ROSIE O

By Richard Ross

Rosie O’Grady’s Highlanders have been in existence for over thirty years. A large amount of credit for helping with this story must go to Bill Carpenter, a current member of the band who was there when the band started. I have received from Bill, his written words that give an account of how things were established from 1973 up to 1980. The events told here are highlights of what he has experienced through the beginning years.

Rosie O'Grady's Highlanders

In the early years of the 1970’s, Bill and his wife went to see the “Festival in the Park” at Lake Eaola in Orlando. While there, he saw several people milling around playing the bagpipes. The bagpipers met at the V.F.W on Edgewater and welcomed new individuals who were interested in learning how to play the bagpipes. The main core of the group was Tom Netsel, John King, Barry MacFarlane, Ray Jarrett, Jim Moody and Mike Minelli. William T. McKay, who came from Canada, had organized the group. At the time, William had encouraged members to wear their own tartan. The band was a collection of McCloud, Gordon, and other clan colors. William was killed in an automobile accident prior to Bill joining the group. Although the band knew something about piping and performing, there was no leadership. Bill recalls, “Spending a whole Sunday afternoon at the park off Lake Fairview trying figure out with the rest of the band what foot we should sound the drones on while marching, what foot we should play “E” upon the chanter, and when we should start to play, as well as how we should stop.”

Sometime around the fall of 1974, a fellow from Buffalo, New York arrived. His name was Jack Bisland. Bill mentioned that he did not know what experience Jack had with pipe bands and was initially reluctant to accept what Jack had to offer the band, much less let him take over. In Bill’s own words: “Jack was the first individual who had any practical knowledge of playing pipes, getting equipment, performing or getting jobs. Many senior officers may have had romantic notions about what it meant to be a Scot, or Highlander, but no practical way to implement it. As Jack’s superior skills became obvious, he was allowed to take over. Jack was the first one to drill us in the British style of marching. Jack was also our first serious piping instructor. Jack was the first one to call to my attention that I already developed bad fingering habits due to poor or no instruction. Jack taught us how to fast March and how to slow March. Jack also laid down the law on uniforms and decided we were not going to be a Jacobite Band. We were all going to wear the same uniform. Since Jack was the only one with full dress, he announced he was not going to buy another uniform. Therefore, we were all going to buy uniforms that matched the uniform he had worn when he was with the Gordon Highlanders in Buffalo. This is why the Orlando Pipes and Drums wear the Prince Charlie Edward Stuart Tartan.”

According to Bill, sometime around 1976, the band went through a major transition. This transition period is a story in itself. Briefly, it involved the Bahia Shrine and “merging” the Shriners and members of the Orlando Pipes and Drums into two pipe bands with the Shriners group a “sub band” of the Orlando Pipes and Drums. A number of the Orlando Pipes and Drums members were not Shriners, including Jack. The Shriners subsequently asked the non-members to leave, except for Jack. They needed his expertise. Jack advised the Shriners that he would teach anybody that wanted to learn and not be restricted by any particular club or organization. Therefore, Jack quit the Shriners, and this caused the second break up of the band. It also established our long-standing policy that we will teach anyone the bagpipes or drums that want to learn free. All that is asked in return is practice, participation, and performance.

Nigel Cook, Kari Hartman and her father Ken, Clint De Marsh, and his brother-in-law at that time Mike Plucinski, Cathy Hayden and her husband at that time, and Don McCollum, were just a few of the new members who were joining around this time. Bill noted, “The band grew in size, but our repertoire was only as good as our weakest piper. Consequently, when we went on parade we constantly played Rowan Tree, High Road to Gairloch, Brown Haired Maiden and Scotland the Brave. From 1973 to 1980 that was what we played. Once again, the band started to improve as members became more proficient, yet we still played basic tunes for street marching. Al Eaton was elected Pipe Major of the band for one year. When it came time for re-elections, Clint De Marsh was elected Pipe Major.”

This brings us to the 1980’s and the establishment of Church Street Station and the Rosie O’Grady’s Saloon. The second part of the history of Rosie’s, from the 80’s to the present will be presented later. Dick Ross