Navy Band Great Lakes: "America's Band"

The full title of this video is "Navy Band Great Lakes 1812 - 2012 Navy Week Assets and Capabilities." That's a long title, so I'll refer to it by shorthand: A Damn Good Idea.

As the political and economic climates threaten the health of military music, it's important to promote the fact that military bands function as a key component in building public support, raising morale and enhancing the dignity of service in our Armed Forces. By stressing the importance of ceremonial, patriotic and memorial events, this video goes a long way in countering the image that military bands are "frills."

This alone would be enough for me to give the video a hearty thumbs-up. But I am also impressed by something else: it's heartening to see such a top-notch public relations tool created by and for a fleet band.

Many well-done media presentations of Navy music focus, in whole or in great part, the U.S. Navy Band. While the units of this premier band are, indeed, superb, it is the Navy's fleet bands, ashore and afloat, at home and on distant shores, that take the Navy to the people daily, not just for a brief annual tour, but as a way of life. Thank you, Navy Band Great Lakes, for reminding us that it is the bands of the fleet that are, indeed, the "special" bands.

Peace be unto you, Sea Chanters

I knew the Sea Chanters would be good. They're a unit of the U.S. Navy Band, so excellence was a given.

And if I was going to expend the effort to drive an entire 33.5 minutes to see them in Rock Island, Ill., they'd have to be good. I'm a former fleet bandsman, and I'd been blogging for days about my typical fleet bandsman's love-hate relationhip with the U.S. Navy Band. To keep this old MU happy, the Sea Chanters would have to put on a hell of a show.

Hat in hand, former MUC Frank Mullen III apologizes to Sea
Chanters leader MUCS Georgina L. Todd for his recent salvo
of crude carping about the Navy's premiere musical units.

They did.

Their performance in Augustana College's packed Centennial Hall moved brisky and hitchlessly, alternating choral numbers with songs and medleys by smaller vocal groups and soloists. In fact, each member of the ensemble is a capable and professional solist.

They had everything. Props. Sets. Choreography. Broadway tunes, pop songs, oldies and newies, all delivered with enthusiam.

And pacing. The performance flew by until, after perhaps an hour, the leader, MUCS Georgina Todd, addressed the audience,stressing that the U.S. Navy Band sends units like the Sea Chanters to remind America of the professionalism of its Navy. Then they let loose the musical guns of patriotism and fired away until the audience was on its feet.

Including me. I admit it: I was enthralled by the Sea Chanters.
Don't get me wrong--I haven't changed my mind about the professionalism of the Navy's fleet bands. There's nothing second-rate about them; they're top-drawer units, every one, and I'm proud to have served in them.

But my first encounter with the Sea Chanters was an eye-opener, and I'm willing to drop some of my bias. In fact, I'll offer this group the highest accolade I can think of:

The Sea Chanters are as good as any musical unit in the fleet.

Let me be perfectly clear

I'm going. Tomorrow night, my wife and I will drive up to Rock Island to see the Sea Chanters in concert at Augustana College.

Perhaps my earlier announcement was less than clear. I do not doubt the musical excellence of this group. The U.S. Navy Band and its units have always been excellent.

Point is, I'm a fleet musician. I know how hard a fleet MU works to make his way to Musician First Class--there are no giveaways. And I particulary know what it takes for an MU1 to make Chief. I did it, and it wasn't easy.

In those days, the results came out annually: 5 MU1s promoted to MUC, and 4 of them were from the Navy Band. In a big year, 7 MU1s were promoted to MUC, 6 of them from the Navy Band.

I absolutely understand Tim Foley's high regard for members of the U.S. Navy band and the hard work they do (see his comment to my earlier post.) Coming from a fleet MU, Tim's obervations mean a lot.

But fleet MUs work hard too, and they don't get chevrons and chief's anchors handed out to them like Mars Bars and M&Ms on Halloween.

I am very aware that not all members of the U.S. Navy and Naval Academy bands walked in off the street. Many members of special bands have fleet experience. I maintain ongoing, treasured relationships with shipmates who were accepted into one of the special bands.

But I wasn't. Call me biased, if you will. The fact is, they wouldn't take me; not that that's any reason why I should feel the way I do. Certainly not. No way. Negatory on that.

Actually, I was sort of transferred to the Navy Band in 1977 for a tour that lasted approximately three hours. I won't tell the story here--it is necessary to name names--but the tale got good reviews in the lounge last year at the NMA reunion, and I'd be glad to reprise it, names and all, in Orlando. Come on down.

I'll also tell you what I thought of the Sea Chanters concert.

There's a first time for everything.

Never, ever, ever thought I'd do this. Ever.

I was a fleet bandsman. None of those special bands for me. No sir, I was the real thing, a salty, bag-band playing, urinal-cleaning fleet MU who earned every stripe the hard way. Those D.C. folks were a special, high-class, uppity breed of semi-civilians in sailor suits.

But my wife sees in the paper that the Sea Chanters are coming to our area. We really should go, honey, she says. These are your "peeps."



Merely touching these tickets makes me feel disloyal to the fleet.

I try to explain that the U.S. Navy Band 's Sea Chanters are not my peeps. It's not just that these are special bandsmen. It's not just that these kids were in junior high school Glee Clubs while I was conducting unreps on the Blue Ridge. It's not just that I was a real MU and these people are-- whatever they are. It's--it's hard to explain.

Okay, I'll admit it. I resent the Navy Band and all its units and personnel. It's not a baseless prejudice. I dislike them all for a good reason: they wouldn't take me.

So I'm torn. I should keep this all to myself. after all, I blog for the fraternity of Navy Musicians. I bring us all together. We are one. Kumbaya.

On the other hand, if I can't bitch, whine and moan, what's the point of having been an MU?

So, okay, I'll do it. I'll go to the Sea Chanters concert next week.

But I won't like it. I promise. 

USS Blue Ridge & 7th Fleet Band - Shanghai, 1989

Here's the USS Blue Ridge pulling into Shanghai, China for a goodwill visit in May of 1989.

The event is a big deal; the crew is manning the rails, the color guard is in action and, of course, the ceremonial unit of the 7th Fleet Band is performing on deck. In a short scene on the superstructure, you can overhear the brass trying to spot the waiting dignitaries.

The band starts playing at 3:20 and continues throughout the video, reappearing at 4:00, 5:00, and for "Anchors Aweigh" at approx. 7:30.

And it's striking to me how important the band is. The whole thing wouldn't feel right without the backdrop of a ceremonial band. Don't believe me? Turn off the sound.

Of course, I can't be objective; naturally, a Navy band was playing at every ship arrival or departure I ever attended.

But that band on deck is not a frill. It's an intergral part of this important function.

"Sing, Sing, Sing"--Why, Why, Why?

For those who, a couple of years ago, thrilled to the hideous performance of "Let It Be" by the Russian Navy Showband (it's posted below for those whose memories need refreshing), let me assure you the hunt for odd performances by foreign Navy bands goes on.

Today, we have the Latvian Naval Forces Band doing "Sing, Sing, Sing," and, I have to say, they do a creditable job, job, job. And they've got that special something that was such a great addition to the Russian Show Band: women out front. Only better; in the Latvian Navy band, the women actually do something. They smile, they tap dance, they gather around the drummer during his extended drum solo.

Still, something about it all just doesn't add up. Kinda like the guy on the left with the marimba; there's nothing wrong with it, but there's not much right with it.

But at least these women have a reason for being. The women in the Russian Show Band are like those girls with banners that come out on the fooball field during halftime. We understand the band. We understand the cheerleaders. We even understand the baton twirlers. But the girls who swirl banners around--what's with that?

It's a question you find yourself asking as you watch these Eastern European Navy bands. Oh, you be the judge. First the Latvian Naval Forces Band.

And, like I promised, here's the Russian Navy Show Band performance of "Let It Be" that, a couple of years ago, had visitors to NavyLyres threatening to throw their computers in the bathtub. If you've seen this before, be warned: some things do not improve with time.

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