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
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: