Founded in 1935 by James A. Durning the band first marched in the Philadelphia Mummers Parade in 1936 with the theme Musical Troubadours. In 1944 the Band was renamed as the James V. Durning String Band, in honor of the founder's son, who was listed as Missing-in-Action during the war.

In 1988 Durning merged with the Garden State String Band of Gloucester City, NJ.

Durning is proud of its history and consistently works to be competitive each and every year. Durning has played for Pope John Paul when he came to Philadelphia in 1979, President Gerald Ford and Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh’s Christmas Party in 1979. In addition, Durning has performed in the Miss America Beauty Pageant Parade in Atlantic City, NJ, the Strawberry Festival in Buchanan, West Virginia, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, the Kalikfest in Pittsburgh, PA, and various engagements in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania.

There have been eight (8) Captains of the band over the past 69 years. These eight Captains have won top prize honors twelve times over the years.

the tradition of performing award winning performances each and every New Years Day. Our heritage includes many second and third generation family members who continue the Durning tradition year after year.

Historical Facts

• 72 years parading in the annual Philadelphia New Year’s Day Mummers Parade.
• 1^st Prize String Band – 2 times (1946 & 1948)
• 1^st Prize Captain – 5 times (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 & 1971)
• Placed in top 5 – 13 times
• Placed in top 10 – 30 times
• Top Captain Prizes – 12 times
• Paraded as Thomas Connors String Band 1936
• Paraded as 48^th Ward String Band 1937 to 1942
• Paraded as Bill Morrow String Band 1943
• Paraded as James V. Durning String Band 1944 till present (named in honor of founder James Durning’s son.                                                              
• Merged with the Garden State String Band of Gloucester, NJ in 1988