March 5, 1998

Middlebury College Dissipated Eight to Perform

the National Anthem at Boston Celtics

The Dissipated Eight, a men’s a cappella singing

group from Middlebury College, is performing the national anthem

at a Boston Celtics home game against Washington, at 7 p.m. on

Friday, March 6. Fox Sports New England’s broadcast of the game

may include the performance.

Member Ben Halpern, a 1993 Middlebury graduate, has

a local connection with the game’s coordinators, who made the

performance possible. Halpern and several other alumni members

of the group will join current members in singing the anthem.

Founded over two decades ago, the D-8 have offered

a wide range of songs over the years, from the College’s alma

mater and “Gamaliel Painter’s Cane,” to “Ain’t

No Sunshine,” “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” and “Tracks

of My Tears,” from their latest c.d. titled Eighps.

The group’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner” is

included on their 1996 recording titled Clapping Joes.