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U.S. Navy Band brings bluegrass to Clifton

Katie Scott | Catholic Herald

Third-grader Caitlin McBride calls out an animal noise during “Grandpa’s Farm,” a silly crowed-pleaser performed by Country Current at St. Andrew the Apostle School.

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Second-grader Eva LaMora is asked to say the noise of a pig during the song “Grandpa’s Farm.”

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Tina Catalanotto plays the drums as part of Country Current, one of the Navy Band’s six performing units.

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Lead singer Kenny Horton (left) and fellow musicians Tina Catalanotto and Patrick White entertain St. Andrew the Apostle students

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The U.S. Navy Band Country Current — including (from left) Tina Catalanotto, Keith Arneson, Danny Stewart, Kenny Horton and Patrick White — perform for students Feb. 1 at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton to kick off Catholic Schools Week.

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They regularly play toe-tapping tunes for the president, vice
president and secretary of the Navy, but Feb. 1 the U.S. Navy
Band Country Current brought its country-bluegrass lineup to
students at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The
mini concert was held in the parish hall and kicked off
Catholic Schools Week.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids to see
professional musicians up close,” said St. Andrew Principal
Mary Baldwin. “They also learn that you can go into the
service and make a career out of being a musician.” Baldwin
said for about the past five years the school has invited one
of the Navy Band’s six performing units to play.

Country Current, formed in 1973, started off the afternoon
concert by leading the student body in the Pledge of
Allegiance. The seven-member group then delighted its young
audience with silly songs like “Grandpa’s Farm” and “The
Beverly Hillbillies.” Volunteers were selected to recite
different animal sounds during “Grandpa’s Farm,” and the hall
erupted in laughter following “oinks” and “baas.” The band
finished with several numbers by popular country musicians,
such as Keith Urban.

Between songs, lead singer Kenny Horton explained the origin
and function of the instruments, including the banjo,
acoustic guitar, mandolin and drums.

Country Current entertains students at six to eight
elementary schools a year, said Horton. “We really enjoy
playing for the kids,” he said.

St. Andrew students, back in school after 11 days out due to
January snowstorms, were bubbling over with praise for the
concert.

Second-grader Abigail Crum said it made her want to be part
of a band so she could travel to different places.

Classmate Carolyn Plaxin agreed. “It makes me want to be a
musician because music inspires people,” she said. “I loved
it a lot.”

Find out more

To learn more about the U.S. Navy Band Country Current, go to
Navy
Band
.

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