Leaderboard

I’ve been to Finals every year since 2004 and plan on going this year. I just wish the event details weren’t so cryptic. I know everything is pending but would like to know what the intended format is going to be.

As long as the corps I support will be there, my current plan is to attend. To your second question...... Starting in 2010, I've been to finals week 7 times.

1979, 1980, 1981 SOA and 1982 BD

Fight On, Janet! Thank you for posting and may God comfort you and your family.

Forest Creson Belleville Black Knights I know many will say WHO? When Drum Corps was an East Coast activity with a little activity in Chicago(includes Wisconsin). Mr Creson was developing a powerhouse Jr. Drum Corps from small Southern Illinois (35,000) town. Not only was he a Director. He arranged the music and wrote the drill and taught both. The drums were taught by a high school senior which by the way had won the 1953 American Legion Individual Drum Championship in St. Louis,Mo. Forest was assisted by ONE other person on the business side and they each drove the corps buses. When touri

Gayle Royer

Gunther is spot on. Coz is a fine example. Just consider how many Cabs became instructors and went on to influence a couple of generations of drum corps participants. (D'Amico, Angelica, Hayes, Rodriguez,...et al.) The success and renown of the corps from which they emerged, due in large part to Jimmy's guidance, provided them the street credibility to be "influencers" in their own right.

How can there not be a mention of Jimmy Costello of the Caballeros? His accomplishments of over 25 National Legion/DCA Championships is amazing in any competition based activity, including sports. He also was the training ground for many in the corps who then went on to be successful directors in their own right. I think today's term is 'influencers'. But, if we are to measure success by another dimension, let's consider the effect on the lives of people who played in the Caballeros. He helped many members in their personal, health and business lives for over 50 years. Quietly, without se

This is a great question for those who have been on the scene for a while. Unquestionably there have been those who were "great" in terms of advancing their own corps, and some have already been noted here. But a deeper question is suggested: Who was the greatest in advancing the entire activity? It's hard to top Jim Jones for almost single-handedly modeling the notion that there could be drum corps virtually anywhere; or Mickey Petrone and Lefty Mayer for birthing and sustaining DCA; or the Bernerts for advancing the cause of gender equality. Don Pescione was once a corps director,

Jerry Seawright. Because!

In defense of my percussion brethren (not one myself). 1980 - Bridgemen/Spirit of Atlanta

72,75

I was there at DCI prelims in 1976 and saw the Muchachos. They were great even with the phasing problems in OTL. What I also remember distinctly is at the end of their show, a horn player fell out (fainted). You have to also remember that less that two weeks before finals, the corps was victim to a major tragedy when four of their members were involved in a car crash on their way to perform in a parade in Patterson, N.J. One of those four died the following Monday Aug. 9th. One did not get out of the hospital for over three weeks. What I have learned is the cymbal player who passed away