Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band :: bagpiping redefined

Bagpiping Redefined

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The Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band (one of the oldest continuous pipe bands in the United States of America) was formed in 1921 by brothers Robert and James Sim. The Sim brothers came from a piping family in Aberdeen, Scotland where their father made bagpipes. Both served in World War I (Bob with the 4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and Jim, who enlisted at 13, with the Royal Engineers Pipe Band and later with the 51st Highland Division).

After coming to Chicago, Bob joined the Canadian Kilties Pipe Band, which has since gone out of existence. In 1921 Bob decided to form his own pipe band and after obtaining uniforms from ex-servicemen of the British Legion he and his brother organized the British Legion Pipe Band. In 1925 the Chicago Stockyard American Legion Post #333 was organized and was looking for a musical unit. The band became affiliated with the Stockyard Post in 1926 and changed its name to the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band.

Read more about the SyKb history through the years here.

Monday, April 7, 2008

and the winner is...

Well done to the boys and girls of the Stockyard Kilty band at this past weekends MWPBA mini-bands contest. The band placed first in Medley and third is QMM. The drummers of course took top score in both events... Photos from the event can be seen on our FLICKR account here.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

SYKB on -- MySpace

Thanks to Joseph Kerzich, John Quinn and all others who have provided pictures and content for the band's brand new MySpace page. Be sure to check out our MySpace account @ http://www.myspace.com/sykb as we continue to add friends, multimedia and more. Check out the logo to the right >>

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Digital Documentation

The band has created a new SYKB account on flickr.com/photos/sykb/ to share all of our pictures. With the help of Joe Kerzich and Gavin Quinn, they split the yearly fee to upgrade it for unlimited downloads instead of our previous free 100 mb a month. If you would like to to request the username so you can upload photosemail chicagostockyardkiltyband@comcast.net and we assist. This will help us to continue to digitally document the 85+ years of SYKB history and to help display all of our pictures to our family, friends, and the World!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Band, Stand Easy...

Thank you to all the members of the Yards for their hard work and diligence during a very long, cold and exhaustive St. Patrick's Day season. The band rounded out the Paddy Parades with the Downtown Chicago parade on Saturday, Match 15th. The annual after party was held at Union Park - check out some photos of the hoopla here.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

At Rest

The band would like to extend our condolences to bass drummer Tom Costello - on the loss of his father. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers Tom.

Francis M. Costello, age 83, Ret. C.P.D., Army Vet. WWII, beloved husband of the late Marian D., nee Zwarycz; loving father of Marybeth Kennedy, Kathleen, Kevin and Thomas, C.P.D. (Karen) Costello; dear brother of Eleanor (William, Ret. C.P.D.) Murphy, the late William (Betty) and the late Robert (Shirley) Costello; fond brother-in-law of Irene (Edward) Judd, Michael (Esther) Zwarycz, Gerry Zwarycz,

W. Richard (the late Margaret) Janiczek, the late Jane M. (the late Frank) Nagel, the late Sophie (the late Stanley) Sandusky and the late Josephine Zwarycz; proud grandpa of Patrick (Leigh) Kennedy, Thomas Jr. and Mary Clare Costello; fond uncle and great-uncle of many nieces and nephews; will be missed by many, especially Buddy and Gus.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Is it over yet?!

Four down...one to go - St. Patrick's Day Parades that is. THANKS AGAIN to all the band members for their participation in three parades this past weekend. The band split up on Saturday to tackle two parades - St. Charles and Lemont. On Sunday the band joined together to once again lead the 30th Annual South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day parade. Some photos from the South Side parade can be seen here. One parade left...

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Let the madness begin

One down...five to go - St. Patrick's Day Parades that is. Thank you to all the band members who braved the cold to play the pipes and drums as well as carry the flags for the Manhattan, Illinois St. Patrick's Day Parade. Check out some photos courtesy of John Quinn here.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wedding Bells

Two band members have scheduled weddings before the close of 2007. Congratulations to Bass Drummer Terry McCabe who weds on December 29th and Drum Corporal Brian Conry who weds on December 22nd. Terry, Brian...learn some lessons from Dave McKee, Sr. on how to make a marriage last forever...

Saturday, November 3, 2007

86th Annual Tartan Ball

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Stockyards at our 86th Annual Tartan Ball!!! I didn't get a harrumph out him... Photos from the event (courtesy of Joseph Kerzich) can be seen here.

THIS ONE IS IN THE BAG

This one's in the bag - Dave and Kitty McKee were brought together thanks to bagpipe lessons; named winners in 'Meant to Be' series.

Bagpipes play mournful renditions of "Amazing Grace," they line the streets at the South Side Irish Parade. Rarely are they the instrument of choice for a strolling musician at a romantic, candlelit dinner. But for Kitty Kirk and Dave McKee, bagpipes helped start a love story that is still going strong 40 years later. READ MORE HERE.

Fore archived news and more information please visit our "news" section here

Sam-I-Am Says...


		In many of our Friday night practices, I have been observing our members looking for the most interesting people to write about. I slowly started to notice a few things about our fearless leader: *Pipe Major Matt McKee*. Being the bass drummer allows me to see the marching style of our pipers. I have noticed that Matt tends to swing his feet out far in front of him when he marches and I couldn’t think of where he had learned this style of marching. Also, in several of my conversations with the fearless leader (I have also noticed his great insistence of calling him “Fearless Leader”) he would refer to the good ole’ days when he was involved in the “party.” What party? The halfway to St. Patty’s Day party? I didn’t get it. Time for some world travel.
		read more here

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This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called 2008 Downtown Parade. Make your own badge here.

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Who took these photos?

Most of the photos contained within this website are moments captured by Jane Hasty. Jane is no stranger to the pipe band community; her husband Tim has played with the likes of Black 47, the Dropkick Murphy's as well as the Chicago Emerald Society Pipe Band. Check out Jane's Scrapbook here.


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