By Andre Williams
WI Contributing Writer
Thursday, November 24, 2005

Every Washington Redskins home game has plenty of action, excitement and anticipation. One of the most anticipated moments of each Redskins home game since 1999 is the appearance of the four members of the Redskins marching band known as the “Funky Four.”

These four friends and band mates perform a funky dance routine during the third quarter of every home game that not only entertains, but also fires-up fans to cheer harder for the home team.

The Four have not only become crowd favorites, they also have a website and make personal appearances at different events like weddings, parties, etc.

You would think that a great idea like the Funky-Four was the result of a plan, but the group’s third quarter dance at every home game started on a dare. Thomas J. Clarke said that he, Harry T, Jackson III, and Michael Dorsey had been daring the then rookie band member Kenny – Kenneth L. Scott, Jr.-- to dance with a cheerleader during a game.

Kenny decided to take his friends up on the challenge.

A TV camera operator noticed Scott dancing with the cheerleader and had the dance televised on the huge TV screens at FedEx Field. The crowd reaction was great and Redskin officials decided to make the dance a regular part of every Redskins home game.

When asked why and how the four decided to use the song “Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry as their theme, Clarke said it was the song that just happened to be playing over the PA system when Scott did the first dance.

All members of the Funky Four play in the percussion section of the Redskins Marching Band and were members of their respective college/university marching bands. Clarke, Dorsey and Scott all played in the Norfolk State “Million Dollar Funk Squad” Marching Band (not all at the same time). The four were friends before the “Funky Four” started and they always have a lot of fun together.

Thomas J. Clarke Jr. has been in the Redskins Marching Band since 1993; he was born in Smithfield , Va. and graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. Clarke has a graphic design and screen printing company called “Clarke Works Productions.”

Harry T. Jackson III has been a Redskins Band member since 1996. He is a native Washingtonian - a graduate of LaSalle Elementary School , Bertie Backus Jr. High, and Calvin Coolidge Sr. High School . Jackson graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and has also marched with the US Air Force Marching Band. He has a photography business.

Michael Dorsey has been in the Redskins Marching Band since 1995. He is also a native Washingtonian who attended Scott Montgomery Elementary School , Shaw Junior High School and Cardozo Senior High School . He attended Norfolk State University and the University of The District of Columbia (UDC), graduating from UDC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Management Systems. Dorsey works in the Information Technology field.

Kenneth L. Scott, Jr. has been in the Redskins Marching Band since 1998. Born in Richmond , Va , he graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Scott is a FedEx courier.

 

 

Redskins “Funky Four” Fire-up Fans