ironlips

Dan, The main connection was on the staff level. In the '60s the top juniors and seniors were generally taught by the same people, folks like Angelica, Arsennault, Dreitzer, Sasso, Genero, Radford, Cluna, Perriloux and a few others. Throughout that decade, the senior corps were the trend-setting giants. They had the more experienced members, for one thing. Santa Clara pretty much turned that tide, starting around 1971, and once the juniors figured out how to tour for weeks at a time they quickly began to out-perform their older brothers and sisters. After all, they were rehearsing many more hours per week and quite efficiently at that. Still, today's best DCA corps would hold their own against the DCI kids, except for the top 5 or so. Given their limited rehearsal time, that's pretty amazing.

Louie was a wonderful man who always had time for those he met. His incredible talent and wide-spread fame never masked his beautiful humanity. God bless him. We were lucky to have lived during his life-time.

In the Park City photo, Jack Sullivan's honor squad consists of (l to r): Debbie Abate Bruce Porzelt Don Treadwell and Bob Rouse Can anyone ID the Optimists?

It's been great to play with Hurcs members against whom I competed, and others who marched when I taught the corps back in the day. Anyone who likes classic drum corps would have a ball at Park City Pride.

Good question. Check with SCV's promotions folks to verify iwhether they still have any copies. If not, these could be rather hard to find, especially the earlier disc. As with any "collectable', quality, rarity and condition determine value. In this case, the first is a given. Frank Dorritie Audio Producer - "State of the Art", "State of the Art II"

I remember walking out of Roosevelt Stadium after the '63 Dream thinking, " Well there was St. Kevin's, and then there was everybody else." What music! I for one will savor hearing some of those Bergdoll charts again.

I have it on good authority that French Horns are welcome at Park City.

Both of these shows (Feb 28 in Garfield and Mar 28 in Bridgeport) will be very good hangs. The Romeos alone are worth the trip, believe me.

Could happen. Most likely candidate (if Steve Buglino has his way): "Eager Beaver", the Stan Kenton production Bill Hayes initially wrote for the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, then decided instead to teach to the Queensmen. Someone will have to ask him why someday.

To be sure, quite a few of the old guard will be there but it would be great to see representation from some of the fine younger players who reside on the East coast and may march elesewhere during the summer. There are excellent college and high school age players not only in corps like Jersey Surf, Cadets, Boston..et al, but performing with Brigs, Bucs, Bush, Cabs, Hurcs, Sunrisers, Empire, Sky and others. The members of the Buglers Hall of Fame applaud their efforts and encourage them all, percussion as well as brass, to come out and hear each other and accept some props from their older drum corps brothers and sisters.

Hi Frank. I suspect the schedule is not yet set. Check with Kenton and/or Anthony. Last year the minis performed in the latter part of the afternoon, I believe. F

Jim, It's the '63 World Open at Roosevelt Stadium. The album cover is at the foot of the program page. There are over 300 Fleetwoods now available on CD and I hope to get to a lot of them.

Donny, Yes indeed, that is the one-and-only Ta-ta ka-Tommy Martin, and John Smith has great ears, too: Roosevelt Stadium all the way. Thanks for listening, everybody. We can all be proud of the roots of our beloved activity. If we don't pass this history along, who will?

Of course our government should support the arts. The only debate should be about how this is accomplished. Reasonable people can disagree about that, but not encouraging the arts leads to a nation of Philistines and brutes who can not connect with their own culture or anyone else's.

I extend my deepest sympathy to Brenda's family and friends, most especially to my pal Cakes. Frank Dorritie

Just a shout to all the superb East Coast drummers, be they DCA, DCI, Alumni or unaffiliated: I'd sure like to see some stick-masters from Cadets, Hurcs, Cabs, Sunrisers, Boston, Sky, Bush...etc. throwing down at this show, along with the horplayers. Among Alumni alone there are people like Fast Frankie, Tony Palumbo, Ray Priester. Or maybe Johnny Oddo will suit up for this. I know these guys can still let it fly, and I'm pretty certain Andy Lisko can put on a clinic for a couple of minutes too. So...what say you all? Compete or go exhibition. I don't care. I just want to hear you tear it up.

Prince had khakis and helmet liners before the white jackets and shakos, but wore "white leggings" according to their website, which would seem to eliminate them as candidates for the corps in this photo, I think.

James, You are in charge of getting Dave Negri to perform in the competition this year. Bonus points if you can get him on a G instrument.

Good move, Gabarina. Go, Ruben!

Upon further review, Dr. Lisko is correct about the Joes, based on the only photos I've seen. They wore white WWII helmet liners and paratrioop jump boots. The unis in this photo were quite ubiquitous in the early days. I have a newsreel of the 1926 Legion Nationals at Frankford, PA. There are 46 drum corps shown at retreat in a massive formation. About two-thirds are wearing WWI uniforms of this type. This makes sense, since they would all have been vets of that conflict. It's clear from this photo that some corps continued to sport this design well into the '40s.

It would have been a long haul for Doremus or the Jersey Joes, but they are still the best guesses here I believe. Jim Donnelly (St. Vinnie's, Gabarina...etc. instructor, c. 1946) marched in Doremus and "invented" the French Horn bugle which would probably have come into being in the early '40s, so if this were Doremus, the'd have had them, I think. What a great photo!

Right you are. There's Norman DNA in almost every brass chart anybody wrote for the past 40 years, whether they know it or not. He's a bona fide genius, period.

James has a great idea! He's a fine soloist and I'd play on a bill with him any day, as would many of my colleagues I'm sure.

One of the very best aspects of drum corps is the "Individual Contest". It's a time-honored event with great traditions and some legendary performances through the years: - Michael Hart, the father of the Grateful Dead drummer, winning snare nationals - John Simpson and Billy Hightower playing Bach 2-part inventions - Rita Macey of Audubon besting all the hot-shot boy wonders - The Hitmen (any year) - Pepe Notaro wrestling incredible sounds from the French Horn - Bucky Swan, Tommy Martin, The St. Kevins Quartets - Joey Pero I am so glad the BHOF has put its energies into promoting these shows and reviving a great drum corps winter passtime.

That Somerset theater recording is a real find. Many of us grew up listening to those performances and trying to play along to the LP. It's great to come across the Fleetwood discs as well. They are collectors items in format, at least. Virtually all the Fleetwoods have been re-mastered for CD and are available at www.fleetwoodsounds.com A good portion of the audio history of the activity, both junior and senior is contained therein. That catalog really is a treasure, as is the vinyl you found.