Remember when a local Clarkesville student marched down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day, performing for millions across the country?
In 1970, Pamela Tartaglia of Clarkesville earned national recognition as a piccolo player selected for the McDonald’s All-American High School Band, one of the most prestigious honors a young musician could receive at the time. Tartaglia was chosen alongside about 100 of the top high school musicians nationwide to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
The All-American Band, directed by famed bandleader Paul Lavalle, held a rare distinction — it was the only band ever invited to appear in both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade. The Rose Parade performance was broadcast live on NBC, giving Tartaglia and her fellow musicians a moment on a truly national stage.
Adding to the memory, Tartaglia was interviewed during parade events by actress Betty White, who served as a parade hostess that year alongside Rose Queen Kathleen Arnett. The band also appeared as a featured highlight on NBC’s “Band Time,” the network’s pre-parade coverage.
For Habersham, it’s a moment worth remembering — a reminder that local talent can travel far beyond Habersham County, even all the way to one of America’s most iconic New Year’s traditions.
