Contents DCI Executive Staff What Is DCB ....................... 2 Look what the DCI staff has grown up to be! Starting from absolute Judging Drum Corps Competition .... 4 zero nine years ago, DCI now owns its own modern headquarters The Western Corps staffed with the seven smiling full-time employees shown below. Don Pesceone (front row, right) is the Executive Director of Blue Devils ........................ 6 Drum Corps International. He has been a member, director, and Santa Clara Vanguard .............. . 8 judge of drum corps. This, combined with his business experience, Troopers ........ .. .............. . 10 enables him to head DCI professionally and knowledgeably. Freelancers / Seattle Imperials / Don Whiteley (front, left) got hooked on drum corps while producing a corps movie for his TV station. Soon, he was running Conquistadors/Others ......... . 12 shows. When DCI needed a Public Relations Director, he was a The Midwestern Corps natural choice. Phantom Regiment ............... . 14 Seated between the directors is Mary Pesceone, office manager. Guardsmen ...................... 16 The rest of the efficient DCI staff includes (back row, left to right) : Madison Scouts ................... 18 Jean Glowinski, Vicki Parkes, Joanne Cahill, and Debbie Deakin. Together, these seven people bring better management, greater Blue Stars ......... · ................ 20 popularity, and a brighter future to the world of drum corps. Cavaliers ......................... 22 Sky-Ryders / Knights/ Others ....... 24 The Southern Corps Spirit of Atlanta ............... . .... 26 Florida Vanguard/ Stardusters / Others ........................ . 28 Color Photo Feature .............. . 30 The Eastern Corps 27th Lancers ...................... 36 Bridgemen ....................... 38 North Star .. .... ..... ............. 40 Crossmen / Garfield Cadets / Royal Crusaders ....... .. ........ 42 Royal Brigade / Boston Crusaders / Avant Garde/ L.1. Kingsmen ...... 44 Black Watch / Arbella / Fitchburg Kingsmen / Others .............. 46 DCI Yearbook Staff The Canadian Corps L'Offensive de Jonquiere / Oakland Linda Hilton, heading the yearbook staff for the fourth year, is Crusaders/ Ventures/ Others ... . 48 Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Madison Scouts. She is a The Competitions freelance writer and editor in Madison, WI. DCI Canada ....................... 50 Christos Theo, a former Madison Scout, is head percussion instructor and arranger for the Scouts, a graduate student at the Drums along the Rockies . ....... . .. 53 University of Wisconsin, and a graphics designer at WHA-TV in DCI North ... . ...... . . . ........... 54 Madison, WI. DCI Midwest ...................... 56 Pat Plarski is a newspaper reporter and former co-chairman of DCI East ....... ... ........... . .... 58 the \"Youth on the March\" show in Alton, IL. Vicki Parkes is a DCI Championships ......... . ..... 60 former Phantom Regiment member, and is now on the DCI public relations staff. · Dick Deihl is a corps and color guard photographer who has Credits served as instructor for several Midwestern corps. He is employed by American Family Insurance in Madison, WI. Art Luebke is a former Madison Scout and current Board of. Editor/ Linda Hilton Directors member for the Scouts. He has produced many drum Cover Design / Christos Theo corps movies and TV specials at WHA-TV, Madison, where he is now DCI Staff Writers / Pat Plarski, Vicki Parkes Executive Director of Friends of Channel 21, Inc. Principal Photographers / Dick Deihl Brian Domenoski is a writer / photographer for Drum Corps Art Luebke News and is just entering graduate school in Business Administration Other Photographers / Brian Domenoski at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater. Roscoe Robinson, who Roscoe Robinson marched with the Giles Yellow Jackets and the Chicago Connection, George Wong works at Photo Corporation of America in Birmingham, AL. George Printin_g by American Printing and Wong, a freelance photographer, is chairman of the \"Oriental Publishing, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin. Odyssey\" show in Los Angeles and former director of the L.A. Chinese corps. This is the official Yearbook of Drum Corps Inter- We regret that we cannot feature every photographer who national. All contents of this book are copyright© contributed to the yearbook. Special thanks are due to Steve 1980 by DCI. No portion of this book may be Vickers, editor of Drum Corps World, for loaning photos by Orlin reprinted without the express written consent of Drum Corps International, P. 0. Box 192, Villa Wagner II, Christine Garceau, Joseph Zepko, and others. Thanks also Park, IL 60181. Recordings of the DCI Champion- to Don Schofield for a color photo; to unidentified photographers ships for 1980 may be ordered by writing Drum whose work was furnished by DCI; and to Barry Kilroy, a Madison Corps International. Scout from Quebec who provided French translations.
G) What Is DCI ? In last year's yearbook, our map responsibility for standardizing com- showed part of the DCI story-the 68 petitive rules, judging techniques, locations of that summer's DCl- and judges' exposure to all highly- sanctioned contests. This year's map competitive corps. Through com- tells another part of the tale. Each of bined efforts of competing corps, the the dots represents the hometown of judges themselves, and DCI, the a corps that entered one or more of entire activity now has better and the DCI regional or championship more uniform judging. At the bienni- contests. Altogether, there are 95 al Drum Corps Rules Congress, drum corps, representing 20 states and corps managers, instructors, and three Canadian provinces. And, of judges discuss and adopt rules course, these are only the corps that changes, and clarify their under- competed in the \"big\" contests. standing of existing rules. Several hundred others compete lo- But, true to its original purpose, cally each year, and others are just DCI undertook much more than getting started as a parade or exhibi- organization and standardization of tion unit. competition. ft soon became a cen- So, we have one answer to the tral clearinghouse for all facets of question \"What Is DCI?\" ft is many drum corps, requiring full-time staff. drum corps-the large and the small, In December, 1972, Don Pesceone the awesome and the still-developing was named Executive Director of -working together in the activity. DCI, a position he still holds. The DCI office soon expanded to include Drum Corps International was a full-time Public Relations Director, founded in late 1971 when the Don Whiteley, and several auxiliary directors of America's top corps met open avenues for the top corps to staff members. in Indianapolis to discuss the prob- work together for their own good One important activity of DCI lems facing their own corps and the and for the betterment of the entire has been the organizing and conduc- activity as a whole. Primarily, these activity. ting of national and regional manage- were problems caused by the rapid Membership in DCI fluctuates ment seminars. Personnel from corps expansion and growing sophistication each year, and is composed of the of every size and level of achieve- of the activity. Foremost among them top 25 corps at the DCI Champion- ment attend to learn about bud- were the rapidly rising expenses ship. Today, as in the early days of its geting, fundraising, insurance, show necessitated by more advanced instru- existence, DCI is an organization of sponsorship, publicity, and manage- ments and more widespread touring, drum corps, for drum corps. ft is the ment philosophy. \" Our top priority,\" the lack of standardized rules and vehicle that enables the corps to says Pesceone, \"is to make the judging techniques across the nation, encourage and govern the develop- working conditions of the corps, and the need for better-trained corps ment of their own activity. including their management structure management. The first major project of DCI and finances, such that the corps can The directors felt these problems was to establish an annual champion- exist and thrive. We can best ac- could destroy the activity unless ship in which every major corps complish this by first strengthening concerted action was taken by drum participates, to truly determine an the management base in the top corps people themselves, and Drum international champion. All DCI corps, then reinforcing that on down Corps International was born. Its member corps must attend. to smaller corps.\" purpose: to \" organize and unify Because this requirement entails DCI has also initiated a system to leadership in drum corps,\" and to great expense for touring corps; the ensure member corps adequate re- championship is moved to a different imbursement for appearances, regard- area every two years. So far, cham- less of their order of finish. All pionships have been held in White- water, WI (1972 and '73); Ithaca, NY (1974); Philadelphia, PA (1975 and '76); Denver, CO (1977 and '78); and Birmingham, AL (1979 and '80). Montreal, Quebec, will host the first International Championships outside the United States in '81. Meanwhile, DCI initiated region- al championships and the sponsor- ship of several other high-calibre competitions annually. Championships were added for class \"A,\" all-girl corps, individuals, and ensembles. To ensure the standardization of rules and judging, the DCI Board of Directors determined that judges of major contests should be assigned by DCI. The DCI staff was given the 2
• • • • • nationally competitive corps share Kampschroer, director of the Blue the financial burden of touring. Stars and former Chairman of the Thanks primarily to Don White- DCI Board of Directors, is Executive ley's public relations staff, DCI has Director of the new Foundation. also strengthened the popularity of, Among the Foundation's long-range and thus the support for, the activity. goals, he says, is \" to establish the One mark of success has been the drum and bugle corps activity at the expansion of corps shows into pre- 'grass roots' level on the same scale viously uninitiated areas, such as the and recognition as Scouting, Little Rocky Mountains and the deep League and Boys' Club type of youth South. Another is the increased activities.\" Incorporating Board mem- interest of the public media, includ- bers for the Foundation include the ing the televising of the DCI Cham- most experienced managers from the pionship throughout the U.S. and DCI Board: William Howard, Madi- Canada. son Scouts, Chairman; Donald War- Meanwhile, interest in the activ- ren, Cavaliers, Secretary/Treasurer; ity is growing in England, Western Gail Royer, Santa Clara Vanguard; Europe, and Japan. DCI is actively George Bonfiglio, 27th Lancers; and involved in an exchange of infor- Jim Jones, Troopers. Kampschroer mation with many overseas corps. says the Foundation will be an- Many foreign instructors, and two nouncing many specific projects in entire corps-one from Japan, and the coming months. one from Holland-have visited the Obviously, then, DCI is much U.S., and there are hopes that DCI more than the top 12 or 25 corps in may indeed become multi-national in the world. It's drum corps people the future. working for the growth, the well- The latest significant benchmark being, the recognition and support, for DCI came this year when the DCI the external popularity and internal Foundation was formed as the long- strength-indeed, the survival-of the range research and development arm entire activity. You might say DCI is of the organization. Dr. David L. the future of drum corps. 3
What is this thing called drum is to entertain both the drum corps other types of fronts means the loss corps? Who is doing what, and how \" purist,\" who understands the fine of a tenth of a point. A member out is a winner determined? points of the activity, and the novice. of step earns a tenth of a point The drum corps tradition in Each corps, however, has another reduction for every 16 steps or American dates from the military fife objective: winning. The winner is fraction thereof. A tenth is also lost if and drum units of the American determined by a complex judging a member fails to lift his feet to the Revolution, through the bugle bands system, administered by the judges same height as the others or if his of the early 1900s, to the modern on the field and in the press box- bearing is sloppy. Two perfectionists, drum and bugle corps. The latter has well-trained authorities in their re- one on either side of the field, judge evolved into the most disciplined and spective fields, or captions. It is their M&M execution. precise audiovisual display of musical job to determine the capability and Visual Analysis-The visual analy- pageantry in existence. Although all expertise of each corps, in the sis judge must determine a show's performers in Drum Corps Interna- caption they are judging. demand and exposure (4 points) and tional are under 21 years of age, their This contest is being judged its over-all visual clarity (4 points). musical and marching excellence is under the rules and scoring system Demand and exposure scores are unmatched in any other youth per- approved by Drum Corps Interna- based on the display of patterns, fotming art or sport. Perfection is the tional. The major components of that maneuvers, and moves that are hard name of the game. scoring system are: to accomplish due to physical and/ or Spectators who are accustomed Marching and Maneuvering- mental demands, and on the error to marching bands or concert groups Execution . . .............. 17pts. potential of the drill design. For a will see differences in drum corps Marching and Maneuvering- high visual clarity score, a unit must instrumentation. The bugles vary in Visual Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts. demonstrate the ability to achieve an size, from the smallest soprano Marching and Maneuvering- accurate, clear, precise visual presen- through the french horn, flugle, General Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts. tation on the field. mellophone, baritone, bass-baritone, Percussion-Execution . . . . . . 12 pts. Brass-Execution-These two and contra-bass. Each corps creates Percussion- judges must ascertain the degree to its unique sound through its own Percussion Analysis . . . . . . . 8 pts. which each member in the bugle blend of upper-, middle-, and lower- Percussion- section is a musician, playing his part voiced horns. Most corps now use General Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts. properly. Tone quality, variations in two-valve bugles rather than the Brass-Execution . . . . . . . . . . . 15 pts. tempo and volume, musical accents, traditional one-valve models. Brass-Musical Analysis . . . . . 10 pts. proper brass technique, musical The techniques of the percussion Brass-General Effect . . . . . .. 10pts. blend and contrast, and release are sections are unlike those in other Total Possible Score 100pts. all important. Failure in any area musical groups. Tonal opportunities means the loss of a tenth of a point. are added through the use of the These nine captions can be sub- The score is also reduced by lack of marching tympani and mallet instru- divided into two basic types of precision or uniformity in equipment ments, as well as the more tradi- caption, the \"tear-down\" and the handling. Needless to say, a wrong tional snare, tenor, and bass march- \"build-up.\" In simple terms, a tear- note or a breath in the wrong place ing drums. A variety of percussion down caption is one in which the will lose a tenth of a point. One accessories adds special effects to the corps starts out with the maximum bugle execution judge is on the field; over-all musical performance. points, and loses one-tenth of one the other may position himself in the Although many of the musicians point for each error. The three stands, in the press box, or on the have musical background beyond execution captions, judged primarily field, but he must remain in the same their corps affiliation, most do not. from the field, are tear-down cap- location throughout the contest. Those who enter as beginners are tions. In the more subjective build-up Musical Analysis- The musical trained from scratch by the staff of captions, each corps begins at a analysis judge, seen on the sidelines each drum corps. The superb quality hypothetical \" zero,\" and receives with a tape recorder, gives credit for of the bugle and percussion sections credit during its performance for the training displayed by the buglers, is due to long hours of practice. what it does, up to the maximum the content and difficulty of the The most colorful section of each number of points. The build-up written score, and the tone quality corps is known as the color guard. captions are the three general effect and intonation control exhibited by Flags, rifles, and sometimes sabres captions, judged from the press box, the unit. and dancers make up this segment of and the analysis captions, judged Percussion-Execution-The job the corps. Their role is to bring visual from the field. of the two drum execution judges is color to the program through use of Now, let's take a closer look at similar to that of the two bugle specially-designed equipment and each of these captions. Of course, execution judges. Improper perfor- choreography, and to frame and there is room here for only an over- mance of the rudiments or lack of enhance the audio-visual presenta- view, omitting many of the finer uniformity in attacks, releases, con- tion of the music. points of judging. trast, variations in tempo and volume, The pageantry of a drum and Marching and Maneuvering- or equipment handling result in bugle corps competition combines Execution-1 n M&M, it is often the deduction of a tenth of a point. the military precision of West Point, minute failures. that separate one Percussion Analysis-This caption the musical blend and excitement of corps from another. Even the slight- is the percussionists' equivalent to a well-directed symphony orchestra, est error in interval between mem- the musical analysis caption for and the showmanship of a Broadway bers, distance between ranks, cover- bugles. The PA judge, on the side- musical. The objective of each corps ing of files, dress of squads, and lines, gives credit for the training and 4
musicianship displayed by the percus- sionists, as well as the content and difficulty level of their repertoire. General Effect-The three gen- eral effect captions-one each for M&M, percussion, and brass-allow the judges to evaluate, on a build-up basis, all elements of the program and performance that combine to present a smooth, pleasing, and polished presentation. A unit's supe- rior ability, originality, and showman- ship are considered in rating and ranking the corps. Audience response greatly influences the judges' ratings. Each corps receives a total general effect score, up to a maximum of 30 points, composed of the scores awarded by the specialists in the three GE captions. Timing and Penalties-The judge who fires a gun to announce the start and finish of a corps' performance is the timing and penalties judge. A corps hopes to receive no score at all in this area, as the only score awarded here is a penalty which will be subtracted from the unit's total score. Penalties may be assessed for a variety of infractions. One of the most common is failure to perform within the prescribed time limits-a minimum of eleven and one-half minutes, and a maximum of thirteen minutes. Once a corps has entered the field of competition, all except the drum majors must remain within the boundaries until minimum time is reached, or be penalized. Penalties are also invoked for dropped equip- ment; now, however, a corps mem- ber may retrieve dropped equipment without incurring further penalty. Although the highest score pos- sible is 100 points, it is inconceivable that any corps will reach this level of perfection. A score of 100 would mean that a corps performed the most difficult and perfectly-designed show possible, without a single error or penalty. However, the 100-point system does allow a corps to deter- mine how its performance stacks up, not only against the other competing corps, but also against perfection. This dual goal-to defeat the present competition on the one hand, and to continue to approach perfection on the other-combines with the desire to provide spectators the most enter- taining show possible. This combina- tion of objectives is what makes drum corps a distinctive and exciting activ- ity for both participants and audience.
The most prestigious title in more nervous when they walk onto 1979 Placing: DCI Champions. drum and bugle corps competition is the field than they are.\" the Drum Corps International Cham- Another part of the corps activity 1979 Repertoire: Chicago Ill Suite I pionship. And in recent years, the is experiencing defeat, he adds. \"It's (Kenton) / La Suerta de las Tontas I ., I Blue Devils of Concord, California, tough on the kids-especially the 21- My Heart Belongs to Me. I have had a corner on the market. year-olds who are marching their last I Many consider the \"Blue Crew,\" year-but it's not the end of the 1980 Repertoire: Ya Gotta Try / Pega- I I winners of the DCI title in 1976, '77, world. Accepting defeat is part of the sus / Free I La Suerta de las Tontas / -! and '79, the corps to beat in 1980 in total learning experience offered in Dindi. Birmingham. drum corps. We hope we're mature The Blue Devils have been more enough to face the loss and build for Director: Jerry Seawright, P. 0 . Box fortunate than most. Their homestate the next year.\" 135, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. rivals, the Santa Clara Vanguard, are the only other corps to win the DCI crown three times. But Blue Devils director Jerry Seawright is the first to admit there are many winners at the championship contest. \" I've always said the corps for us to beat is the Blue Devils,\" he contends. \"If we meet somebody head-on in competi- tion, if we feel we've given it everything we have and done a super job-better than ever before-that's winning! If we happen to beat Santa Clara, Madison, and Phantom Regi- ment along the way, that's great.\" Seawright believes it is peer pressure that determines whether the corps will win. \"All 128 of them have to have that same desire to end up on top,\" he claims. However, it takes a lot more than I desire. It takes hundreds of hours of practice, good instructors, a good show, and a certain amount of luck. I But the Blue Crew considers the results worth it. \"Where else in the world can young people be world champions?\" Seawright asks. \" At I their ages, they can't do it in pro football or pro baseball. It's a feeling they'll value all their lives. Many members of the Blue Devils start in the organization at a very early age. More than 400 young people participate in one of the Blue Devils' five activities. In addition to the DCI champion \"A corps,\" the Blue Devils sponsor a \" B corps,\" a \"peewee corps,\" and junior and senior majorette corps. Seawright also hopes to get more involved in the intermediate schools, since enact- I ment of Proposition 13 in California has cancelled many musical activities at that level. Seawright admits that the cham- pion Blue Devils begin each year with a rough start. \"It's really something to see them polish the show as time goes along,\" he says. \" By the time they get to the DCI Championship, the kids are pretty confident in their ability. Each knows what he can do and what the others can do. I'm far 6
The 1979 championship was member of the color guard at that nearing its end. time. The idea snowballed as a Jewish Rumors had been flying about corps member, Phil Sheldon, taught \" something special\" in that night's the traditional dance to Pete and performance. The whisper raced Marilyn. They taught it to the rifle through the crowd: \" Will they, or line, who performed it for the first won't they?\" Spectators sat on the time that year in DeKalb, Illinois. It edges of their seats, breathlessly was an instant hit, and has remained awaiting the answer. a hit each time it has been performed Suddenly they knew. The familiar since. notes resounded from the field once The \"Bottle Dance\" was back for again. A deafening roar went up from encore performances in 1974 and the crowd as the girls clasped hands 1975, but this time as a finale to the ( and dropped to their knees. corps' field show. Then, in 1976, the I A beloved tradition was back for corps decided its appeal had run out, yet another year. The Santa Clara and it was retired for two years. Vanguard was doing its \"Bottle The fans disagreed, and clamored Dance.\" to see it again. Bowing to their The longstanding tradition began wishes, Santa Clara brought the back in 1973, when the Santa Clara, dance back in 1978 bigger and better California, corps played a medley of than ever, with the entire color guard tunes from \" Fiddler on the Roof\" for performing it in one awesome line. its concert number. According to In 1979, the corps vowed it Pete Emmons, drill designer for the would not include the now-famous Vanguard, the \"Bottle Dance\" idea \"Bottle Dance\" in its show. But as a came from Marilyn Modesette, a special treat, the Vanguard opted to 8
do it one last time in the final performance at the DCI Champion- ships. It has been rumored that the 1979 Birmingham performance was the last time fans will ever see Santa Clara perform what has become their trademark. Don't give up hope, though. You know drum corps ... there are lots of rumors! 1979 Placing: 3rd. 1979 Repertoire: Verdi Requiem / A Ballet Suite-Adagio, Lezghinka, Hopak (Gayne) / If You Believe (The Wiz) / Bottle Dance. 1980 Repertoire: Procession of the Nobles (Rimsky-Korsakov) / Stone Ground Seven / Caravan (Ellington) / Jupiter (The Planets, Holst). Director: Gail R. Royer, 671 Bell- flower Ave., #6, Sunnyvale, CA 94086.
Chicago has its Cubs. been an unusually happy home- Seattle has its Supersonics. coming for the Troopers in 1979, for Dallas has its Cowboys. it marked their return to the ranks of And Casper has its Troopers. the top twelve corps in the world It is not uncommon for people in following a three-year dry spell. a big metropolitan area like Chicago, Maybe this unusual amount of Seattle, or Dallas to support a profes- local support is part of the reason sional athletic team. But Casper is not that the Troopers remain faithful to exactly a giant metropolis. It's a city their Western-flavored repertoire. of about 40,000 located in eastern After all, who wants to forget their Wyoming. And since Casper isn't roots-especially when the home exactly fertile ground for a profes- folks respond with so much love? sional team sport, the people of the city (indeed, of the whole state) 1979 Placing: 12th. cheer for their favorite local \"team\" -the Troopers Drum and Bugle 1979 Repertoire: Variations on a Corps. Scene (Woody Herman) / Aquarius / The Troopers were formed by Let the Sun Shine In / Billy the Kid / Jim Jones in 1957 as a 54-member Medley-Ecstasy of Gold and Riders musical unit. Today, 23 years later, in the Sky. the corps has 126 members, and has become one of America's most loved 1980 Repertoire: Theme from Cow- drum corps. boys I Shenandoah / Turkey in the While a lot has changed over the Straw I Central Park (Chick Corea) / years, some things remain constant. Ecstasy of Gold / Riders in the Sky. Jim Jones is still the director. The Troopers still play musical selections Director: Jim Jones, 3535 Carmel that evoke visions of the Old West. Drive, Casper, WY 82601 . And the inhabitants of Casper have an undying love for the corps. When- ever the word \"Troopers\" is men- tioned around town, people's faces light up. They are very proud of their Troopers, and hold a special place for them in their hearts. Without this special love and support, the Troopers could not exist. Thirty-five percent of their budget comes from the people of Casper and the State of Wyoming. Local groups have sponsored garage sales, card parties, cabaret shows, and other events to benefit the corps. Many local businesses help by planning promotions on the Troopers' behalf and donating a per- centage of the profits to the corps. Various city and state offices have held benefit ball games and spon- sored corps exhibitions at conven- tions and meetings throughout Wyoming. The list goes on and on. Nearly every person in Casper has contributed to the Troopers in one way or another. Each year when the Troopers return home to Casper following their extensive summer travels (ex- tensive, in part, because there are no other corps for hundreds of miles around), the whole town in there to greet them. The corps buses are usually met at the state line and escorted back to a stadium full of Trooper fans, waiting to see the corps perform one more time before the season officially ends. It must have 10
freelancers Much to the delight of drum corps fans, the Sacra- mento, California, Freelancers change uniforms with greater frequency than some corps change reper- toires. In '76 and '77, the Freelancers qualified for DC/ finals wearing military-style garb. In '78, when they narrowly missed making finals, their guard sported Cossack-type outfits to accentuate their fine sabre work. 1979 saw the whole corps in stunning red and white jumpsuits-a natural complement to their accomplished and beautiful dancers . Fans wait eagerly to see what 1980 will bring. 1979 Placing: 3rd in Associate Championship (14th in DC/ prelims). 1980 Repertoire: The War Lord I Odyssey I Sam- bandreas Swing / It Was a Very Good Year I I Get Crazy. Director: Parker Silva, 7285 Cromwell Way, Sacra- mento, CA 95822. Seattle Imperials Another jumpsuited West Coast corps is the inno- vative and entertaining Seattle Imperials, known for their unique choreographic style of marching and their obvious enjoyment of performing. After a couple of relatively unsuccessful years in open-class competition, the Imperials were third in class \"A\" a year ago, bouncing back in '79 to finish impressively high in open class despite a slow early season. This marks the first year of DC/ membership for the popular Seattle corps. 1979 Placing: 23rd. 1980 Repertoire: Let's Hear It for Us (from Funny Lady) I Dance With Me, George / City of Brass (Jerry Field arrangement) / Sweet Georgia Brown / One More Time. Director: Bill Doolittle, 4200 South Othello, Seattle, WA 98118.
Conquistadors California is noted for corps that climb steadily to the top, and the Conquistadors of South San Francisco are keeping that tradition alive in class \"A\" competition. In just three years of competition in that class, the corps has steadily moved up from eighth to third place. Some lively tunes from the Beat/es and \"Saturday Night fever\" contributed to an entertaining performance. 1979 Placing: 3rd in Class \"A.\" The Black Watch of Auburn, Washington (left) and the Orange County, California, Ve/vet Knights (below) are among the many other popular West Coast corps. 13
9 Phantom Regiment The Phantom Regiment hasn't lost for DCI. \"We thought since all of us \" The instructors even tried to do too many shows lately. But when they would be 'out of town' for the real the 'Rockford File' with flags and do lose, it tends to be a real heart- Tri-Centennial, we should celebrate it rifles,\" marveled Parkes. \"How they breaker. For instance, the Rockford, now. We even formed a committee didn't get killed, I'll never know.\" Illinois, corps has finished in second and printed business cards for rnem- This year, the fourth Tri-Centen- place at the last three DCI Champion- bers. They read : 'Happy 300th Birth- nial Picnic will be July 4 in Com- ships. How do they keep their per- day America; Tri-Centennial Commit- merce, Texas, co-sponsored by the spective? tee; Call us with all your celebration East Texas State University Band. \"We have fun,\" declares director needs.' \" \"The kids work hard and play Bob Lendman. \"This is a side of drum As July 4, 1977, arrived, the joke hard,\" Lendman summed up. \"But corps that the fans never see, but it is turned into a real celebration. That they do it together. That's one reason a necessary aspect of the activity. The day, the corps marched a parade in the world doesn't stop when you lose spectators see that the corps looks 100-degree weather. Afterward, Lend- one show.\" nice and shiny and precise on the man cancelled practice, and the Tri- field, but it is sometimes hard to Centennial observance began. 1979 Placing: 2nd. picture a young individual inside each \" I'll never forget it,\" Parkes re- uniform. You have to remember that called. \" All the other corps were 1979 Repertoire: Finale (Symphony these are kids. The youngest is only 14 practicing, and here we were sitting in No. 3 in C Minor, Saint-Saens) / years old.\" a park eating sandwiches and drinking Malambo (Ballet Estancia, Ginastera) / sodas. An instructor was the guest A Minor Piano Concerto (Greig) / Lendman continues, \"We're on the road most of the summer. Even speaker, we brought out little Ameri- March of the Dwarfs / In the Hall of though we work 14 to 16 hours most can flags and sang the 'Star Spangled the Mountain King (Greig) / Elsa's days, and do an average of 40 shows a Banner,' two guys did a juggling act, Procession to the Cathedral (Die season, we have to stop sometimes for we played 'name that corps'-we had Meistersinger, Wagner). fun. Kids can't work all the time.\" a great time. \" The second and third Tri-Centen- 1980 Repertoire: Easter Overture The Regiment members create nial picnics have grown from this (Nicolai Rimski-Korsakov) / Romany much of their own entertainment, and modest beginning to include posters Life (Victor Herbert) / Polovestian their most popular \"fun\" event is the in the buses, a Bus #1 Glee Club, Bus Dances (Alexander Borodin) / Mas- annual \"Tri-Centennial Picnic,\" started #3 cheerleaders, instrumental ensem- querade Suite (Dimitri Kamalevsky) / on July 4th in the year after the U. S. bles, skits, and a chorus composed of Carmen Suite (George Bizet). Bicentennial. bus moms in uniform. The kitchen \"It all started as a joke on the crew has performed a drum solo on Director: Robert Lendman, P. 0. Box bus,\" reflected Vicki Parkes, a former pots and pans, using carrots and 939, 4014 Auburn St., Rockford, IL Regiment member who now works celery stalks as sticks. 61103. 14
Picture a shopping bag filled with the following items: pencil, pen, paint chart, refrigerator magnets, tongue depressor, writing tablet, matches, map, and rules-of-the-road book. Sounds like a pretty bizarre shopping trip, doesn't it? Actually, it isn't the result of a shopping trip at all. It's a bag of items one would need in order to participate in the Guardsmen's scavenger hunt. This annual event has become a big fund-raiser for the corps from Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, Illinois, yielding about $5,000 a year to help keep the Guardsmen on the field. In fact, the hunt has become so popular with area residents that it has to be conducted on two separate nights to accommodate all the parti- cipants. This year, 80 carloads of people entered. Each car must have six passengers and pay a $75 entry fee ($25 per couple). The 1980 hunt took participants through clues in 17 different locations and covered an area of about 70 miles in Chicago's northwest suburbs. The Guardsmen's scavenger hunt committee begins work about six months in advance, devising and building the clues, laying out the course, drawing up and numbering maps for the hunters, and promoting the event. Several weeks before the hunt, each entered car is sent a \"pre-hunt helpful hint\" package. It contains clues of things that might be included in the hunt, so avid hunters can do a little preliminary research. Then, on the night of the event, each car receives a shopping bag contain- ing the aforementioned items and an envelope containing a starting clue. Then the fun begins! Pandemonium breaks out as participants scurry to their cars to begin the hunt. Time is of the utmost importance, as the winner is deter- mined by the total average elapsed time per clue. During the course of the eve- ning, hunters this year were sent to an abandoned school, a utilities building, a college dorm, and several stores. One clue involved a giant mechanical spider. If participants pulled all eight legs of the spider, his eyes lit up, revealing the number of the next clue location. Another clue consisted of a giant head with its tongue sticking out. This time, the hunters had to use one of the tools in their shopping bag-the tongue depressor. When the depressor was used to push down the tongue, a 16
black light inside the head revealed the number of the next clue location, printed in invisible ink on the depressor. At the conclusion of the hunt, corps parents had a meal awaiting the hungry hunters. Though the winners received plaques, most everyone who participated did so just to help the corps and have a little fun. Thanks partly to their support, fans everywhere can share the fun when the Guardsmen take the field this summer. And you would have to hunt a long way to find a more entertaining corps! 1979 Placing: 7th. 1979 Repertoire: Fanfare for the New / Tiger of San Pedro / Henry V / Greensleeves. 1980 Repertoire: Seahawk (Korngold) / Tiger of San Pedro (La Barbera) / Xylophonia / The Wasps (Vaughn Williams) / Greensleeves. Director: Ray Harty, 20 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60172. 17
Scouts are Scouts, whatever their Other than Stewart, the staff season, we're always ready for the age. The entire teaching staff of the members have the normal range of next year's challenge.\" Madison Scouts consists of 18 men \"outside\" occupations to support Stewart admits he and the other who, as teenagers, marched with the themselves and their families. Some staff members have changed the all-male Madison, Wisconsin, corps. scrape to make ends meet; others Scouts' leadership philosophy. \" Be- As each became 21 and ineligible to work in factories, in state offices, in cause we all marched with the corps, compete, he stayed on to instruct professions. Some are still finishing we feel we have a special relationship younger members. college-a process delayed by their with current members,\" he explains. \"I guess you could call it loyalty,\" intensive corps involvement. \"Back when I marched, we were said Scott Stewart, himself an alum of \"I'm doing this because the corps expected to do as we were told the corps. At age 27, Scott is the -with the exception of my wife, without questioning our instructors. I youngest director of a major corps in Kathy-is the most important thing in must admit I was a rebel under that the U.S. my life,\" Stewart said. \" It has been for system. Today, we encourage the guys \"We do bring in four 'heavies' the past 13 years.\" He joined the to come to us with suggestions and to from other parts of the country to Scouts at age 14 in 1968, \"aging out\" talk to any staff member about prob- consult with the staff periodically, but in 1974. He stayed on as a staff lems on or off the field.\" the 18 guys who do the everyday member, and was hired as director in \"Old Scouts or new Scouts- running of the corps are all alumni,\" 1977. Today he serves as both director we're all part of the same team.\" he said. \"In fact, 14 of us marched to- and program coordinator-functions gether in '74. I think we stayed with filled by two persons in many major 1979 Placing: 8th. the corps because we hope to give corps. new guys the same enjoyment we got The Scouts may have one of the 1979 Repertoire: The Sorcerer and the out of it. We want them to experi- tightest-knit staffs around, Stewart Latin / Bohemian Rhapsody / Granada ence the same strong feeling for the claimed. \" We saw each other develop, Smoothie I Pieces of Dreams I The corps and its potential.\" so we all have the same motivation to Way We Were. Stewart claims the staff surely create a championship corps.\" (The didn't stay on to get rich. Though he Scouts hold many prestigious titles, 1980 Repertoire: Entre Act (They're himself works exclusively for the corps, and in 1975 won the DCI Champion- Playing Our Song, Hamlisch) / Mala- the other 17 receive only a small ship. They still remain the only non- guena / New Country I Through the stipend, which barely covers their California corps to claim this title.) Eyes of Love (Theme from Ice Castles, expenses-\"and that's for putting in \"Beyond the winning aspect, we love Hamlisch). untold hours of work, maybe ten a what we do because it's always com- week in the winter, but virtually 24 petitive, exciting, and new. No matter Director: Scott Stewart, P. 0. Box 948, hours a day in summer.\" how tired we are at the end of the Madison, WI 53701. 18
It seems inflation has hit hard all over, even in the world of drum corps. The cost of putting a competitive drum and bugle corps on the road today has become nearly out of sight. While some corps seem destined to buckle under the extreme finan- cial pressures of the time, at least one corps is determined to fight back in terms that today's investment- conscious public can understand. Late in 1979, it became frighten- ingly apparent that the Blue Stars of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, had financial troubles that couldn't be solved with worn-out old fund-raisers such as pizza sales. Dr. David Kampschroer, director of the corps, came up with a novel and more sophisticated substi- tute for bringing in much-needed funds. His idea was to sell \" stock\" in the Blue Stars. A letter was mailed out, relating the corps' dilemma and offering the reader the option of purchasing stock in the Blue Stars at $10.00 a share. For his investment, according to the letter, the buyer would receive: 1) a stock certificate showing his invest- ment (attractively designed for dis- play purposes and useful as a receipt for tax deductions); 2) a warm feeling that he, as an individual, helped sustain an excellent youth program; 3) a better-than-ever showing by the Blue Stars on the competition field; and 4) the understanding that he and the thousands of other shareholders are the corporate consumer sponsor of the 1980 Blue Stars. In this way, Kampschroer hoped, several thousand people would con- tribute a few dollars each, instead of a single person or corporation having to be asked to contribute thousands of dollars. The idea worked! The national mailing, in conjunction with a local funding project, netted approxi- mately $9,000 to help keep the Blue Stars on the competition field in 1980. This is good news for fans every- where, who have put a lot of stock in the Blue Stars' consistency and excellence each year since DCI 20
competition began. Now, many of these faithful fans have come ·a step farther; they are, quite literally, stockholders in one of the world's top twelve drum and bugle corps. True, the rewards to stockholders are not monetary . . . but they far exceed what $10.00 will buy most places these days! 1979 Placing: 10th. 1979 Repertoire: St. Louis Blues / Birdland / La Fiesta / Strike Up the Band / Children of Sanchez. 1980 Repertoire: Pontieo / Go Back Home I La Fiesta I Song of the Blacksmith / Medley-Military Suites E-flat and F (Holst). Director: Dr. David Kampschroer, P. 0 . Box 1841, Lacrosse, WI 54601. 21
Belonging to an all-male drum and bugle corps has one definite advantage over belonging to a coed corps. Just ask any member of the Cavaliers from Park Ridge, Illinois. Chances are he'll have girlfriends in several coed drum corps around the country. Despite the trend of many former all-male corps to accept female members, the Cavies have remained strictly male since forming in 1948. They are one of only two all- male corps existing today. \" If I put it up to a vote, the guys would definitely want to stay an all- male corps,\" predicted Jim Roussell, director of the Cavaliers. \" Some would base it on tradition and a feeling of uniqueness. But most don't want girls in the corps-not because they don't like them, but because they like them too much! If the Cavies were coed, the guys would date girls in the corps, so they'd take their girlfriends on tour with them all summer. This way, they can have girl- frienqs in four or five corps. At the large regional shows, where most of the corps are competing, some guys have to duck all the time, so girlfriends from several corps don't track them down all at once.\" From an instructional standpoint, the Cavaliers and the other all-male corps, the Madison Scouts, are the only corps where boys can develop expertise in the flag and rifle lines. Otherwise, Cavie instructors say, i over the country. A few years ago, I there are no particular advantages to B an all-male corps. \" Most of our guard is local, but we get applications from boys all we had some recruitment problems, and we seriously considered ad- mitting girls. But some changes in our program and management boosted • membership. Now, we would have to = deny a boy a spot to allow a girl to :: march in the corps. We had more I than 400 applications for membership from boys this year,\" beamed 1· from an ethical standpoint. But that's I Roussell. \"If there were no other corps in the area which girls could join,\" he added, \" then girls would be admitted 'iii not the case. \" Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are enjoying the popularity of belonging to a prestigious all-male organization. They receive some very unusual mail once the summer touring season ends. Letters may come addressed 22
\"To the blond-haired rifle, third from the left,\" in care of Cavalier management. \"They all think they are John Travolta,\" said Roussell. \"They really do. People buy their pictures like hotcakes, and they autograph them, just like Elvis. It's amazing. Some of those kids are only 14 years old, and they have their own groupies. For a guy that age, you can't beat it.\" Often, \"a girl in every corps\" becomes a more selective arrange- ment. After they \"age out\" at 21, many Cavaliers end up marrying girls who marched in other corps. \"I'll bet there's a marriage of an ex-Cavalier to a girl from nearly every other corps,\" speculated Roussell. \"Drum corps is just one of those things they've found in common. It's all part of the activity-relating to the real world.\" 1979 Placing: 11th. 1979 Repertoire: Santa Esmerelda / Fantasy (Earth, Wind and Fire) / Cuban Fire (Stan Kenton) / Over the Rainbow / Children of Sanchez. 1980 Repertoire: Santa Esmerelda / Sun Catchers (Butch Nordal) / Sing, Sing, Sing / Do You Wanna Dance and Up the Ladder (Bette Midler medley) / Softly as I Leave You. Director: Jim Roussell, P. 0. Box 384, Park Ridge, IL 60068. 23
The Sky-Ryders illustrate the classic story of a corps that refuses to give up. In 1972, the Hutchinson, Kansas, corps placed 20th, but from '73 to '76 it did not even enter the international competition. Many corps would have been permanently inactive at this point-but not the Sky-Ryders! They rebuilt, entered and placed third in class \"A\" in 1977, and tried open-class competition again in '78, finishing in 31st place. Undaunted, a much stronger corps hit the field in '79 with some beautiful rainbow visual effects and achieved DC/ membership. Welcome back! 1979 Placing: 22nd. 1980 Repertoire: Enough Is Enough I Night Streets I Here's That Rainy Day I Firedance (Woody Herman) / The Storm / Medley, Rainbow Connection and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Director: George Tuthill, P. 0. Box 562, Hutchinson, KS 67501. • • • • • • I • • ~ f . . :: Sky-Ryders Knights Guard members of the Knights showed their versatility as they exchanged medieval-motif uniforms for ethnic costumes to highlight Dvorak's \"Slavonic Dances.\" The Geneseo, lllinois, Knights have competed in DC/ open class five times since 1972; 1979 marked their first try in class \"A,\" and the move proved beneficial as they qualified for finals in that class of competition. I 1979 Placing: 5th in Class \"A. \"
The Midwest has many other fine corps, including the Kilts of Racine, Wisconsin (left); the new Rivermen, Stillwater, Minnesota (center, left); the Dubuque, Iowa, Colts (center, right); the Saginaires, Saginaw, Michigan (bottom, left); the Cedarburg, Wis- consin, Pioneers (bottom, center); and the a/I-girl Capito/Aires, Madison, Wisconsin (bottom, right).
G) Spirit of Atlanta A strong bond of friendship grew Martin recalls. \"One driver crawled able to crowd all their members onto last summer between two corps who out of the cab as we stopped. I was their remaining three buses. The helped each other survive a long trip certain the other was dead.\" For- second bus went in California. This to California and back. tunately, the drivers suffered only a time, 33 Crossmen had to ride with The Spirit of Atlanta from broken rib and some injured fingers. Spirit all the way to Denver. Finally, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Crossmen Soon, Harold \" Robby\" Robinson, one of the two remaining buses from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, director of the Crossmen, arrived at developed generator, hose, and tire literally became one corps off the the scene. \" I saw drum corps equip- problems. The hapless corps missed contest field, as they battled hard- ment all over the place,\" he said. \"A the Pueblo show altogether, and ships not unlike those faced by early wrecker was already there, preparing slowly limped into Denver. pioneers. By the time they returned to pull the truck up on the road. He Needless to say, neither corps will home, Spirit had gone through three would have had to pull it right over ever forget the trip. \"Our corps is equipment trucks and the Crossmen the drums and horns, destroying only a few years old,\" Martin said, had lost three of four buses. everything.\" \"and it was really a growing experi- Freddy Martin, director of the Just then, the Crossmen buses ence. The kids learned to cope with Atlanta corps, said, \" For me, the pulled up and stopped. \"Give me 10 problems and to help others cope as comradeship that grew between the minutes,\" Robinson told the wrecker well.\" kids in the two corps was the most crew. \" Pick this wreck clean,\" he meaningful part of the summer.\" yelled at the 128 Crossmen members. At the annual Spirit of Atlanta The close relationship began in They swarmed off the buses, ripped banquet last fall, an award was South Dakota, at the first show on open the rest of the truck, and did presented to the most dependable the tour. When it ended, Spirit and just that, gently storing the equip- and helpful corps member. the Crossmen performed again for ment in the aisles of their own buses. The award- to be given annually each other, then had a jam session, Out of more than $80,000 in equip- -was named \"The Crossmen Award.\" and friendships developed. ment, total damage came to only Next morning, the two corps $1,900, Martin said. headed westward in one massive Farther down the road, the Spirit 1979 Placing: 4th. caravan. Before long, though, Spirit's members were reunited with their buses got 20 or 30 miles ahead of equipment, Martin rented a truck to 1979 Repertoire: Georgia on My their own equipment truck and haul it (which later had to be Mind / Nuttville / Sweet Georgia booster van, as well as the Crossmen replaced), and the two corps headed Brown I Let It Be Me. vehicles. west. Martin, riding in the van behind The hazards had just begun, and 1980 Repertoire: Old Man River / Spirit's equipment truck, suddenly Spirit had ample opportunity to repay 40's Blues Medley I Devil Went saw the enormous rig blown com- the Crossmen. One by one, the Down to Georgia I Sweet Georgia pletely off the road by gusting winds. Crossmen's buses broke down. The Brown (Count Basie) / Let It Be Me. It rolled over twice and landed first went in Utah, and had to be left. upside down, smashing the cab. \" You Spirit gave a lift to the stranded Director: Freddy Martin, 4994 Austell couldn't even tell it was a truck,\" passengers until the Crossmen were Road, Austell, GA 30001.
Stardusters A corps re-emerging on the Southern scene after several bad years, a split, and an unsuccessful merger is the Stardusters of Arabi, Louisiana. In their first DC/ Class \"A\" Championship, the Stardusters captivated the audience with their vivacious music, including a New Orleans style \"South Rampart Street Parade.\" Although they finished in second place, the class \"A\" honors in both M&M and percussion went to the Louisiana contingent, and many fans are eager to see what this young corps will do as it develops. 1979 Placing: 2nd in Class \"A.\" :■►---- florida Vanguard Drum corps are not too plentiful in Florida, so the Florida Vanguard has to travel quite a distance from its home in Pembroke Pines to encounter much competition. After a 30th-place finish in 1978, the Vanguard undertook extensive touring in '79, sharpened its skills at some big shows, and earned DC/ membership for the first time. The Vanguard's powerful horn line was an especially pleasant surprise. DC/ says \"Welcome, y'all!\" to its most Southern corps ever. 1979 Placing: 24th. 1980 Repertoire: On My Way (Spinoza) / Voo-Doo / Let the Children Play (Santana) I The Musician (Chick Corea)/ In the Stone (Earth, Wind and Fire). Director: Steve Rondinaro, P. 0. Box 8453, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024.
New or revitalized corps are springing up in the South. They include the Golden Knights of Southgate, Kentucky s (top); the Royal Lancers, Cape Coral, Florida (center, left); the 8/eu Raeders, Kenner, Louisiana (center, right); and Suncoast Sound, Pinnellas County, Florida (bottom). D u t h e r n C D r p s
Are drum and bugle corps During their five days in Lake say, 'Sorry, we can't use you. Bring headed for competition in the Placid, the 27th Lancers personally on the Lancers.' \" Olympic Games? The 27th Lancers of met many of the Olympic athletes. As a result, in addition to the Revere, Massachusetts, may have One member of the flag line asked opening ceremony music, the corps opened up that avenue for the an athlete for his autograph. He ushered in all the athletes for the activity this winter when they became asked if she was one of the girls in torch lighting ceremony. Eleven the first corps in history to officially the Lancers who was twirling a flag in members also carried the Olympic open and close the XIII Olympic the ceremonies. When she acknowl- flag preceding the previous gold Games in Lake Placid, New York. edged that she was, he asked for her medal winners. One night, they \"It was a great thrill for the autograph. performed in downtown Lake Placid kids,\" said George Bonfiglio, director for an ABC News spot, and they of the corps. \"They all had a piece of The experience was not all fun, participated in an ecumenical service. the Olympics. They all got the same however. The corps had to practice Finally- on the ice where the U.S. medals given to all athletes. They outdoors all day in temperatures Hockey team won its gold medal- hovering around zero. Bugle valves were considered participants in the the 27th Lancers left their own trade- Olympics.\" stuck (regular automobile anti-freeze mark, playing the corps' theme song, turned out to be the solution). About Bonfiglio claims it was such a \"Danny Boy.\" thrilling experience, he had a lump in 100 drum sticks, and many drum heads, became brittle and broke from his throat all the time he was in Lake Who knows ... perhaps the next Placid. \"The biggest thrill for the kids the cold. The corps buses had to be time the 27th Lancers perform in the modified for winter driving. The happened while we were rehearsing corps was provided with winter garb Olympics it will be in competition for closing ceremonies, and all the by the Olympic Committee, but they with other championship corps from around the world. athletes were in the stands waiting had to make other modifications- for their turn to rehearse,\" he reflects. \"The Lancers received a such as putting abrasive cloth on the 1979 Placing: 5th. standing ovation from the athletes.\" soles of their boots to keep from slipping on the ice. Another thrilling moment oc- 1979 Repertoire: Folksong Suite curred during rehearsal for the Regardless of the problems, (excerpts) / Open Wide / On the opening ceremonies. The Russian every minute was worth it, and the 20th Century / Danny Boy. athletes happened to pass by while Olympic officials were obviously the corps played \"The Great Gates of impressed. \"Once they saw what a 1980 Repertoire: Folksong Suite Ki~v.\" The athletes stopped to listen, drum and bugle corps could do on a (excerpts) / Open Wide / On the and when the corps finished playing, first-time basis, they kept asking us to 20th Century / Danny Boy. they exchanged Olympic pins with do different things,\" Bonfiglio re- the Russians-an Olympic custom of marked. \"When other organizations Director: George Bonfiglio, P. 0. Box friendship. would make mistakes, they would 87, Revere, MA 02151. 36
While most drum corps spend Sisters, Gene-Gene the Dancin' Ma- hours learning to march, Bobby chine, and the Unknown Comic. Hoffman is teaching the Bridgemen Thirty seconds later, these same to smile. people are on the ground in a Civil It's no wonder the people of War battle. When they're able to sell Bayonne, New Jersey, home of the both portrayals to the crowd, that's Bridgemen, believe drum corps incredible. It's a credit to the kids evolved from the theater, rather than and their ability to play different from its actual military origin. roles.\" \"I find it extremely easy to get 50 Many of Hoffman's ideas for the people to stand rigidly at attention,\" Bridgemen's \"acts\" come from · said Hoffman, program coordinator Broadway shows, where Hoffman of the corps. \"But one of the most spends as much time as possible. He difficult things I've ever had to do is has a unique ability to take ideas get 50 people, on the count of four, wherever he finds them and make to smile-and really SMILE. While them happen. He claims he gets at instructors of other corps walk along least one letter a month suggesting the sideline yelling to get that line ideas for his show, and many straight, I'm standing in front of the brainstorms-such as the idea of Bridgemen with an exaggerated smile falling down at the end of a show- on my face, pointing to my teeth.\" come from the members themselves. The Bridgemen are actors Hoffman calls himself the \" cook\" of assumming different roles when they the \"Bridgemen stew,\" but says perform. Though their stage is a everyone is allowed in the kitchen. football field, they entertain Broad- \"Anyone can put food (ideas) into way-show-biz style, featuring several the stew (show),\" he said. \"I just stir vaudeville acts. Last year, by the end it a little and tell them how much- of the Bridgemen's 13-minute show, two dashes of this and only a pinch the audience had been to a circus, of that.\" watched a Gong Show, and witnessed The Bridgemen's show-biz style the Civil War. once baffled judges, but Hoffman \"Doing five different tunes, in says the scoring system is slowly five different moods, is very demand- changing to give more credit for their ing,\" said Hoffman. \"One minute, type of entertainment. He noted the they are portraying the Andrew change would take time, however. 38
\"We practice marching straight lines, like other corps, but we spend more time trying to portray fun through emotion. A smile and emotion is beginning to get more credit from the judges, but a crooked line is still a BIG minus.\" Hoffman, however, is not overly concerned with winning every show. \"When we left the stadium in Birmingham last summer in sixth place, with 150 fans in our entourage, there was no way I could feel like a loser,\" he said. \"Our goal is to entertain. You take 100 people in a stadium, and maybe 25 will know Mahler's Fifth Symphony; 50 will know a Stan Kenton chart; but 99 will know Gene-Gene the Dancin' Ma- chine. That's what I'm concerned with.\" 1979 Placing: 6th. 1979 Repertoire: Pagliacci / Cachaca / Spanish Dreams / Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy / War Between the States. 1980 Repertoire: Thunder and Blazes / In the Stone (Earth, Wind and Fire) / Big Noise from Winnetka / War Between the States. Director: Jack Dames, 11 Park St., #42, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
Several times in the history of drum little by surprise when she first The three Floridians became and bugle corps, traditionally all-male opened the mail. But when she interested in joining a drum corps color guards have opened their ranks thought about it at length, she figured: color guard after attending the 1979 to the female gender. For instance, \"Why not?\" DCI Championships in Birmingham. the Garfield Cadets, the Belleville \"Since the color guard wears But why the North Star specifically? Black Knights, and most recently the pants and all the girls wear their hair \"We applied to four corps,\" Kilts had all-male guards that went up anyway, we didn't see why boys Granger explained. \"Both Spirit of coed for one reason or another. couldn't join,\" said O'Brien. The Atlanta and the Guardsmen said they instructors of the color guard agreed, were not planning to change their The 1980 drum corps season will witness a similar conversion, but with and the three boys were notified that all-girl guard policy. The 27th Lancers a slightly different twist. The North they could try out. They made it, and said we would probably look funny Star, from North Shore, Massachu- attended monthly rehearsals from in skirts.\" setts, will have three male members December through May, when they in its traditionally all-female color finished school and moved to Massa- 1979 Placing: 9th. guard. chusetts for the summer. All three come from marching 1979 Repertoire: Children of Sanchez The three-Tony Florio, Cliff band and color guard backgrounds in Granger, and Ron Borans-are all Florida. They marched together there / Bellavia / Ole / Cookout / Medley of Beach Boys hits (Good Vibrations, friends from North Miami, Florida. in the Charger Color Guard, where Surfer Girl, Barbara Ann). They will be carrying flags when the Florio served as guard captain. About North Star takes the field this a year ago, when the Chargers ran 1980 Repertoire: Prelude to War summer. into some management problems, (Gino Vannelli) / Where Am I Going Lynda O'Brien, wife of corps Florio and Granger reorganized the (Vannelli) / Cookout (Dave Vose) / director Jim O'Brien, said the three unit and wrote and taught the drill as Still (Commodores) / Ole (George boys wrote to the corps last fall well as marching. Meanwhile, Borans Benton). inquiring about the possibility of left Florida to attend Southwestern marching in the guard. Lynda Louisiana State University, and joined Director: James P. O'Brien, 106 Burrill admitted that the request took her a L' Acadians Color Guard. Street, Swampscott, MA 01907. ,, ... \\ , I • ~ ~o
Crossmen The Cross men pulled a real, live Superman out of their bag of tricks at DC/ prelims to complement their beautiful medley from the movie about that popular hero. But Superman did not prove to be invincible. Much to the amazement of the Crossmen and spectators alike, the Delaware County, Pennsylvania, corps that had placed in the elite twelve two years in a row was narrowly edged out of finals in '79, taking an unexpectedly low 13th place in prelims. However, in true \" show biz\" fashion, the heartbroken corps pulled itself together to perform in the Associate Championship that night. The Crossmen handily won that title, bettering their prelim score by more than four points and sweeping every major caption at the Associate contest. Fans look for the corps in the flowing capes to bounce back in '80, when the Crossmen are determined to prove that they belong among the top twelve of drum corps. 1979 Placing: Associate Champions (13th in DC/ prelims). 1980 Repertoire: Pictures of Spain (original composition by Larry Kershner) / Tiger of San Pedro (John La Barbera) I Spanish Fantasy (Chick Corea) / Jack Miraculous (Gino Vannelli) / Superman Medley (Planet Krypton, Main Theme, Can You Read My Mind?, TV Theme-John Williams). Director: Harold Robinson, 1413 Nectar Lane, West Chester, PA 19380. 42
Garfield Cadets \" Sorry, no vocal amen due to 1-point penalty!\" The prominently displayed sign brought the house down at DC/ prelims, as the fans have grown to love the choral \"amen\" with which the Garfield Cadets close their show. Despite avoidance of the penalty and the outstanding performance of their ever-popular horn line, the corps from Garfield, New Jersey, was unable to finish higher than 16th. Although the Cadets placed in the elite twelve in 1975, they have probably just missed making the cutoff more times than any other corps, winding up 13th or 14th a total of four times since DCl's inception. But fans can be confident that Garfield will keep trying. They are one of only ten corps that have participated in the DC/ Championships every year since the first DC/ contest in 1972. 1979 Placing: 4th in Associate Championship (16th in DC/ prelims). 1980 Repertoire: One Voice / Evening Concert I Fernando's Fantasy / Fire Dance / Elk's Parade / Looking Through the Eyes of Love. Director: Dr. Richard Santo, P. 0 . Box 32, Garfield, NJ 07026. Royal Crusaders The Royal Crusaders, victims of a less-than-auspicious year in '78, fought back in '79 to capture a berth in the Associate Championship competi- tion. A one-time member of the top twelve, the contingent from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had a strong musical book and a variety of pleasing visual effects-not the least of which was a bevy of very attractive and scantily-clad dancers who truly appeared to be trained in their art. Formed in the '70s, the Royal Crusaders have finished in the top 25 all six times they have entered the DC/ Championship. After sitting out of championship competition for a year, the Crusaders definitely appear to be back to try to establish their credentials as a top contender once again. 1979 Placing: 5th in Associate Championship (17th in DC/ prelims). 1980 Repertoire: Celebration Suite (Chick Corea) / To the War (Gino Vannelli) / They're Playing Our Song (Marvin Ham Ii sch) I On Broadway (Rich) / One (A Chorus Line, Hamlisch). Director: Gary Inks, P. 0. Box 10367, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In its first year of DC/ Championship compe- tion, the Royal Brigade startled unsuspecting observers by finishing ahead of many long- established corps and very nearly qualifying for the Associate Championship finals. Hail- ing from Meadowlands, New Jersey, the Brigade placed 18th in prelims, but was part of such a tightly-packed group that their score was only .75 away from the 15th-place corps. Their show was packed with potential, and spectators have high hopes for this DC/ newcomer. 1979 Placing: 18th. 1980 Repertoire: NBC Chime Festival (Tommy Newsom) / Star (Earth, Wind and Fire) I Boogie Wonderland (Earth, Wind and Fire) I Celebration Suite (Chick Corea) I Follow M&/ 1980 (Herb Alpert). Director: Errich Schweikert, Jr., 236 Meadow- lane, Secaucus, NJ 07094. Royal Brigade Boston Crusaders As the years go by, such old trite phrases as \"small but mighty\" and \"quality, not quantity\" seem increasingly applicable to the Boston, Massachusetts, Crusaders. Sophisticated fans marvel at the sound the Boston Crusaders can get from fewer than half the horns in the largest corps, as well as the innovative and ambitious drill they are able to stage despite their smaller member- ship. Good M&M and the beautifully subtle moves of a superb rifle line helped keep the Boston Crusaders in the top 25 for the fourth consecutive year. 1979 Placing: 19th. 1980 Repertoire: The Aristophanic Wasp / Kid Charlemange / And on the Sixth Day / Beethoven's Ninth / Time for a Change / Conquest. Director: George Bevilacqua, 22 Parkhurst Drive, Lakeville, MA 02346. 44
Avant Garde Back in 1975, a new corps from Saratoga County, New York, became an associate member of DC/ on its very first try. Al- though a few dismal years intervened, the Avant Garde again gained the coveted DC/ membership in '79. Avant Garde's sharp appearance and attention to details of execution seem to announce that the corps not only intends to go places in the future, but also knows how to go about getting there. 1979 Placing: 20th. 1980 Repertoire: Put Me On (Styx) I Sun- shower and Hill Where the Lord Hides (Chuck Magione) I Medley from Funny Girl I Don't Cry Out Loud. Director: Jeff Perkins, 4 Congress Avenue, Saratoga Spring, NY 12866. long Island Kingsmen A corps new to the DC/ ranks in 1979 is the Long Island Kingsmen from Kings Park, New York. The corps' much-improved show and level of talent was reflected in its 21st-place finish, far higher than on any of its three pre- vious tries since '72. If the Kingsmen can raise their scores in the credit captions by increas- ing their difficulty level and their general effect-improvements that should come with the new confidence of ranking in the top 25-they could be a corps to be reck- oned with in the near future. 1979 Placing: 21st. 1980 Repertoire: Original unnamed compo- sition (Robert Pearson) I El Gato Triste (Chuck Magione) I Matilda I Midnight Cow- boy I She Believes in Me (Kenny Rogers). Director: Noel E. Borden, 4 Parkside Drive, Kings Park, NY 11754. 45
Black latch In 1978, the scoreboard announced the class \"A\" winner as the Black Watch of Willingboro, New Jersey. In fact, the class \"A\" winner that year was the Black Watch from Washington-but perhaps the scoreboard had ESP or was only pre-programmed for 1979, when the New Jersey Black Watch did, indeed, land the title. After two years out of DC/ Championship competition, and two less-than-outstanding showings prior to that, this was a banner achievement for the corps. 1979 Placing: Class \"A\" Champion. Arbella From Salem, Massachusetts, comes an all-girl corps that has distinguished itself in its first season of open-class competition by making the finals of many major shows. Despite their very young age, the nautically-clad Arbella edged into the DC/ All-Girl title spot in their first appearance at this contest. Arbella won high brass and Fitchburg M&M honors in coming up from a second-place prelim finish to take the championship. Kingsmen 1979 Placing: All-Girl Champions. In their second year as a class \"A\" corps, the Fitch- burg, Massachusetts, Kingsmen pulled up from ninth to fourth spot. Good M&M and brass added to their enjoyable performance, and a large group of sup- porters seated in \" FK\" formation behind the field signalled the growing popularity of this up-and- coming Eastern corps. 1979 Placing: 4th in Class \"A.\"
Among other popular Eastern corps were the Cadets of Greece, Rochester, New York (top); the Holy Family De- fenders, Rockland, Massa- chusetts (right); the a/I-girl Mello-Dears, Owego, New York (below, left); and the Squires, Watkins Glen, New York (below, right).
L'Offensive de Jonquiere, formerly known as the Offensive Lions, are the only current French- speaking member of DC/. The corps was the open-class Canadian champion in 1978 and 1979, placing 18th in '78 in its very first year of open-class DC/ competition. In '79, the corps finished 15th in pre/ims; high scores in percus- sion and general effect helped them overtake the 14th-place corps for a second place in the new Associate Championship. 1979 Placing:2nd in Associate Championship (15th in DC/ prelims). 1980 Repertoire: Carmina Burana (excerpts, Orff) I My Own Way to Rock (Burton Com- mings) / And When I Die (Blood, Sweat and Tears) / Fantasy. Director: Michel Pedneault, 3885 Balzac, Bros- sard, Quebec Canada J4Z 2GB. L'Offensive de Jonquiere, connue auparavant comme Jes \"Offensive Lions,\" est le seul mem- bre francophone du DC/ au moment present. Le corps etait le champion Canadian de la competition ouverte en 1978 et 1979, et s'est classe 18e en '78 en sa premiere annee de competition ouverte dans le DC/. En '79, le corps a fini 15e dans la competition prelimi- naires, des pointage eleves en percussion et un bon effet general Jes ont aides a depasser le l' Offensive position dans le nouveau championnat associe. corps qui se classait 14e pour gagner la deuxieme Placement, 1979: 2e en championnat associe (15e en concours preliminaires DC/). de Jonquiere Repertoire, 1980: Carmina Burana (extraits, Orff) / My Own Way to Rock (Burton Com- mings) / And When I Die (Blood, Sweat and Tears) / Fantasy. Directeur: Michel Pedneault, 3885 Balzac, Bros- sard, Quebec, Canada J4Z 2GB. ' Once again, rapid late-season improvement and a high percussion score combined to propel the Oakland Crusaders into DC/ membership. In five years of DC/ competition, the aqua-clad corps from Etobicoke, Ontario, has finished in the top twelve twice, and in the I top 25 the other three times, making it the longest-standing Canadian member of drum corps elite. 1979 Placing: 25th. 1980 Repertoire: Poet and the Peasant Overture I Jazzman I Feeling, Old Feelings. Director: Joel Alleyne, SK 107-10 Spring Garden Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada I M2N 3G2. Oakland , _.,.:i ~~0>, : 1~ - I \" . - - ;:..-::.:5-__·: , ) '.J:. , ->~~ ,µ, --'\"~\":?\"--' ~ .. :_~.,.~- / ~-- .... . ---f _r-:~;;;r-·~ -1111 ..._-,_ =- '- : :. Crusaders - :\"'~ \\ -..:'~ .,_, ! f ' -') ~ .. '\\l; \" • • ,&1 .• , f . ·-··~ ~.:. , / :;a, I \"' ' ·--~ rr I . \\ \"' \\ ''i ~\\ .. . \\,~, . •, '·
Search
