A Buffalo Old Home Week Theme Song
View Introduction/Explanation!
View Song! Yesterday while at breakfast with Robear, Bill (Barnacle Bill) Zimmerman called me to say that he had something that the crew at Buffalo Old Home Week might be interested in. I asked him what he had and he told me that in his possession was an old song book that was hanging on his wall titled, Back to Buffalo: Old Home Week. I asked him if he was kidding and he said he was completely serious. So we finished breakfast and headed over to Bill Zimmerman's house.
When we arrived Bill proceeded to show us a collection of songbooks that he has been collecting - dating back to 1900. The collection alone was fascinating, but there was one book in particular that we had come to see. Bill had acquired Back to Buffalo: Old Home Week at Allentown Antiques years before. Yes, Buffalo Old Home Week had a theme song back in 1907. "We're going back to Buffalo", is the gist of the song and Bill was kind enough to sing it for us. Actually, I couldn't believe that he agreed to sing it... and in typical Bill Zimmerman fashion too! Bear with me, and enjoy the song for what it is - a throwback to another era. By the way, did anyone watch CBS Sunday Morning News at 9:00 this morning? The national broadcast network produced and ran a vignette showcasing the citywide event.
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BuffaloGeek
We need to get Lance Diamond to re-record that song and give it a modern twist for the BOHW centennial.
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westcoastperspective
Super! Is Bill taking the show to the "big stage?" The Thursday in the Square kick-off? :)
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Brad T.
You know Bflo Rising online is a success when.....An Expat living in California wakes up every Sunday morning and logs on to Buffalo Rising Online only to be inturupted this week by a TV feature story on CBS Sunday Morning News highlighting Buffalo Old Home Week.
Congratulations. Your work is admirable and appreciated.
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Cyn thia Hammond
Off topic from the song, but relevant to Old Home Week...did you see the piece on CBS News Sunday Morning, "Shuffle Off to Buffalo". I wish I could be more articulate, but all I can say is "Did that ever suck, or what?" Instead of a positive plug for all the great reasons to live here, we get some old footage and the tired cliches of chicken wings, endless snow and crazed sports fans. I suggest we blitz CBS with a letter and photo campaign to educate them on the real Buffalo. It is obvious that whoever put that piece together has never been here...
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Cynthia Hammond
sundays@cbsnews.com
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Shopitall
That was FAB!!
Let's get Lance, the Goos, Ani, Bobby and a few more of Buffalo's finest musical talent to do a CD of their interpretation of this song!
Very cool!
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Marti
Bill, you're awesome. What a find! I love the chorale production idea for the Centennial of Buffalo Old Home Week next year -- and all the other performance suggestions.
In the meantime, I hope you plan to attend all of the signature Buffalo Old Home Week events: -- Launch at Thursday at the Square -- we'll try to get Mayor Brown to share 103.3's mike with you... -- Career Fair at the Pearl Street Grill (Friday 9:00-2:00) -- well, perhaps you can skip this one -- unless you have some job openings at Seven Seas that need to be filled! -- Happy To Be (Back) Here Hour at 94 Oaklnad Place (Friday 5:00-9:00). We won't have a mike, but you clearly don't need one! Be there, baritone! -- Downtown Housing Tour -- I guess if you were to stand and sing outside the Market Arcade where the walking tour maps will be between 12:00-4:00 on Saturday, it might be considered busking. Up to you! -- You wouldn't dare miss the Waterfront! Be at the Chief Petty Officer's Club at 5:00 sharp. I am sure that the Electras will give you plenty of mike time to belt out that vintage tune. We'll provide the burger and potato salad and not even charge you the measly $6 bucks. And I'll even buy you a beer! Just don't hog the mike when Brian Higgins, Kevin Gaughan and all of the waterfront folks (Uniland, Canal Project, FLW Boathouse, Riverkeepers, etc...) start telling us what is really happening (really!) down on the waterfront. -- And you can sing for your Brunch at the Delaware Park Casino on Sunday (10:00-3:00). Tickets are just $12 for adults and $5 for children online at www.buffoldhome.com, but you are my peronal guest (if you sing!). The Billy Baroo Jazz Trio says you can use their set up and wow the crowd of hundreds expected to attend this wonderful Buffalo Old Home Week grand finale. Maybe we'll even find a nice gift for you at the Images of Buffalo Fair under the canopy to thank you for your trouble.
So, I'm shamelessly listing all of the great events that make up Buffalo Old Home Week this week -- again. Hey...that's my job. Please register and buy your tickets online ot at Talking Leaves asap -- I really do need head counts, guys.
This event is for EVERYBODY -- not just Expats. Come one, come all!!
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Yossarian
I liked the Sunday Morning piece because the story ended with quick cuts of summer in Buffalo...and said something like "thousands will be shuffling home to Buffalo"...thousands?....hopefully, but unlike review above, I liked it for what it was.
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Edward Street
There's some 1907 BOHW stuff on Ebay too...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Back-Back-Back-To-Buffalo-Old-Home-Week-Postcard_W0QQitemZ102250576846QQihZ010QQcategoryZ35912QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Bill Zimmermann
Thanks pals-- we're going to give this Old Home Week song a run for its money (25 cents originally). A year go a few of us got together and dusted the notes off-- it's a hokey, vibrant piece typical of 1907's shamelessly virile patriotic slam at the piano, and gush-full of Buffalo lore. We're cooking up some surprise renditions by Buffalo's best singers to put together for next year, but we'll see who'll show with me for this one. Should be fun! Copies avail for all.
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Sturdy One
Well said, Yossarian. Sure, the CBS News Sunday morning piece wasn't exactly what we would have written and produced, but it brought national attention to BOHW. Now it's up to us to change the perception of Buffalo and, hey, we're up to the task!
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Asian of Change (formerly VFTB)
thanks Yossarian and Sturdy One. Any attention brought to Buffalo and OHW is good...so please nobody blitz CBS with letters or anything else because it lessens our chances of national recognition next year...the CBS piece wasn't the exact ideal, but people googled 'Buffalo Old Home Week' on the web and then tons of them went to our site...
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BuffaloGeek
Here's the piece from the CBS Sunday Morning Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfUSIH0DxHQ
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DrKay
Okay, I want somebody who reads music to check that song; if that's really the tune, I'll eat a garlic sundae! Nice singing, though. :)
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