History

Grade IV Band 

The Pipes and Drums of the Seven Pipers Society has been in existence since the 1960s. They were first known as the Tucson Highlanders which began in 1959. 

History of the Tucson Highlanders
[Submitted by Jack Cunningham, severely edited by Toppy Burke, November 2005]

Seven Pipers as it exists today evolved from the Tucson Highlanders which was conceived in 1957 by a University of Arizona geology graduate student, Jack Cunningham. He and other piping enthusiasts, who had no previous experience with the pernicious bagged instrument, induced N. Stirling Briggs of Tempe, to travel to Tucson to teach the fledgling group. The first band consisted of Cunningham’s fellow students in geology: piper Mark Melton, a research assistant, and our first and only official female bass drummer, Ms. Terry Clark, who was an undergraduate student. It also attracted as pipers Banks Mills, a Tucson schoolboy; Roy Mack, a professional musician; Ernie Nelson, Jess Cude and Jack Ferrer, who were Hughes employees. Two side drummers, Charley Long, also with Hughes, and Jack Harris, an engineer at Lusk Corporation, completed the band. Cunningham served as Pipe Major until he moved away in 1962.

The band formed officially in 1959, and was performing locally by 1960. To its credit, it obtained a sponsor, Arizona Land, Title, and Trust. Its first uniforms were Black Watch kilts and sporrans, obtained from the Black Watch of Canada in Montreal, along with tan Army shirts, Glengarries, red and black hose tops, and spats. In1962 the band was able to purchase MacLean of Lochbuie kilts and formal green tunics. It also recruited a drum major, Wayne King, nephew of the “Waltz King”. In 1961 it won the first of many awards it and its successor would accrue - the “Most Colorful Musical Organization” cup given by the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Parade association.

Tucson Highlanders - circa 1971 - when we practiced at the old Fenster Ranch school - probably on Blacklidge.
Those in the picture - standing left to right - Brad Frazier, David Kapley, Charlie Armijo, Wade Cox, Bob Horton (Tenor), and Denny Rae(D/M). Left to right in front - unknown, Bruce McGrew (Bass) and Rick May.

History of the Pipes & Drums organized as the Seven Pipers Society

Since that time they have progressed from a small group of marauding Scottish and Irish music enthusiasts to a grade III competitive pipe band participating in regional and national level competitions. In 1996, the Seven Pipers Society won their first crown at the Grade IV level. They repeated this feat in 1998 dubbing them Champion of Champions of the Western United States Pipe Band Association at the grade IV level. In 1999, the band competed well at the Worlds in Glasgow, Scotland and in 2000, they were promoted to the grade III competition level. This band underwent some personnel changes that prevented them from competing long enough that they are now fielded as an advanced music Grade IVA band to complement the Grade IV B Band. The Pipes and Drums of the Seven Pipers Society is the host band at Tucson's annual Celtic Festival and performs at other Tucson activities. You need not be of Celtic descent to be a member of this group, you just have to love bagpipes and drums.
The Seven Pipers Society Grade IV pipe band began in February of 1998 on chanter and pads with a vision of a “new” grade IV competition pipe band. Because of recruiting, great instruction, and hard work, the Seven Pipers Society Grade IV pipe band competed for the first time at the Pleasanton, California Games in 2000 placing 6 out of 12 pipe bands. In their third competition ever this past May of 2001, they took a first place in the March Medley at the Costa Mesa Games. This is an amazing feat considering that many of these players were on practice chanters and pads 2 ½ years ago.. The combined grade IV A & B band’s membership currently consists of 22 active and semi-active players. Future plans include a planned trip to compete at Highland Games in Ireland.

Here we are in the first Tucson Highland Games, 1987. Left Picture:  left to right:
William W. Don Carlos, Toppy Burke, Stuart Baker, P/M Bob Baker. Right Picture:
The Seven Pipers Society Pipe Band--the days before matching tartans and band uniforms!