I see that a few people have aired this band on WFMU, but I'm absolutely miffed that no one has written about them! This record is one of my favorites, it is a steamrolling, unmitterated embodiment of pure happiness. The Joseph A. Ferko String Band (anchored to an annual Mummers parade in Philadelphia), has been active since 1922. In the 50s and 60s, they not only made the Billboard Charts, but outsold Fats Domino and Sammy Davis Jr. Dubbed "The Happiest Music in the World", the Ferko String Band (still active) has performed for The Jackie Gleason Show, in some movies, game shows, or national morning news programs over the years, and in the aforementioned LP recording (which I don't think I'd have the liberty to share), the unit is supposedly 100 men strong. Every song is in the same tempo (often faster than the videos featured here) and all of the happy-go-lucky lyrics are unrelentingly shouted for the duration of the record, in a bombastic fit of precise and disciplined racket. In my estimation this record is like the blind mob rule of absolute and unflinching joy, some kind of Mickey Mouse military rally against the hangover goblins. I will stop at the risk of being accused of hyperbole and let you listen for yourself, but I mean it! Don't be so glum!
This is the last place I expected to come across Mummers string band music, but I'm so glad to hear it here! I was in a string band here in Philly for a few years (not Ferko) and am very proud to have been part of this tradition. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Brian Arnold | June 29, 2012 at 10:25 PM
I could see the novelty of this being exciting if you aren't from Philadelphia.
After living a dozen years a block from the Mummers Museum (live performances outside once/week in good wether), my back windows facing one string band clubhouse and my front windows facing I-95 under which the string bands practice their medleys 8 bars at a time over and over and over...
... man, I literally used to turn up 'FMU streaming in order to DROWN THIS OUT.
Oh the irony!
Sitting in the middle of the world's largest concentration of urban chord-only banjo players is a lot more fun in theory than in practice for a music lover. This is especially so when "Happy Days..." "Alabama Jubilee" and "O Dem Golden Slippers" are 50% of the set list 100% of the time.
Posted by: quizmasterchris | June 30, 2012 at 02:02 AM
YAHOO! WEE! YIPPEE! YEE-HI!
Posted by: davin | June 30, 2012 at 04:43 PM
I can't find a reference online and I am too lazy to search for it, but I have a 45 on Chess or probably Checker by the Ferko String Band backing a black girl singer on a Bo Diddley style number!
Posted by: fred | July 02, 2012 at 09:29 AM
They do Christmas music, too!
http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2011/12/stereo-mummers.html
Posted by: Ernie (Not Bert) | July 02, 2012 at 10:13 AM
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Posted by: Blog BigCityProblems | October 23, 2012 at 04:10 AM
Where can I get the full text of their song 'Happy days are here again"?
Posted by: Bart | November 02, 2012 at 10:23 AM