Founding of the Band

The Portuguese Band of San Jose was founded in 1971 by Mr. Eleutério Borba. The band's nickname is Banda Velha, which means "Old Band". The Portuguese Band of San Jose is the oldest current Portuguese marching band in all of California, but not the first to be founded. There were several Portuguese marching bands founded in the late 1800's and early 1900's, but they faded away over the years. In fact, some were founded by the famous Portuguese composer John Philip Sousa, who composed most of our familiar American military marches.

In June of 1971 during the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Spirit sponsored by the Irmandade do Espírito Santo (I.E.S.), Rev. Charles Macedo, then pastor of Five Wounds Portuguese National Church, was in procession with the congregation in devotion to the Holy Spirit. With Fr. Macedo were co-celebrant priests and the crown of the Holy Spirit, as well as an older gentleman playing the hymn of the Holy Spirit on an accordion. This was the scene that inspired Eleutério Borba with the idea that a marching band was a necessity.

He spoke to Fr. Macedo about his idea and wanted the pastor's support and guidance in founding the first Portuguese marching band in California in many years. The two risk takers set out to find musicians to start a band.

Just a few weeks later, they held the first meeting of many whose result would be the founding of the Portuguese Band of San Jose. The meeting minutes of the first and subsequent meetings leading up the the band's inauguration can be accessed to the right.

The Portuguese Band of San Jose was inaugurated on February 13, 1972. The special guest in attendance was Dr. José Moreira de Campos Alves, Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco. The master of ceremonies was Mr. Joaquim Esteves, and the inaugural program was:

Below are listed the founding musicians of the Portuguese Band of San Jose:

Eleutério José de Borba (Conductor)
João de Castro (Assistant Conductor)
António Alvernaz
Gene Arruda
José Domingos Arruda
Agostinho Bettencourt
José António O. Borba
João G. Dutra
Tony Dutra
Silvino Espinola
Joe A. Fagundes
Manuel A. Furtado
Vital A. Garcia
José Maciel Gois
Manuel Goulart
José Manuel Medeiros
Manuel Medeiros
Norberto Medeiros
Tom Medeiros
José João Melo
Artur F. Moniz
Gilberto Nunes Sr.
José Rodrigues
Florindo Santos
João A. Santos
Jorge Manuel Sequeira
José R. Serpa
Frank Silva
Manuel A. Sousa
Manuel Bettencourt Sousa
Luis Toste
Amaranto Vitorino
Leonel Vitorino

Since its founding, the Portuguese Band of San Jose has flourished while proudly representing the Portuguese culture throughout California and beyond.