History of The Atholl Highlanders (USA)

 

A History of The Band

Founded in 1981, as the James Reid Pipes and Drums. James Reid was a Jacobite and was hung for being a piper on the losing side during the 1745 Jacobite rising.


In 1983 at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, Lord Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl, granted the band permission to wear the Murray of Atholl District tartan and to be his unit in the States. We are not a part of the standing army called the 'Atholl Highlanders' in Scotland. we are the pipe band of Clan Murray and the Duke is our Clan Chief.

Sadly, "Wee Ian", the 10th Duke , passed away February 27, 1996. The 11th Duke, John Murray,gave us permission to continue carrying the name and wearing the tartan. He passed away on May 15, 2012 and his son, Bruce Murray, became the 12th Duke of Atholl.

We carry sponsorship from Clan Murray Society of North America and are proud to represent them in name and tartan.

Since 1981, the Atholl Highlanders have entertained thousands, from Peachtree Street to Gatlinburg, from Edinburgh to Killiecrankie, from Watkinsville to Montgomery. We have a simple goal, to play the Pipes and Drums.

We are a competition winner but our aim is to perform and entertain. We seek to bring the music, culture and the drama of the Highlands and Celtic Lands to as many as possible.

Our Band is proud to wear the Tartan of Murray of Atholl and for historic connections back to Culloden and Beyond. We also share a common bond with our sister-band the The Murray Pipes & Drums of Gothenburg, Sweden.

We're the first Pipe Band to appear at the Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXXIV with Faith Hill) and have sent band members to Edinburgh for the 2000 Marie Curie Cancer Care March of 9,000 Pipers and Drummers. We returned in 2005 to officially break the record.

The Pipe Major (AKA: PM, P.M., P/M or "Pipey") , in our Band is elected by members of the band. The "Pipey" is Leader of the band musically and Leader of the pipers in general. He/She is also the CEO in our band. The PM is responsible for music selection, performance, practices and record keeping.

Pipe Majors of the Atholl Highlanders USA
Dave Brown
1981 - 1983
  • Band Founder
  • Band name "James Reid Pipe Band"
Chuck Calmbacher 1983 - 1988
  • 10th Duke gives band permission to wear Murray of Atholl tartan and the name "Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums - USA"
  • Band Win at Stone Mountain Highland Games (non-competition)
Berkeley Strobel 1989 - 1999
  • Band Patch
  • Band Motto "MacCrimmon Is No More"
  • Band instructor - Val Duff
Evan Kohler-Camp 1999 - 2012
  • Band incorporation
  • Band Instructor Henry Frantz
  • First Competition win
  • Band Web Page (First site donated by Jim Thompson)
  • Created Band Burns's Night Supper with Don Bogue 2001
  • First Scotland Trip 2000
  • First New York Trip 2002
  • Return to Scotland 2005
  • Creation of the Duke of Atholl Scholarship
  • Creation of Secretary, Quartermaster and Business Manager positions
  • Update Band Patch & Logo to match Atholl Banner
  • Update motto to "Who's Like Us!"
  • First Band Field Performance Stone Mountain Games 2012
Lisa Wight 2012 - Present
  • Band's First Female Pipe Major
  • Host Band Stone Mountain Games - 2014

 

Drum Majors (AKA: DM, D.M., D/M or "Drummie"), in our Band, are appointed by the Pipe Major. Many bands play without a Drum Major or "Drummie" as they are called. The Drummie leads the band on parade. He/She co-ordinates with the PM.

Drum Majors
Paul Braman 1981 - 1984
John 'Bugs' Rodgers 1984 - 
Bob Harlan dates
Don Bogue 1996 - Present
Ron Volz 2006 - 2010
Ben Linton 2009 - Present

 

The Band Toast

"Here's Tae us,

Who's Like us?

Damn Few,

And They're all deid!"

("and mare's the pity" is often added)

 

Athole Gathering ( Gallant Murray )

Note: Athole is the auld (old) spelling for the region of Atholl.



Chorus:
Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray?
Wha will ride wi' Geordie's sel'?
He's the floow'r o' a' Glenisla
And the Darlin' o' Dunkel'
See the white rose in his bonnet
See his banner o'er the Tay
His guid sword' he now has drawn it
And he's flung the sheath away



Every faithful Murray follows
First of Heroes! Best of men
Every true and trusty Stewart
Blythely leaves his native glen
Athole lads are lads of honour
Westland rogues are rebels a'
When we come within their border
We may gaur the Campbells claw

(Chorus)


Menzies, he's our friend and brother
Gask and Strowan are nae slack
Noble Perth has ta'en the field
And a' the Drummonds at his back
Let us ride wi' gallant Murray
Let us fight for Cherlie's crown
From the right we'll never sinder
Till we bring the tyrants down

(Chorus)

MacKintosh, the gallant soldier
Wi' the Grahams and Gordons gay
They have ta'en the field of honour
Spite of all their chiefs could say
Point the musket, bend the rapier
Shift the brogue for lowland shoe
Scour the dirk and face the danger
MacKintosh has all to do

From the book "Ancient Jacobite Relics II" by Hogg
Can be heard on Tannahill Weavers Album " St.Kilda Wedding" and Andy M.Stewart's "Donegal Rain"

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