Kingston Grenadiers Announce 2007 Program

“THE LEGEND RETURNS” – The Music of Chuck Mangione

Building on their successful past, and honouring some of the most recognizable melodies in drum corps history, the Kingston Grenadiers are proud to present: “The Legend Returns” – the Music of Chuck Mangione.

Chuck Mangione, born and raised in Rochester, New York, is a flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success with his jazz-pop single, "Feels So Good", in 1977. He has released more than 30 albums from the early 1960s to today. He attended the Eastman School of Music from 1958 to 1963, and afterwards joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, for which he filled the trumpet seat. Mangione served as director of the Eastman jazz ensemble from 1968 until 1972 and in 1970 he returned to recording with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and numerous guest performers. His music was used in the 1976 Olympic Games, and the Winter Olympic Games of 1980, where he performed live at the closing ceremonies. A 1980 issue of Current Biography named "Feels So Good" as the most recognized tune since "Michelle" by The Beatles.

The Grenadiers enjoyed much success and caught the attention of the drum corps community by introducing a fresh look for the corps, and performing the music of Chuck Mangione in 2000. In 2007, the corps intends to build on that excitement by returning to the field with some of the same selections that provided identity in the past, and the addition of two new selections that are sure to be favourites amongst drum corps fans everywhere. By visiting not only the corps’ past, but a little bit of drum corps history, the show will open with the classic snare drum solo from “Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor” into an opening fanfare. As the show progresses, the retro-style introduction gives way to a fresh arrangement of the powerhouse: “Echano”, from Children of Sanchez. The popular ballad: “Bellavia” displays the softer side of Mangione, yet gives opportunity for dramatic expression in dynamics and colour. The Grenadiers will close the show and have you leaving the stands with one of Mangione’s most recognizable melodies in your head, the ever-popular “Land of Make Believe”.

The Grenadiers are proud to bring the music of Chuck Mangione back to the field in 2007, and look forward to entertaining drum corps fans along the 2007 DCA Summer Tour.

For more information and updates on the Kingston Grenadiers, please visit: www.kingstongrenadiers.com