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PRESS RELEASE. From Bill Bates, organizer for the Half Moon Bay Sit-Down Marching Band. Contact Bill at [email protected] or by cell at 415.309.0953. Include your name, cell, email and instrument.
There will be three practices on Tuesday evenings on June 17th, 24th and July 1st, 2025 at the Odd Fellows Hall in HMB.
“The band was a concept of Isabell Mascall. She wondered why there wasn’t a band in the Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade. So, in 1983, she placed an ad in the HMB Review inviting anyone who played an instrument to join the band. About 20 people responded to the ad.
Isabell got music from the HMB High School Band director. The first rehearsals were on her back deck or on the street in front of her house. (I don’t know who the conductor was.) Thus, the HMB Band was formed!
For the next 3-4 years, this band marched in the Parade – with some musicians carrying their children in back packs. Realizing that it was difficult to play and march, especially with children, Eddie Andreini offered to carry the band on his flatbed truck for the Parade. The band became known as “The Half Moon Band That Sits on a Flatbed Truck”.
As a few years went by, the band grew. It grew to the point that it became too big for the truck. And, unfortunately, the Parade was so short, especially now that the Band was motorized, they only got to play one or two pieces. Parade attendees wanted to hear more!
In the late 1980s, the decision was made, in close coordination with parade leader, Cameron Palmer, that the Band would sit at the corner of Main and Kelly streets and play music while the parade passed by. Thus, the origin of the name: “The Half Moon Bay Sit-Down Marching Band”.
At that time, a “temporary conductor”, who was in the tuba section, started conducting the band.
Steve was one of 3 tubas. The original director, a member of the Coast Guard, had been ordered to do something on July 4th and asked for a volunteer conductor. Steve volunteered because we were in need. Steve promised the band that he was only temporary and would step down as soon as a real conductor was identified. Steve Chandler has maintained his part-time 40+ year temporary status to this day and is
the keeper of the music library. (Steve retired in 2024.)
The Band has had as many as 55 musicians who come from all over the Bay Area.
Our one and only annual “gig” is typically at the Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade. Members of the Band also play at the annual Night of Lights parade. But in the past, the band has performed at Ghirardelli Square, The Park Chalet Restaurant, The Spreckels Temple of Music, AKA: The Bandshell, in Golden Gate Park, the SF Giants Stadium, and even on the Victory Ship Jerimiah O’Brien.
There will be three practices on Tuesday evenings on June 17th, 24th and July 1st, 2025 at the Odd Fellows Hall in HMB. Any and all musicians are welcome to join.”
For 2025, We’ll pe playing under the baton of Mr. Bob Boynton. (He’s already conducted some of us at the Night of Lights performance in December.) His debut there went very, very well. Let’s wish him our best!
Author: mdrag
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