27mello

Wow, I marched in 27th in 1977 and had never heard that story. I wonder whose idea it was? 1977 was my favorite year to march. We had a great bunch of people and staff. That was the year that George Zingali started to become GEORGE ZINGALI. He was a great motivator and had an incredible imagination. After the debacle of first tour, (EVERYBODY beat us), we came home to win CYO Nationals against a formidable field of opponents. 1977 was also Mark Sylvester's first year as a Lancer. (1978 DCI video has a great shot of his disco dancing!!) Great year. Glad our color guard wrote that letter. They were the best, and continued to be the best for many years. Precision was their trademark. Ok, as a horn player, I admit it, we were a little jealous of you girls!!

Many, many Massachusetts corps were incredible, and are long forgotten. St. Kevin's Emerald Knights Debonnaires of Norwood Beverly Cardinals (along with I.C. Reveries and Blue Angels - Became North Star) I don't consider North Star a one hit wonder - they were competitive at least 3 years. Cardinals at US Open in 197? playing Fanfare for the New (Stan Kenton) totally blew me away !!! Think Rick Connor arranged it. Totally AWESOME!!!!! From the East! Purple Lancers Watkins Glen Squires Avant Garde (Jazz and class!) St. Rita's Brassmen Blue Rock (was that a Ralph Pace corps??) From the midwest Des Plaines Vanguard (Age of Aquarius) When Santa Clara came East, we called DPV "Just Plain Vanguard". But, I loved their style. Racine Scouts - The "Chrome Domes" From the West Seattle Imperials (was that Stanley Knaub's debut?) Random: Oshkosh Warriors CMCC Warriors The Thing The Killmen (Best name award) Oakland Crusaders Seneca Optimists St. Ignatius all girls Ventures 5th Maine Regiment the year they re-inacted Linoln's assassination and a kudo to the Spartans and EC Jazz for consistant domination Blue Star and Troopers my mom and God LOL From the West Stockton Commodores Nesei Ambassadors

We never had the greatest horn line, but we had championship color guards year after year, and some killer drum lines. Thank Denise Bonfiglio and Peggy Twiggs (with a little help from George Zingali) for the color guards and Charlie Poole for the drum lines. Not to mention some great ladies in the guard, and great guys and gals in the drum line. (And we did have a couple of good horn lines - Wedge is awesome!!) So, even though I was a member - 27 gets my vote followed closely by Bridgemen and close behind, Blue Rock.

Yup, I remember Zingali giving a pep talk behind Northgate (standing on the loading dock of Zayre's) where he told us he wanted to see babies thrown into the air. That must have been 1977, since Ralph never would have let George give a pep talk to the corps in 76. Hey Terry and John, good to see you're both still around!

I've seen MF at least 4 times. And I was at a show at the Holiday Inn in Peabody (but not in the 60's), think it was the 80's. Band came out into the audience for "Hey Jude" and almost blew the walls down. But, (and I know they're not big band), but Tower of Power at the Paradise in Boston the first time I saw them was mind-blowing. I was sitting at this little table with George Zingali, and a few other staff members, and their lead singer, in "You're Still a Young Man", was standing RIGHT in front of us - like two feet away. When he sang "Down on my knees...", Zingali let out a scream that almost stopped the show!! Those of you who knew him can imagine. A pure Zingali moment. (And NO, I wasn't embarrassed - that was George!)

Although I should clarify that we did have males in 1994 alumni honor guard. And, may I add, I have never seen a prouder honor guard than that one. Those folks took it with the seriousness it deserved, and they did a great job.

OK, it's been long enough, and I've been going nuts for 16 years!!! How did they do it??

Correct! Greg was a baritone player with 27, and we never had a male guard member until '94 reunion corps when males were allowed in the rifle line. There were no males in the '94 alumni flag line.

Competed in all 3 in both "B" and "A" class. Greatest memory is 1969 (I think) competing in class "B" as a member of the I.C. Reveries at World Open. We were a small corps, even for "B", and we finished third behind the Oshkosh Warriors and someone else. There were no prelims that year. We sat through about a hundred corps and the scores were announced after everybody had performed. We beat a lot of local rivals, and I remember a corps called the Castlemen that had a male rifle who was tossing that sucker higher than the top of the stadium. I think they finished 5th. Anyone have scores from that?? Also, in 1973 we competed (badly) in the U.S. Open. We went on after Blue Devils. OMG

Beverly Cardinals did "Fanfare for the New" way back when and almost set the field on fire in Marion at the US Open. They also did a great version of "Nights in White Satin". I think Rick Connor arranged both. They eventually merged with I.C. Reveries and Danvers Blue Angels to become North Star. Beverly Cardinals were eclipsed by 27th and Crusaders, but in their day were one of the great Massachusetts corps.

Didn't Avant Garde buy the old Seneca Optimist yellow cadet unis and wear them for a year or two?

From the East - Scarlet Lancers (Chelsea, MA) Telstar (RI), 5th Maine Regiment (ME), Toreadors (Everett?), NOBODY said Bridgemen (Shame), wasn't there a 26th or 28th Lancers at one time not associated with the 27th Lancers? Other areas, Nesei Ambassadors, the Chrome Domes (from Illinois?), the Hershey Chocolataires from Hershey, PA (and their jr. corps the Hershey Squirts). The Wasau Story, and their jr. corps The Pages of the Wasau Story, Avant Garde (rocked!!) ok, so I taught them, LI Kingsmen, CMCC Warriors, Kingston Indians, The Killmen, The Squires. Oh God, I could go on and on.

Norwood Debonaires (sp?) They played the Door's "Light My Fire" and rocked my world circa 1969 at CYO Nationals. Great all girl corps. Of course, Audobon, all the Canadian girls and the Jeanettes were awesome as well. All-girl corps were a tradition that is irreplaceable. A great sub-set to the DC world!!!

Blue Rock Argonne Rebels Commodores Des Plaines Vanguard (When Santa Clara came to prominence we called them "Just Plain Vanguard") St. Andrew's Bridgemen Norwood Debonaires ("Light my Fire") St. Rita's Brassmen Mighty St. Joe's (Reunion corps was awesome!) Seneca Optimists (Great name!)

As nice as it would be to have a "reprise" of '94, I don't see how it could have happened. Like I said to Peggy Twiggs at Darlene's wake "When the #($#@ did we get so OLD?" It was definitely a "once in a lifetime" event. I couldn't imagine going through the rehearsals in 90+ degree temperatures, marching parades (I almost died in Bristol, RI!!) I watch the video of the '94 performance all the time and with great pride and think of that night as one of the greatest of my life, but absolutely, NEVER again! (LOL)

I was on the marching staff along with Meatsy and Joe. Dan Panessa designed the drill, and Steven Covitz was CG caption head. Great times. Three or four members went on to become marching staff for 27th, including John Bodie and Danny McBride, although both marched AG prior to me becoming a staff member. Coincidentally, I was Danny's room-mate in 1978 and John's in 1979-1980.

I whole-heartedly agree with all the choices. May I add Denise Bonfiglio to the list? She and HOFamer Peggy Twiggs have been instrumental in guiding some of the world's greatest color guards. Denise is deserving, and would make a nice Father/Daughter HOF team.

My dad was my best friend and he passed away suddenly in May of 1993. He was the person who got me interested in drum corps. When the call came that the 27th Lancers were reuniting to field an alumni corps to perform at the 1994 DCI Championships I jumped at the chance. It was as though time had stood still. The pride and dedication were immediately evident among true alumni and the more than welcome newcomers who joined us. It was a long and difficult road with extreme weather and aches in muscles we'd forgotten existed. But on an August Saturday night it all came together and the results are legendary. As Michael Cesario said succinctly and oh, so eloquently at the end of the performance - "WOW!"

Wow, I vaguely remember the Mayflower circuit. Anyway, let's throw out some old corps names. Remember??? Telstar (RI) Cardinal Cushing Cadets (Roxbury) Scarlet Lancers (Chelsea - rumored that Chick Corea was a member) Don Juans, Statesmen (Everett) Middleboro Sabres, Dukes (Marlborough), Annunciators (Somerville). Random stuff - at one time Revere had three units competing - 27th Lancers, I.C. Reveries and the unit that gave George Zingali his start - St. Anthony's Band. St. Anthony's had a number of years in which they were quite competitive, and gave birth to a champion WGI unit called Quasar. Fans of 1980 27th should note that the red yellow and black flags and some of the guard work were "borrowed" (since Zingo taught both you can't really call it stolen) from Quasar. Does anyone know how many Quasar ladies ended up marching in 27th? (I don't).

And all this time I thought I was the only one that had these dreams (nightmares). With me, I've usually forgotten part of my uniform or my horn, and am pillaging the busses and equipment truck looking for a spare while the corps is marching into the stadium... For a great allegory to this dream, check out "The Actor's Nightmare" by playright Christopher Durang. It's a short play about an accountant who gets thrown out on a stage not knowing the story he's in, and of course, his lines. Very funny, and close to home.

In 1980 I taught a 20th something place corps, but was hitching a ride back to Revere with 27th. I stood on the track as the corps were playing themselves off, and Spirit knocked me on my keester!!! Also, 1994 July 4 parade in RI a bunch of us alumni watched BD warm up. Just playing exercises, they took LOUD to a new level. 75 Madison was the first time I ever got an ear bleed (and that's a good thing!) Whatever the "gangsta" year was for BD (1996? Orlando) their semi-finals opening statement blew the stands back! Trivia: Avant Garde did an indoor (rainout) performance in Watkins Glen in 1981 where the brass and percussion judges gave taped evaluations. The brass judge said "Sorry, you guys are too loud. I'm turning off the recorder". That was after the opening statement of "When the Angels Sing". Dan Panessa was screaming "A thousand horns!!!!!"

Perhaps we should name Nancy "Crown Imperial" queen. I remember a Cootie parade I did in the I.C. Reveries out in Agawam. Best costume was Tina Coviello (guard member) as Big Bird.

You're right as usual, Nancy. 1978 disco was trying to cash in on Quasar's success. Remember Papaya?? "Celebrate" was brought back after the Tower of Power tune ("Because I Think the World of You") tanked as a concert. Remember the guard member doing a solo ballet? Zingali was a little TOO way ahead of his time with that one. All in all, the finals performance was pretty good. That was a looooong season though. Wish I'd been eligible to march '79 and gone out with more of a bang.

Back to 1977. I marched 76-78 and the alumni corps. I loved the 77 show. 1976 was an awesome experience, but the "Sweet Georgia Brown" drum solo into Danny Boy had that contra part at the end that I never felt like it worked. (Although it was better than the original concept where we played the tune on our mouthpieces). Fanfare to Rocky from CYO Nationals on didn't need a hit or a crescendo to get the crowd on their feet. Just the opening statement did it! OK, I liked "Gonna Fly Now", but I cringe every time I see Mark Sylvester "discoing" before his solo. "Gaite Parisienne" was a blast to play, even watered down. You can't see it on the video, but the ending featured the by now famous opening and closing box on the 50 yard line made famous in 1979 and forward. It was performed by the hornline on either side of the field. I'm pretty sure (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), that Stephen Covitz came up with that one. The drill that year was written by 4 different people - Ralph Pace, George Zingali, Covitz, and Bob Stewart. Oh, and LancerFi, I LOVED the under the leg thing during the jazz waltz

John, thanks! Kenny Lou Darnelle sounds right (although who would name their daughter Kenny??) Rocketman, you're awesome for appreciating the past. The endless 77 tour with Phantom is one of my best memories of a great season. That was the summer that Elvis died in the middle of tour. (don't know why I mentioned that, but it seemed significant). Well, actually, he wasn't on tour, but I remember George Zingali flying onto the bus and telling us. Yes, Nancy, the female Michiganite was named Jan, and she was a really good French Horn player. I'd completely forgotten her name. The 3 folks from Michigan lived in a motel room on Revere Beach - the Castle Mar. Do you remember the couple that owned it? Help me out - it may have been the Nickersons.