U.S. Navy Choir Performs the Bluegrass Classic "Rocky Top"

[20031200]

I was a member of the TSC "Blue Jacket Choir" . Was in 73/75. I was the only member of my company in Blue Jackets during boot camp. Sang one performance off base in Chicago for the "Luther League Convention".

[shepardman666]

Wonderful! Was in 904/65

[teakbridge101]

The Navy picks banjo! YEAH!

[bandit159753159753]

leave it up to 3 people to be party poopers THEY ROXS

[Ghenghy]

You need a conductor for that? HIlarious!

[TheBanjoGeezer]

Wow! So cool... Fair winds and following seas... from a retired Coastie! 01/25/11

[nasty5oh]

This is awesome

[Slideways43]

Awesome!!!!! I was in Triple Threat Company 939 in November 1983 and we didn't do anything that cool

[speakswahilidammit]

I'm from an old Royal Navy family. My dad was a war hero, & survived with a very few men the sinking of his ship en route to Murmansk in WW2. He loved the US Navy, & went to the Antarctic with your Vice Admiral Evelyn Byrd before the war. He also loved the music! Please see my video.

[boomer237]

Hi French,

I can't believe I'm the first from 947 to respond to this. I was there in drill team. I seem to remember you doing a little "classical" on the banjo - perhaps Mozart. I was impressed then and I'm still impressed.

JT Hixson

[Instrumentofgaia]

thats actually pretty cool that theyed let you show off your talent at an otherwise very formal occasion like that. kudos to the banjo...nice playing!

[redblooded35]

Hooyah Navy! goin to RTC in a week

[cnmqueen1]

Great job just wondering though, is there any chance you might have a video of the whole ceremony? I think and old friend of mine graduated on this day.

[antiquelover1]

He kicks off Foggy Mt Break down and they sing Rocky Top wonder why?

[hnk1969]

This is brilliant, wish we had the same in the Royal Navy..!

[PamelaJ03]

This is awesome! I graduated in 95 and was on the first integrated drill team. Fun!

[enmaxus]

This is great to see. I graduated April 1986

[Oilersfan210093]

This has to be one of the coolest things i've ever seen.

[Spraycando]

Only in the American Navy would you see this. Royal Navy = drums & guns.

[banjocam]

good as I ever heard it

[jdmgcts]

Great Lakes wasn't like that in 1960

[Luftwaffels]

2 of my favorite things

Songs of Tennessee and the U.S. Navy!

[barthmonster]

when was this ?  I was a triple-threat at Great Lakes IN '86

[wwfrench]

RTC Great Lakes, IL. 17 Jan 1986

[lisagoinsmarie]

AWESOME!!!!

[ferrariguy47]

AWESOME!  Badass!

[danielwa2]

what does triple threat mean? u have 3 really good AROCs or something?

[wwfrench]

Triple threat meant that our company was comprised of three special performance groups - Marching Band, Drill Team and Choir.

[danielwa2]

my friend said that his division was the 2nd highest scoring division in RTC history. Whats that based on, would he have to have a triple threat and great RPOCs and AROCs etc?

[VideoSamaritan]

I know that RTC Companies can earn points for doing things really well (like physical fitness competitions against other companies) but I don't think that being triple threat would be an advantage though. Anyone else know more?

[JonEricMusic]

That was AWESOME!

Thanks for sharing this.

Banjoistically yours,

Jon Eric

[brenton0aydin]

Being a Tennessee born Navy Wife I LOVE this!!!

[cppdsarge03]

Would love to hear this done while watching a somalian pirate boat blown out of the water by a destroyer.

[SludgeSlinger]

Amen brother

[Dutychief]

Those boys can pick!!

[hnk1969]

Brills, well done.

[kannika12]

Greatest sacrifice of them at the WW 2. We will remember. Real touched of the Proud American Culture of those Banjos.

[banjo5491]

Proud of their service and proud of their music!!!!

[shakestheground]

I really love bluegrass, but what a truly odd thing for them to do.

[r5cpt]

I think this is just unbelievably good. I can't believe my ears - these guys rock!

[banjo7445]

LOVE THIS !! i could watch this a million times, its great... could go on and on about this but wont, but this is just GREAT .. thanks for posting this, thanks , CAPT.. ol 'banjo here.. a big ''hell yea'''''

[PhilCLG4]

Looks like they greatly improved the graduation ceremony since I was there in 1959 with company 71.//Phil

[tgmod]

All I'm going to say is glad I'm in the Army.

[capt777737]

hey it don't matter what service you are in, most important, thank you for your service to our country-----AND STAY IN, even if for the next 8 years.

US Marine told me this of Clinton

You do NOT want Obama's name on your DD-214 that could couse you problems after you get thru with your hitch.

So stay in no matter what.

Our troops overseas do agree.

.

[azurefirem]

My mom retired from the Air Force in November, she's got Bush's signature on her papers. She couldn't be happier :)

[32banjoman]

great job guys!!!

[mitoguitarman]

very cool! loved it!

[hillbillyvampyre]

Awesome! I was in Company 933 (Blue jacket Choir) in the Fall of 1988. This brings back great memories!

[BluegrassForte]

Wow! This is something you don't normally see! Bluegrass, my favorite. Great pickin'! 5*

Gretsch'n

[knowitall1975]

I love the navy...I served it proudly for 7 years....One thing's wrong though...They don't have enough programs to get the enlisted motivated...Old programs like the enlisted aviation program...Those programs should still be in place...this gives a young recruit who could afford to go to college something to strive for. If were gonna be into every country's business...we better be ready to bring these programs back.

[capt777737]

I dedicate this to my wonderful brother, who served our wonderful US Navy before he died of the war after he retired (Agent Orange killed him) even to his last days.

So yes, US Navy is my favorite service, and I always hope you destroy the enemy.

Anchors Away. My love is with the US Navy. Any support I can give I will if able , just ask me. I am in Civil Air Patrol--the area I know. I know CAP provides support to US Navy when asked. We all work together.

May we support our troops, unasked

[AcmeProfessional]

I like this!

[themandolinman95]

love it!

[brenton0aydin]

LOVE IT!!!! Navy Boys singing Rocky Top!!!

[JacGout]

woow, you are good! it defenitely puts the choir to another level

[halfdogderek]

this is me in 20 WEEKS TWENTY WEEKS!!! GO NAVY!

[texican65]

Wow man!!! Thats was soooo cool. I'd been playing about 10 years when I came in the Navy at 18...wish I coulda done something like that. I've got 42 days left. That was superb pickin' boy!

[CommanderBly47]

That was amazingly cool. Go Navy.

[colorguard7]

yay! i love this. it has the three best songs ever in it. lol. but really. . .

-coop

[banjo5491]

Fantastic guys!

[chzchbo]

WOW! I can't believe you got almost 20K hits! That's amazing. You're internet famous :p

[mkl62]

I would enter RTC Great Lakes 3 months later on April 25, 1986. I was in Company 141, 11th Division. My CC's were EMC Aguado & EM1 Frilles. I left on June 27 for AK "A" School in Meridian, MS until September 24. On October 9, I reported aboard the USS America (CV-66) until my discharge on April 24, 1990.

[shunkiebaby]

oh my god this video is AMAZINGGG.

[wwfrench]

Well, I can't believe I posted this video one year ago today! At the time, I thought it would be cool if several hundred people saw it. Now, it's almost 18,000! LOL! You people need to get a life! =) This YouTube concept is pretty darn cool, and I thank you for watching. On the downside...as popular as YouTube is, I still haven't heard from a single member of my Company 947 and that surprises me. :-( Thanks again! Wayne

[Thorphor]

Kick Ass!!!!!!!!

[USNsailor06]

I graduated Nov. 3rd 2006 that was not at my graduation however it would have been hilarious

[Banjoey1]

Makes me proud to be an American!!!!

[etsurenee]

I love it! hahaha. Navy and Rockytop? woo hoo!

[playmorebluegrass]

All I can say is AWESOME!! playmorebluegrass!

[Shadowdog1970]

BZ, Sailors. My, how Boot Camp has changed since my days. Dexter Goad, MCPO USN Ret

[brenton0aydin]

LOVE IT!! Navy guys singin' Rocky Top!! Hell Yeah....

[pawliv]

Great! Our grandson graduated last Feburary. MU1 Christina M. Catalanotto a drummer with Country Current, played at his graduation. Too bad she doesn't play the banjo!

[Garrett10124]

GO ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trash732]

ww, that was cool

[boomac62]

Hmmm...graduated 10/31/80(276) but I don't recall any hillbilly music that day.

[Tinman6974]

Man, I remember graduating during the '95 Thanksgiving weekend. Our Pass and Review was held on the Wednesday before...and it was so cold! By graduating on that Wednesday...we had liberty on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was in Division 490 with PO1 Davis and PO2 Baena. I believe we were PO2 Baena's first divison...so PO Davis let him loose on us! I still wonder to this day how long they stayed at RTC as instructors and where their next command was?

[wwfrench]

I know what you mean! I still haven't heard from anyone (of the 80 guys) that I was with in Company 947! And yes! ...It was REALLY cold there! One day, (with the wind chill factor) it got to 60 degrees below zero! We didn't even go outside! Brrr!

[fuzzyrat123]

I graduated in 1988 from great Lakes,and I remember it was very cold...I wish I could remember my company number,but when you said 947 it rang a bell mine was something like 9 something lol,please post more when you graduated.

[wwfrench]

Co. 947 Graduated on 17 Jan 1986. Well my friend, you may want to dig through your old files than to select from THIS list! This is all the "900" recruit companies at NTC Great Lakes in 1988. So, if you recognize your number from this list...Cool!

900 thru 942, 983, 997.

[carteru93]

Sorry I meant "sound"

I think the capo to C makes it sound great.

[Scott11078]

HOOYAH!!! 1998-2004 HT2

[Sweemanz]

Woww good stuff!

[Leinhartistight]

whats the name of this song?

[wwfrench]

After a short intro with "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", we went straight into "Rocky Top" (which was one of the State Songs Of Tennessee). Hope you enjoyed it!

[donovanwiseman]

Carter r u stupid they're playing that song out of C thats not a g chord WoW

[carteru93]

Standard G tuning capoed up to a C at the 5th fret.

Wow you really know your banjo.

[spoosh13x13x13x13x78]

That is grate! you got to be kidding me? That is cool

[swampthingswift]

What the! They wouldnt let me have my banjo in boot camp. Thats why i hated it. My mom brought it to me at graduation and i kept it with me ever since. good job

[ldsricky]

Ha...Why couldn't they do that at my graduation... (2006 September!) Div 321...

[gkerbow]

Great video and banjo! Good to hear this sound again. All us back in Texas are so proud of you and your banjo playing. I can't wait to hear it live again someday.

[zladybug1]

Great video! Thanks for posting. My son graduated from Great Lakes in '96 (yes, the blizzard of '96) He was in the rifle drill team. It was WELL WORTH THE TRIP all the way from Louisiana to see his Pass In Review. It broke my heart to see all of the graduates march in with a single rose because MOST of them marched back out with their roses because NO ONE was there for them!!

[wwfrench]

Wow! What a sad story! Glad you made it though...and the Rifle Drill Teams "Rock" too! God bless you, and your son for his service!

[wwfrench]

Thanks! It was in a standard "G Tuning". "G" on the (High) 5th string; "D" on the (Low) 4th; "G" on the 3rd; "B" on the 2nd; and "D" on the 1st. (Note that the two "G"s and "D"s are an octave apart, and this tuning gives you a cool "open G" chord!) Finally, I also used a "capo" on all the strings at the 5th fret...so that way we could play in the Key of C! Keep on pickin'!

[carteru93]

That is a cool G chord! Thanks again for the post!

[carteru93]

What tuning did you have your banjo in? It sounded brilliant!

[djerikd]

Brilliant!  Bravo Zulu, shipmate.

[wwfrench]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm just thankful I was able to get all the way through it without a mistake. I was so nervous! I swear my legs were shaking so hard, that I thought people up in the bleachers would notice! I also think that there were about 1,200 to 1,500 people there too! So, no pressure! :-) It's a great memory for me and I hope that guys from my company or shipmates I haven't heard from in years will contact me. That would be fun!

[chengloki]

Damn, (excuse my language) reminds me of my boot days. Don't worry, you did great. We sailors know what's what's what. Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. =Stefan=

[jen8933]

oh it was you personally!

hello and thank you for a fine performance. your nervousness did not tell on you.

i'm from the bluegrass and am now in san diego. sometimes i like to come here to hear some b.g. but sometimes it makes me cry...you make me happy with you great talent.

good luck to you.

from miss jenny

[r5cpt]

Did you play the guitar or the banjo? In any case, just f*cking unbelievable stuff, there, dude!