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African-American Corps: Then and Now


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I remember going over my friend Frank Simpson’s house. He had Fleetwood records as well as copies of Drum Corps Digest, Eastern Review and Drum Corps News. However, it was the Drum Corps Digest issue that posted a shot of a bugle player from each top corps. The horn players were photographed standing at parade rest, in their resplendent cadet style uniforms. Those pictures filled me with desire to be a part of this wonderful activity.

How cool is that??

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Edited by stxmoose32
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With only two Division I corps left in the Northeast, I would love to see a corps like the CMCC Warriors make a comeback. In my very early years of Drum Corps we actually had to compete against them. We were kids growing up in white suburbia, and they were black kids from the inner city of New York. Drum Corps was probably the only time that we had any social contact with each other. That was back in the day when most membership was local, and the racial makeup of a corps was due mostly to demographics. With that said, I can't think of any reason why NYC shouldn't have a top tier junior corps. It has a population of about 8 million (almost half the population of the Netherlands) and I'm sure it has enough talented youth to form a very competetive corps. I guess it all boils down to money.

I also competed against CMCC. From what I see today, there are only 2 Div 3 corps whose membership is mainly inner city kids, Spirit of Newark NJ and Vision Elite. They placed 11th and 12th in Madison.

There is a corps from Brockton trying to get started for the city kids in the Boston Area and a corps in St Louis trying to start an inner city corps. I really don't know of any others. Spirit is coming out this year and is going to Pasadena, I haven't seen anything from Vision Elite (there is nothing on their web site about this year), I think the corps from St Louis is looking to be evaluated and the Crimson Knights from Brockton are in the process of getting their corps on the field. Other than that. . . . . . .

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CMCC went Senior for a few years and competed at DCA Prelims a few times in the 80s or so. Also in the Senior world were George Washington Carver Gay Blades - NJ and Spirit of St Louis.

Didn't know some of the corps OldBones mentioned were going for the inner city kids. IMO, this is great as this allows DC to actually help kids who could really use it. :rolleyes: These are the types of corps DCI/DCW/anyone connected in corps needs to promote. Know I have a "different" set of priorities than a lot of people, but these are the type of corps people should be proud of to support. We need more information on these corps!!!!!

Edited by JimF-3rdBari
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I also competed against CMCC. From what I see today, there are only 2 Div 3 corps whose membership is mainly inner city kids, Spirit of Newark NJ and Vision Elite. They placed 11th and 12th in Madison.

There is a corps from Brockton trying to get started for the city kids in the Boston Area and a corps in St Louis trying to start an inner city corps. I really don't know of any others. Spirit is coming out this year and is going to Pasadena, I haven't seen anything from Vision Elite (there is nothing on their web site about this year), I think the corps from St Louis is looking to be evaluated and the Crimson Knights from Brockton are in the process of getting their corps on the field. Other than that. . . . . . .

Let's all hope for the best. I know of a corps that was formed years ago with the intention of keeping kids off the street and out of trouble. I won't mention their name, but they currently reside in Rosemont Illinois.

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BTW....I always thought the Warriors had the coolest title : City Mission Cadet Corps.

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Heads up to anyone in the Kansas City area.

This current Fanfare is submission from Harold Craig Barber about the proud history of African-American corps in New York City, the current state of that segment of the activity and the hopes for the future.

On Friday, barely a couple hours after the column hit DCI.org, I received an inquiry from Greg Wright, including a tribute to his father who was actively involved in St. Stephen's Drum and Bugle Corps, seeing it as a life changing (and perhaps even life saving) activity for youth. I informed him I would run it in Fanfare this coming Friday.

Mr. Bennie Wright passed away the next day. If you’re in the Kansas City area, his funeral will be held Saturday, February 24 at the Stephen Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. His story will resonate with you just as Mr. Barber's story did. It would be wonderful if there was someone from the Kansas City area who could stop by and pay their respects on behalf of the greater drum corps community.

Edited by Michael Boo
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Just got this from Greg Wright: <<Hey Mike, The Date is Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007. Visiation is from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 am. The Services start at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Stephen Baptist Church Baptist Church at 1414 Truman Road in Kansas City, Mo. And oh, yes, there will be drums & maybe horns.>>

Edited by Michael Boo
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Weren't Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights attempting to start a junior corps based out of Newark, NJ?

I know they were trying two years ago but I don't think they were ever able to get off the ground.

I know there is an alumni corps but I don't think there is a jr corps anymore.

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I know they were trying two years ago but I don't think they were ever able to get off the ground.

I know there is an alumni corps but I don't think there is a jr corps anymore.

Right, Jr corps broke up around 1973 and came back as a Sr corps for 1975 season only.

Haven't heard about the Alumni corps since I saw them in 2004.

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