Elias Moreno and Hannah Piedad | Editor and Staff Writer
July 5, 2023
Murray’s Freedom-Fest Parade: Smiles, Laughter, and Kazoos
On July 4 at 8 a.m., scholars from four general studies classes departed from Franklin Hall to participate in Murray’s Freedom-Fest Parade. Scholars marched one mile playing patriotic classics (My Old Kentucky Home and You’re a Grand Old Flag) on the kazoo.
The kazoo band director, Roger Reichmuth, was in charge of teaching scholars the songs and how to walk in the parade marching band style. Before being the director of the kazoo band, Reichmuth was a marching band director in Paducah as well as the chair of the Music department for Murray State University. After realizing that Murray’s annual Fourth of July parade didn’t have any music, Reichmuth decided to create the famed kazoo band. When asked why he chose to use kazoos as the main instrument, Reichmuth explained that he wanted to “make it inclusive” for the community, and that kazoos were “something fun and easy to do”.
Kazoo Band Director, Roger Reichmuth, directing scholars before the parade
Micah Whitson | Staff Photographer
Scholars were excited to give back to the community in such a fun and unique way. Reichmuth regarded that he “appreciate[s] this group getting out in the community while you’re [the scholars] are here”. Many scholars described how they felt fulfilled and happy when they walked through the parade, seeing the crowd’s faces light up as the band walked by.
“We wouldn’t have the kazoo band without the GSP group”, said Reichmuth. While playing kazoos isn’t the most conventional way to give back to the community, the scholars in the band seemed to have made some peoples’ day a little brighter this Fourth of July!
GSP 2023 Murray Kazoo Band
Micah Whitson | Staff Photographer
