About the Band

    

The Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band was started in 1971 by two Scotsmen from Glasgow, Jim Somerville and Bobby Benton. Mr. Somerville had been a Sergeant Major in the Royal Marines and Mr. Benton was the Chief of Clan Gordon in New York. Scottish pride ran deep in both men and attracted the attention of piper Andrew McDicken, also of Glasgow. With Mr. Somerville as drum major and Mr. Benton on the tenor drum, the band grew quickly. Eventually, Clan Gordon of New York, the 227th clan formed under the banner of The Order of Scottish Clans, ceased to exist and the pipe band became sponsored by The Clan MacDuff of Long Island, New York. The band remained under the tutelage and direction of Pipe Major Andrew McDicken who watched the band grow to a roster of over 35 members. Out of respect for the original highland regiment and the predominance of Gordon clansmen in the original band, the band's title has always had the word Clan in front of it. 

           

Our  band is based upon the Regiment of the same name originally founded on February 10, 1794 by the Fourth Duke of Gordon in Scotland. Jane, Duchess of Gordon (1749-1812), the second daughter of Sir W. Maxwell of Monreith, married the Fourth Duke in 1767 and was celebrated for her beauty and as a political hostess. She helped to raise the Gordon Highlanders and is reputed to have induced the recruits to enlist by placing a guinea between her lips and giving them a kiss.

    

Recent interest in the media and movies has brought a new generation of musicians to our band complimenting our seasoned pipers. This, and the sight of their ranks, dressed in true Highland traditional garb, has combined to make us well-known for our panache and style. We have earned an enviable reputation, one that is accorded only to such a group of spirited musicians.

    

The Highlanders have been honored to play with and for the regimental band of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point during their military tattoos. We have also appeared at:


           

• Hard Rock Cafe, NYC (prior to Madonna and Michael Jackson)
• Veteran's Day Parade in NYC
• Piping in The Tall Ships, Glen Cove, NY
• Nassau County Memorial Day parades
• Carnegie Hall
• Lincoln Center
• Waldorf Astoria
• Fireman's Day Parades
• Scottish Clan Association of Highland Games
• Scottish American Society
• St. Andrew's Society
• Glenfiddich Highland Games
• Tennant's Tartan Day Parade in NYC,2000, with the World Champion Strathclyde City Police Pipe Band
• Long Island Scottish Games, Westbury, NY
• Heritage Festival, Nassau Community College
• countless other events.