TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tampa Area Band To March In Macy's Parade

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

Updated: 11/26/2008 12:11 am

Look for the 512-member Greater St. Petersburg Area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders marching band during the 82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.

WTVT, Channel 13 anchor John Wilson is the group's drum major. Wilson's wife, well-known singer Mary K., is among a dozen people who will be toting the band's huge banner. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and his wife will be carrying the Florida state flag as the group goes down Broadway.

Known as the "Rounders," the band should pass in front of Macy's and the NBC cameras between 10 and 11 a.m.

They will be doing a two-minute, 30-second segment, says Wilson. "The music is all about Florida sunshine. We are performing 'Let the Sun Shine In,'" he notes.

"This is a great experience for all of us because some members have never been to New York," he says. "And this is the one parade that every person who has ever been in a marching band would love to be in."

Band members are staying through Sunday taking in the sights. They've also got a 3 a.m. rehearsal today with a 20-degree wind chill factor.

Wilson plans to file reports for WTVT's Fox 13 newscasts on Thursday.

For the first time in the band's 26-year history they will be wearing uniforms (waterproof ones just in case). Band members each paid about $1,500 to make the five-day trip. They've been practicing since they were notified in April that they had been selected.

Ranging in age from 18 to 85, most of the band members are in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Wilson has been with the group since it started with only about 50 members. The only requirement for membership is having once played in a high school band. Wilson was a drum major at Big Stone Gap High School in Virginia.

The Rounders celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. It is believed to be the largest permanent volunteer marching band in the world. They are one of only 10 marching bands invited to march in the Macy's parade this year. The group has performed at numerous events in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area from the St. Petersburg Festival of States to Super Bowl parades. They also have traveled to events throughout the United States.

MACY'S BY THE NUMBERS: There will be 13 giant balloons including Buzz Lightyear, Horton (the elephant who heard a Who), a Smurf and a special balloon of subway artist Keith Haring's work "Figure with Heart."

The 10 returning balloons include Abby Cadabby, Beethoven, Dora the Explorer, Flying Ace Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, Pikachu, Ronald McDonald, Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants and Hello Kitty.

According to NBC, there will be 1,700 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 900 clowns; 35 novelty/ornament balloons and 28 floats.

"Today" stars Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer and Al Roker anchor the coverage from 9 a.m. to noon on NBC.

GOING LIVE: Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres both host comedy variety shows this week.

You may not have heard about DeGeneres' "Even Bigger, Really Big Show" airing at 9 p.m. Saturday on TBS because O'Donnell has been getting all the attention after she dumped on "The View" last week.

Taped in Las Vegas, DeGeneres' show features all manner of oddball acts that recall the glory days of Ed Sullivan (jugglers, magicians, gymnasts).

"Rosie Live" at 8 tonight on NBC also harks back to the heyday of variety shows like "Sonny & Cher." She will tell jokes, perform sketches and sing with Liza Minnelli. Other guests include Alanis Morissette, Ne-Yo, Gloria Estefan and "30 Rock" cast members Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"The White House: Behind Closed Doors," 9 p.m., History

President George W. and first lady Laura Bush give a tour of the house that they will soon vacate.

Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT