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I just realized that I've entering my fourth decade of writing for DCI, having first written for what used to be called the DCI Contest Guild in 1984, followed by the LP liner notes that year. This came after a few years of writing for Drum Corps News, followed by a much longer and most wonderful time with Drum Corps World. While some things over the years have been more fun than others, I've really enjoyed the entire time and especially have enjoyed the people I've met along the way. I was reminded of that this past Friday when my best friend Bob Abben, co-founder of Suncoast Sound, passed away at the age of 92. I flew down to Tampa Bay to be with him on his 90th birthday in 2012 and after spending three days with him this past July, spoke with him on the phone almost every other day, right up until he left for the hospice four days before he passed and could no longer talk. One of my favorite moments with Bob was when I was with him on his 90th birthday. Bob was a HUGE fan of Boston Crusaders. I had mentioned to Crusaders' Executive Director Tom Spatero that it was going to be Bob's 90th and asked if he would call on that day, which he did. Bob just lit up when he heard who was on the line. Another favorite moment was one year when DCI was in Madison. Bob was also a HUGE fan of Troopers, and especially Jim Jones. After the show, I was at a mini mart across from the dorm where Bob and I were staying...an easy walk from the stadium. Jim and his wife Grace were buying sandwiches and I mentioned to Jim that Bob was a big fan of his and that he would be tickled if they would stop by to enjoy their sandwiches in the room. They agreed to do so and I went back to the room and woke Bob up...he had just one to bed. Bob was not happy when I told him I had invited someone over, but he got up and got dressed to look presentable. Then there was a knock on the door, I opened it, Bob saw who it was and exclaimed, "MR. JONES!" I then became a fly on the wall as they spent over an hour talking about the old days of drum corps and various VFW contests. When I think of my experiences with DCI, I don't think of the contests and the performances, although I've enjoyed them all. I think of the people I've been blessed to meet and if I'm blessed with another 30 years on this planet, I'll be writing and blogging from each of those DCI World Championships, regional shows, and hopefully still doing some of my other projects with DCI. Several years ago I was at a DCI Board of Directors meeting and Dan Acheson asked the directors to share why the did drum corps. Colts director Greg Orwoll stated, "I do drum corps because I don't know how not to do drum corps." I felt that cut to the chase of why most of us are involved in the activity, whether as marchers, instructors, supporters or fans in the stands. We couldn't have the activity without each of those. I'm not sure why I was inspired to write this...I just started typing and so many thoughts came to mind. Bob's passing had me thinking about the people I've met, my friends who are no longer around, (thinking of you in particular, Bill Cook), and the people I don't see in person nearly enough. I've loved (and love) them all and without them, my life would be quite empty. I trust most—if not all—of you feel the same way about the people you've come to know in drum corps, whether or not you're currently active in the activity as a spectator or in some other capacity. I've been blessed and I hope to continue to be with the people I love long into the future. Let's all enjoy the ride!

Someone once said to me... " I came because of the Drum Corps.. I stayed because of the people ". MB's article here illustrates it best.

In my opinion, whether it is Brandt Crocker, Dan Potter, Oprah, or whoever, the person should announce the corps entering the field and ‘not’ to be required to be a part of their show design.

And to go with Rays post (can't use quote with IEv11) how many Posts, churches, etc that sponsored corps no longer exist or a shell of what they used to be? And much as some people lacking history will argue with me, it HAS gotten lot more expensive with equipment, our lawsuit happy age, etc, etc, I belonged to a city church that has gone way downhill (surprised it's still open). Was on a working group that tried to find out what can be done when the local area goes in the crapper. The answer was you can't do anything except change to do the best you can and that "best" will NOT be what was possible in the past. BSA Troop at that church went under even after they opened up to the neighborhood kids as hardly any young kids attend this church anymore. It's a low income area and Troop finally folded due to lack of adult help. Adults needed to work that second/off hours job to help feed the family and activities like BSA had to take a back seat. And how many gone Jr corps were based in cities that have hit the skids. It's called changing demographics folks and what makes people think Drum Corps is the only thing immune to this. And was around when a bunch of smaller local Sr corps went under in the mid-late 70s/early 80s. Rising costs, downhill local economy and small area to get members and money from had a lot to do with their demise.

There is most definitely a connection. Many of us Star Alums more or less consider Crown our 'home team'. Since about 2003 there has been an incredible amount of Star Alums and former Star instructors on staff with Crown. Of course at it's heart it is the brass staff and the long time consulting of our beloved mentor, Donnie Van Doren. Donnie and the Star alums have found homes with many corps over the years and helped give them success. Crossmen, Cadets (in many ways a return to the mother ship) Blue Stars, and now Madison & Troopers. But Crown in particular followed a path in programming and philosophy that was well in place with Star in the 90s and Brass Theater years. The cream uniforms, the dynamic body movements, the wall of sound, and many other evolutions of things near and dear to the Star Alums quickly made Crown our home team. Watching them take that tiny bit of DNA and evolve into a new and wonderful ways. And it time watching their alums spread their DNA to future units will be fulfilling. Circle of (drum corps) Life. It has gone both ways. In 2010 the Star Alumni corps that played at SemiFinals proudly conained not only former members of Star of Indiana in it's many forms, but also some new new gen Stars in the form of members of the Blue Stars, Crown, and Star United Minicorps. It was a Blast to share that experience with them.

Guys - without resurrecting the oldest argument on DCP (or RAMD for that matter) I think that while facts are facts, without context they take on a life of their own. We can bemoan, for instance, the number of corps in say Brooklyn that ceased to be since 1970, but how many of the local churches, VFW halls, or Legions would still be sponsoring a drum corps. In most cases they've given up on sponsoring any youth activity for a billion reasons of varying legitimacy. You're right - it's a fact - and who doesn't miss these corps? But I think the corollary doesn't prove the causation in this case. It is, simply put, a different world, and these are different kids in many ways than we were. I personally don't think we can lay all that much of this on DCI's door, any more than we can blame DCA for the decline and inactivity of Sky, Sun, Brigs, Rochester, et al. Different world - ask Eastern Airlines, TWA, Pan Am, My Space, you can do this all day. Sic transit gloria Mundi...

Welcome back, Harry!

WOW.....FINALLY! Believe it or not, I stopped checking for your review back in November, and really have not been here since! I just happened to come here and see that you posted something to the "review" page last night and said to myself, "Self...let me check to see if he posted anything"...and sure as #####, you did!! Thanks for the kudos!! :-) And if you think the tuba section was sick last year, i'm gonna go on record right now and say, "You ain't seen nuthin yet!" This years show is going to be insane, and the 10 tubas we have now are already better than last year. The 3 Tuba parts are going to floor you! Looking forward to gettin on the field in Wildwood...is it June yet? Hope to finally meet you this year!

2000! The best Top 5 in the history of DCI