Philadelphias History

The group was started in 1947 by trumpeter the late Mr. Arend Hendricks, the year they were invited by the Cape Town City Council to play for “King George IV and Queen Elizabeth” during their tour of this country at a function of splendor in the Cape Town City Hall. Playing at venues like the Banqueting hall in Cape Town, the Wynberg, Rondebosch and Woodstock Town halls and Weizman Hall in Sea Point to name but a few, they soon had their regular followers dancing to their music week after week. Those were the magical moment of the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s where the dance halls were a celebration of music and dance. The ladies in their swirling dresses and gentlemen in their finest suits- the langarm (Ballroom) was an entirely social event where young love blossomed on the dance floors and communities shared a common love of true Cape Town music. Until the late sixties the square dance and commercial-dances created by the people of Cape Town-were a must at every function they played.

Today that style and sound can still be heard and with The 4th generation of Hendricks family and friends also keeping alive that proud Cape tradition.

Arend, Bunnies & Joepies

Phillies in the 70's

The Phillies have played an important part on the ballroom scene like all others who have been in existence for a long time. Something you must realize is that here in Cape Town every langarm band has its own sound and many followers identify with it. Those were the days when musicians would work a full day, eat dinner while shaving and dressing, load up the car and drive to play a gig until two o’clock in the morning. Part of the fun time was getting up in the early hours of a Sunday morning to go play at a picnic gig. The life of a musician is never an easy one, certainly never a comfortable one while on the road. Can you imagine the whole band crammed into one car? Now picture all the instruments on top of all them- including drum kit! Traffic laws in those days were somewhat less strict than today, so you can well imagine a Double Bass on the roof for good measure! This is the Kind of commitment that brings the good times to the dance floors of Cape Town.

In 1971 Arend had to retire, due to ill health and son Gerald became leader of the band. He was very dedicated to the band, and led them to the pinnacle of their success in the 70’s and 80's, when they played almost every Friday and Saturday night and a matinee on a Saturday afternoon and now and then at some picnic site. He took care of the bookings, organized the rehearsals, chose the music material, arranged the transportation etc. When he was not occupied with the logistics, he would be scribbling away on his music sheets, churning out new tunes. They specialized at that time in strict tempo dance music, playing anything from ballroom to serious jive. Over all those years the band developed a distinct sound, which many followers have grown accustomed to, a sound that’s easily identified no matter where they played. Three or four part harmony arrangements of well know tunes and standards are done the Cape Town big band way. Whether it’s a Quickstep, Slow Foxtrot, waltz, Samba or Vastrap, it all get done in the Phillies style. They released two records titled: “Any Time Is Party Time” and “For the Good times” The band also took to the road, which led them to many places including gigs in Port Elizabeth and Kimberley.

A highlight would be the “New Years Eve ball” where the whole family could attend. The hall would be decorated with streamers, balloons and lights with masked and hats of different shapes and sizes being worn. With a festival atmosphere being created, everyone would have a ball of a time dancing and singing to tunes like “Happy Days Are Here Again, Its New Year, Now Comes the Hour, Auld Lang Syne” and many favorite tunes.

Present day band of 3rd generation Hendricks family consist of Brothers Chris, Ivan and Rubin Hendricks with cousin Arnold Johannes, has been playing together for more than twenty five years. From starting out in the Christmas Choir Band marching as tiny tots until their early teens, and with musicians and musical instruments always being close by, they soon were taught music lessons by Dad. The Christmas band were their first introduction to playing in a group and they were taught valuable lessons “ to play with love and passion “ Soon they had to fill in at the dance band rehearsals, if for some reason one or more of the guys could not make it and eventually Chris and Arnold became regulars in the band. They soon formed their first band with close friends and when the Phillies had no gigs they would arrange their own, starting out as a pop group. Later they became know as the Phillies pop group and would entertain with disco, jazz and dance music at functions where Dad played. With a Grand Dad and Dad passionate about their musical culture the boys were taught to play music in their own style. Over the years they have become versatile with an extensive and ever growing repertoire of varied music ranging from popular standards and well known tunes to the latest hits. Can be expanded from a five/six piece, up to a ten piece to provide musical entertainment to young and old with their unique sound and style, catering for corporate events, festivals, weddings, restaurants etc. For that true musical experience, whether a trip down memory lane relaxing and listening to old time favorites, to light romantic classics over dinner or to make you feel the beat and get your party rocking, you’ll surely be entertain in true Cape Town style. In this diverse society we live and with the fourth generation of Hendricks family taking the band into a new era, with the music of yesterday, today and tomorrow the way you want to hear it, you can be assured this proud tradition will continue for years to come.

The bands always been a starting point for many a musician over the years, and recently they established their own organization “Rhythm Generation” to educate, teach and pass on skills, in a creative way to esp. the youth, on how our music were and should be played, more so the role the accopanyment instruments played along with Brass/Woodwind instruments. This has been the tradition for many years in the earlier Dance bands, Christmas Choir Bands and the road Bands over the New Year’s festival and at picnic sites where non-amplified instruments were required. What better way to empower the youth musicians through the experiences of the senior musicians in the age group of 60yrs+, which are mostly the only active musicians still playing those traditional accopanyment instruments. With this process we can empower our communities and hopefully create an awareness where those skills will be passed on from generation to generation and be assured this proud cultural tradition will continue for years to come.

For The Good Times, released 1974


Any Time Is Party Time, released 1973




Gerald the Lightie


& in 1955