When people speak of drum corps the word TRADITION always comes up. Please join the BAYONNE BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI DRUM & BUGLE CORPS as they re-ignite an old tradition and begin a new tradition of hosting the TOURNAMENT OF STARS INVITATIONAL on Saturday, June 10th, 2006 at 6:00 P.M. at the Don Ahern Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, which is located at the foot of 26th St, by the bay in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Last held in 1987, the TOURNAMENT OF STARS is the culmination of a long time dream to see the Bayonne Bridgemen return to the world of drum corps. Under the direction of George Lavelle, Jr., The Bridgemen will be performing their 2006 field show for the first time. They will be performing Pagliacci/Land of Make Believe; My Favorite Things; Summer of ’42; In the Stone and ending with the classic William Tell Overture. With horn arrangements by Larry Kerschner, percussion by Dennis Delucia and the color guard headed by Matt Hurley, the Bridgemen anticipate bringing you to your feet many times throughout the evening. This is an evening of entertainment that can not be missed!!!

The Harrison Bushwackers are proud to announce that they will be featuring a new silver set of PEARL battery percussion for their 25th anniversary season in 2006. Corps director Jay Morlot said “The people at Pearl percussion have put together a wonderful package for the corps and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our "silver" anniversary then to hit the field with brand new silver Pearl drums".

When asked about supplying the Bushwackers with new drums Kevin Namaky, Marketing Manager from the Pearl Corporation said "Pearl is proud to include the Bushwackers in its family of renowned artists. It is great to be able to support organizations that value education and further the cause of music at such a high level."

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It won’t be a day at the beach for corps members, but Rochester’s Empire Statesmen won’t be far from the water as they work on “Catching Some Rays” during this summer’s Drum Corps Associates (DCA) contest circuit. The Statesmen will perform in towns located on all the important waterways in the northeast, including the Atlantic coast, Susquehanna River, Hudson River and the Chemung River.

The theme of this year’s field show is “Catching Some Rays,” featuring the music of Ray Charles. The field show includes Georgia On My Mind, Unchain My Heart, You Don’t’ Know Me, What’d I Say and Bye Bye Love, which was also a massive Top 40 radio hit for the Everly Brothers in 1957. Bye Bye Love had been rejected by 30 other singers before Don and Phil Everly released their version, producer under the guidance of family friend Chet Atkins.