marched in this parade in every year since their first in 1923, making Ferko the oldest continuous participant in the event.^[29]

Discography

Alabama Jubilee, Ferko's biggest selling record

Singles

Albums

• Circa 1956 — 'Happy Days Are Here Again' , Somerset Stereo—Fidelity - 33rpm 12" LP. Reissued on CD in 1990 on Alshire.^[45]

References

External links

• The Ferko String Band performs at 98.1 WOGL (December 22, 2011)