12/18/08
Inaugural Tunes
Manning Marching Band gets a musical ‘miracle’
By Chris Bullard

CHRIS BULLARD/Manning Times

MHS Band Director Ray Francis conducts students during a third period rehearsal. The Golden Pride Marching Band will go to Washington, D.C. Jan. 18 to 22 for the 56th Presidential Inaugural Parade.

Manning High School’s Golden Pride Marching band has something else to be proud about as of Friday, Dec. 5, when band director Ray Francis received a phone call inviting the band to play in Washington, D.C. for the Presidential Inaugural Parade.

“The call came at 4:15 that afternoon during band practice. It was a 202 (area code) number from Washington, so I stopped teaching to take the call. A man from the Presidential Inaugural Committee said, ‘Congratulations! You’ve been picked for the inaugural parade,’” said Francis. “I just got down on one knee.”

Francis described his class that day as more excited and proud than he had ever seen them.

“There is no way to describe our reaction. I know I was speechless,” said sophomore Ivy Canty, who has played alto saxophone for four years. “What’s the best word to describe it?”

“Miracle,” answered freshman Joy Mitchell, a two-year flautist. “I thought it was a miracle, at least for me it was.”

The path leading to the nation’s capital has involved much work for band members, but for students like senior Andrew Hemmett, drum major and trumpet player, the hard work is well worth it.

“It feels good to get this chance. I didn’t expect us to be going and this will be the best senior year memory,” said Hemmett. “Mr. Francis has helped us the whole way. People know who we are now and the band has improved a lot.”

Under the guidance of Francis, the Golden Pride Marching Band has won several first place awards in parades and played for Barack Obama when he spoke at the Clarendon County Court House on November 2, 2007.

The article “How He Did It” in the Nov. 17, 2008 issue of Newsweek magazine even credited Manning as where Obama began “loosening up a little,” saying, “Speaking to an African-American crowd in Manning, S.C., on Nov. 2, he began to riff, using the call-and-response cadence of a black preacher. … Obama studied himself and learned, just in time.”

CLEVE DOWELL/Manning Times

Members of the Manning High School Golden Pride Marching Band perform in the Manning Christmas Parade. The band has been invited to go to Washington, D.C. Jan. 18 to 22 to perform in the 56th Presidential Inaugural Parade.

The band played again for Obama and Oprah Winfrey at the Williams-Brice Stadium on Dec. 9, 2007, and again for him at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center after the S.C. Democratic primary on Jan. 26, 2008.

Sixth District Congressman and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn said he believes the inaugural parade is a reward for the band’s impact on President-elect Obama.

“I believe it is very fitting that a high school from the county that launched Brown v. Board of Education should perform in the parade celebrating the election of the first African American President,” said Congressman Clyburn. “I know they will represent the state of South Carolina well on this international stage.”

“We’re very excited and so proud, not only for the band but for our entire high school,” said MHS Principal Mike Shorter. “Mr. Francis was recruited to get our program on the map and he’s certainly done that. He enjoys what he does and sacrifices a lot of time for the band to participate in parades and other events.”

Francis says the success isn’t his to claim, but belongs to the best kids he’s ever taught in his entire career.

“We’re a gang. Some of my students could fall prey to other types of gangs, but we come in here and play music together and take trips together. They stay out of trouble and keep their grades up to stay in the band. That’s why I don’t charge admission for the band, because most students wouldn’t be able to pay the normal band fees,” he said.

Total costs for the five-day trip adds up to $40,000, which covers the hotel rooms, buses and food for the 85 band members. The band is asking for donations to help and checks can be mailed to: MHS Band, 2155 Paxville Hwy, Manning, S.C. 29102 for Inaugural Parade.

There will be a bake sale on Saturday at the Manning IGA to help raise money. It will start at 10 a.m. and continue until band members playing there wear out, according to organizer Cindy Bradham.

“I can’t fathom playing in front of 3 million people. This is my greatest honor,” said Francis. “It’s a once in a lifetime historic event that will never happen again; that’s why it’s so important. It will be these student’s greatest honor, too.”