Franklin Park Band

April Rehearsal Cancelled 

As a seasonal band, Franklin Park greatly looks forward to getting together to start its new season in April after the winter hiatus.  Musical "rust' shaken off, new songs played and perfected, and great meals and camaraderie for a bunch of guys who first got together in 1968.

But, like so many of our individual and societal collective experiences in April, 2020, couldn't happen!  Respecting the various government Stay At Home and Social Distancing orders issued, the April rehearsal was cancelled.  But, at this time, the June and July gigs (on the Shows page) are still on the schedule. 

Finally, DO NOT USE THE FP STICKER YOU RECEIVED LAST SUMMER AS A MASK !!!!!

 

 

Winter Hiatus (Again) 

Franklin Park is a seasonal band, playing all of its gigs in the summer.  Long distance commutes and winter weather keep drummer Tom and vocalist Bernie away from winter "string section" rehearsals and make scheduling gigs impossible.  

See you again Summer 2020.  Possible gigs (none confirmed) include Kollen Park in Holland, Meijer Gardens and Whitefish Lake.  We are looking for a gig in the UP too, so Bernie can avoid, for once, his (950-mile RT!) commute from Marquette.

Franklin Park Returns to Site of Last Show in 1969 

Franklin Park was excited to join its HHS69 classmates at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland for their 50-year reunion on September 7.  Adding to the excitement was the MBYC was the last gig in 1969 before the guys went off to 6 different colleges and to life.  The night was fun and a great reminder of the specialness of playing together again so many, many years later!

Tom at the drums! (and playing same great Rogers drums he played in 1969!).

L to R:  Mike R, Jim, Mike J, John, Bernie (Mike J playing 1966 Gibson Melody Maker guitar--same as in high school (same guitar!))

Meijer Gardens-Raw Video Link 

After some nerves in front of therecord crowd on song 1, we settled down and had a good show and a good time!  If you want to hear a couple of our several new songs this year, we recommend Get Together at about 12:45 of the video and Do Wah Diddy near the end at about 47:30.
 

Meijer Gardens TEMC Concert--New Record Crowd!  

Franklin Park was honored to again play at Frederik Meijer Gardens' beautiful amphitheater on July 30.  And we were further honored to play before the largest crowd ever at a Garden's Tuesday Evening Music Club show.  Gardens staff reported that a crowd of over 2,600 people were admitted to the Gardens after 500pm for this show.  Thank you Meijer Gardens and thanks to all who attended this great show!  Thanks also to 6-Pak, who brought their large following to this 60s music show.

Garage Band--Finally after 51 Years! 

June rehearsal was two "firsts" for this old band.  One, we became a "garage band" for the very first time ever at this rehearsal.  Second, we had a semi-public rehearsal and asked our audience of 20+ to give us input on the 10 new songs (see a hint next sentence!) that we added this year.  Thanks to all who attended and gave us input at this "Get Together".

Meijer Gardens 2019 ! 

After a record crowd in 2018 for the Franklin Park / 6 Pak 60s music show, Frederik Meijer Gardens' Tuesday Evening Music Club has asked us back for a similar show in 2019.  We will again share the bill with 6 Pak on Tuesday, July 30 from 7-9 pm.  Come help us break the all time attendance record we set in 2018 with this show!

Final Gig of Year in Traverse City ! 

On the road with Franklin Park!  Our final gig of the year before winter hiatus was at Incredible Mo's in Traverse City on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of N Michigan.  Great music in the largest bar in Traverse City area for a great organization.  Nice color touring day before show in Leelanau County too.  Beautiful!

Record Crowd at Meijer Gardens Show! 

60's music rules!  Meijer Gardens reports that the Franklin Park/6 Pak 60's music show at the August 14 Tuesday Evening Music Club was their largest crowd ever!  All the Franklin Park guys had great fun performing before 2000+ enthusiastic people.  It was definitely a WOW!

Hello World.

2018 Big Whitefish Show 

Franklin Park "Deja Vu"?  Well, we didn't play that song (it's from 1970, not the 60s!) but we were all back again at Big Whitefish Lake's annual social event, which had record attendance (due to FP show? :>) ).  Much fun in an outdoor setting on a nice evening with lots of good people.  

Meijer Gardens 2018 ! 

At its October 20 rehearsal in Holland, Franklin Park auditioned for Ted Bufkin of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.  We were very excited to learn from Ted that the Gardens had selected Franklin Park to play in its beautiful amphitheater next summer as part of its very popular Tuesday Evening Music Club.  Hope to see many family, friends and classmates there along with the 1,000+ Gardens members that attend these shows.  Will be FUN!!!

2017 FP Show! 

With the long distance between our homes and that UP winter weather, FP has decided to do one show a year. 

Our show on June 23 for the annual Big Whitefish Lake Association event at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course's beautiful clubhouse and restaurant was attended by over 100 people, most of whom knew nearly every one of our 60's music songs.  Many highlights, including a full Beatles set of 8 songs and one encore, the first appearance of the "Franklin Park Dancers" and Mike R's great organ solo on a new song to us (and 50-years old this summer) A Whiter Shade of Pale.  Good job Mike R, and Bernie, and Jim too, with that song's seeming ever-descending bass line. 

Summary

October 2016--Just getting started with this website so we'll see if FP has enough news to have a BLOG.  Right now we are just hoping that the wild winter weather in the UP holds off beyond FP'S December 2-3 rehearsal get together so our very humble front man, Bernie R, can get downstate safely and timely.