About Us: Fralinger Fact Sheet

In 2009, the band won its seventh-consecutive first prize in the New Year’s Day parade with the theme “Your Wish Is Our Command!".  With a rub of the lamp, our Jewels of the Desert grant every wish as they take you on a whimsical and breathtaking journey across the deserts of the Arabian Nights.  Fralinger is renowned throughout the world for their unique musical and performance style.

• Most consistent top prize winner over the last 25 years:
  • Won first, second or third prize in 20 of the last 25 New Years’ Day parades
  • 15 First Prizes overall
  • Bill Bowen Jr. is this year’s Second Prize Captain, finishing in the top five in 26 out of his 27 years as Captain. By winning ten First Prizes, Bill is the most successful String Band Captain ever!
• Organized on December 18, 1914 by Dr. John J. Fralinger, M.D., a Philadelphia physician, pharmacist and also the team doctor for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. WE ARE NINETY-FOUR YEARS PROUD!
• Reorganized in 1974 as a nonprofit organization governed completely by the membership
• A progressive Mummers String Band organization:
  • First string band to vocalize
  • First String Band to emulate brass instrument sounds with reed instruments (1971)
  • First String Band to feature the Big Band sound (1972) and Dixieland Jazz (1973)
  • First String Band to receive Philadelphia Mayor’s Achievement Award (1975)
  • Herb Smith (Music Director Emeritus), Mike Rayer (Presentation Director), and Bill Bowen Jr. (Captain) – all members of elite Mummers’ Hall of Fame
• Significant engagements:
  • Hong Kong International Chinese New Year Parade (2007)
  • Walt Disney World SpectroMagic^® Parade (2007)
  • Official 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies "Whiz Kids" pep band (since 1990)
  • Mardi Gras – New Orleans, LA
  • Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell Inaugural Parade – Harrisburg, PA (2003)
  • Miss America Pageant Parade – Atlantic City, NJ
  • Pearl Harbor Memorial Concert – Honolulu, HI (1997)
  • Baseball Hall of Fame Parade – Cooperstown, NY
  • Selected for “America’s Bicentennial Celebration” television special (1976)
  • Appeared in Brian De Palma’s movie, "Blow Out" (1981)
  • Appeared in Philadelphia Constitution Bicentennial Parade (1987)
  • Appeared at Disney’s New York premiers of “Pocahontas” (1995) and “Hercules” (1997)
  • Dick Clark’s “Freedom Festival” television special (1989)