FARMINGTON — Paul Harnden of Wilton, who has joined family members to play in the Old Crow Band for the past 22 years, has been chosen its new director. He takes over next April, continuing a family tradition.

When he was 2, he learned the drums from his uncle, Robin Harnden, who is the band director. His grandfather, Stanley Harnden, was director for 30 years.

“It’s been there my whole life,” he said before the band began its weekly Monday night concert in Meetinghouse Park. He took up trumpet in middle school because the band needed trumpet players, he said.

When members of the band met recently to elect a new director, they decided it was time for Paul to take the baton.

On Monday night, the 24-year-0ld filled in for his uncle.

Paul’s tenure begins with weekly rehearsals starting the first Monday night in April in Roberts Learning Center, Room C23, in the University of Maine at Farmington.

Along with the Monday night concerts from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the band participates in parades in surrounding towns, he said.

Harnden hopes to find more players to join them but they don’t need to wait till April, he said.

“Anyone can play. There are no auditions. Just come anytime,” he said.

When he started, he remembers his grandfather saying, “‘If you get the first and last note, something’s there, I’ll be happy.'”

Harnden wants to make sure the band, which started in 1952, keeps going. Along with directing the band as they play old marches and a little jazz, he sees bringing in members as part of his duties.

The band started with a group at the post office. They would get together to play instruments and there was some drinking involved, Pamela Harnden, Paul’s mother and band secretary, said.

A Halloween parade was planned and some people were dressing up like cowboys so the post office group decided to dress like Native Americans, she said.

They needed a name and while discussing it someone had a bottle of Old Crow Whiskey. They adopted the name, Old Crow Indian Band, she said.

Trumpet player George Chapman led the band for many years. Harnden’s grandmother, Esther, provided makeup for the warriors. Full costumes have mostly given way to vests and the name was shortened to Old Crow Band, she said.

The band has played at the New York World’s Fair and twice at Fenway Park in Boston. They’ve also traveled around the state to share their musical talents.

Pamela Harden said it’s been a big commitment for her children, but being part of the band provided an opportunity to travel the state and do a lot of things. They also learned to intermingle with people of all ages, she said.

Her son’s children, a 4-year-old and a 7-month-old, probably will one day join their relatives in the band, she said.

Other band officers elected include Rick Marriner as president, Carol Rapp as vice president and Pamela Harnden as secretary. The treasurer’s position is still open, Paul Harnden said.

A nonprofit group, the band accepts donations to help members with travel and beverages after the parades, he said.

Next year, there may be an extra parade for the group. They’ve already committed to playing at a Memorial Day parade in Wilton on the Sunday before Memorial Day, he said. Some people are trying to start one and, if they do, the band will be there, he added.

Anyone interested in playing may contact Paul Harnden at 207-860-6190 or just show up, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com