[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

86atlanta, I will join Ginger and ask that you sign your name. 

If you really marched that summer, you will not have a problem identifying yourself to those of us that shared that summer with you. 

If you want truly want to discuss anything, you can do so with any of us here in PM, on the Spirit board (or in PM's there) or via email through this site or the Spirit board as well. 

Creating a s/n and posting things that merely "stir the pot"  at a time that Spirit is enjoying their best summer in a couple of seasons is not productive for anyone. 

The corps enjoyed immense success under Freddy's leadership in the late 70's and early to mid 80's.  As he began to focus less on the corps and more on his family in the later 80's and early 90's (he had to figure out a way to pay for college for his son), he turned over much of the day to day responsibilities for the organization to others.  The corps began to slip some in that transition.  He actually retired from the corps after the '93 season and was not associated with the corps until being asked to return for the 2000 competitive season in a lead instructional role. 

He put together a team of people that would eventually be forced to salvage the corps from an attempt to fold it in June of 2000 by the then administrative team.  Thanks to a monumental effort by Freddy, a large group of alumni, friends of the corps throughout the activity and parents of corps members, the corps survived and toured that summer.  The partnership with JSU began with the 2001 season and he left the organization after that season. 

Bama is correct, were it not for JSU, Spirit would be no more.  Our choices after the 2000 season were to either fold the corps, or return to the competitive field as a new organization under the JSU umbrella.  There was a conscious decision made by both Freddy and others to move forward under the JSU umbrella with the understanding that many things would most likely change as that transition continued.  It was more important to keep the corps alive than it was to regain control of something that had slipped so far from what he had originally built.

Freddy is happy doing what he is doing, the corps is enjoying what they hope will be a return to the top 12 this summer so I"m puzzled what good you think will come of your post. 

Again, I would ask you to identify yourself.  We'll be awaiting your reply.

AA

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my only reason for asking or rather bring this topic up was i witnessed several marching members at a recent show tell kids interested in marching that ken bodiford started spirit of jsu and what a great director he was that is why i asked why tradition or rather history may not be being told correctly making me upset

plus being told that freedy martin was told he was not wanted becouse of his temper

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

I didn't want to get involved anymore, but don't make stuff up to prove your point.  The website calls it a "Summer Performance Ensemble".  Is that not what a drum corps is?

Take your hate somewhere else.

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for the record verbatim spirit is the summer performance ensemble of jsu

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

If you want to talk about numbers how about going back to the 70's and 80's see where Spirit of Atlanta was placing then.  :)  It's not just the University, although I'm sure it helps tremendously, it's the management and the staff they hire to teach and run the corps. :)

1977 23

1978 6

1979 4

1980 4

1981 9   

1982 12

1983 7

1984 6

1985 7

1986 6

1988 9

1989 14

1990 11

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first let me say finals 86 was a sad time for many facing the back field and seeind the 27 in big letters was just heart breaking im sure it was for those who march them as well i never forgot that sight. on to the other when i was looking at the spirit site i was shocked to see the following " jsu's summer band program" that is what spirit drum corp is refered to as.

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

Yes, Freddy and Lynda (his wife) still run Spirit Camp, a youth marching band camp every summer.  Sharon (his sister) helps with administration and is also music caption head for the camp.  (I am the Camp Coordinator and auxiliary caption head.)  We just finished up with that last week, and it was a GREAT camp this year.  Many Spirit alumni still come back to teach each year, as it's a great week for catching up and seeing "family".

Freddy does work with Phantom some....he started that when Michael, their younger son marched there last summer and has continued teaching there some  this season as well.  He's doing great, and really enjoying life these days. 

I do know that Spirit has at least one "old" alum on staff, as well as a few from more recent years I think.  Clint Gillespie is percussion caption head and has been touring with them this summer.  The alumni association also runs the souvie operation, so if anyone starts to hurt for a "good old days" story, I'm sure there are always folks willing to share.  :)

When Ken took on the corps he made the changes he felt like would be best for the corps.  As it's director, that is 100% his perogative.  As a former member, teacher of several current members, and friend to many others, I think I can safely say that the alumni from the "glory days" wish the current corps nothing but the best, and we'd love nothing more than for them to return to the upper ranks of DCI.

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working with the spirit camp is not actually working with the drum corps he help give birth too. it seems that jsu feels it is their personal creation and not something given to them

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

freddy martin was not only the heart of spirit but its soul too

and without that it will never be the real spirit the sound of the mello line coming over the sops and the way you could here the overtones is what made this corps

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Last I heard, Freddy and Sharon Martin are still running the "Spirit Camp" in the greater Atlanta area, so there's probably at least a little bit of involvement with the corps. (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong)

You're right though, Freddy Martin is one of the most brilliant brass-minds I've ever had the pleasure to work with.

As a side note...his son, Chris just won the principal trumpet gig with the Chicago Symphony. Way to go Chris!! (he marched with us in '93)

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freddy doesnt do anything with this spirit he works with phantom regiment some

what i was told was when spirit moved he was asked to step aside

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

and their placement shows what happens when you don't evolve. i have nothing against tradition. its important but at the sametime a corps needs to change certain things over time

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change is good only if it is for the best, you said look at their scores my point exacly they use to be running for the top 7 has spirit placed higher than 9th 10th

since changing

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

That is one that that is really nice about Pioneer. Roman (founder) is still there, keeping the corps true to itself :) It was nice to have someone around that knew everything about where the corps had been and also where it is planning to go.

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im glad that you understand, my point was that most corps try to keep former

marchers on as staff to pass traditions, plus understanding where the drum corps came from why it played the types of music it did and all the heartaches that happened over the early years, why do you have certain awwards what does the colors mean , and so on its true the troopers have new directors but they have kept their tradition listen to their music and it shows

[what ever happen to tradition and honor]

i just found out tha spirit of atlanta( now of jsu) doesnt have a founder still working with them. theres more to being a drum corp director than just adding it to your resume. freddy martin was not only the heart of spirit but its soul too

and without that it will never be the real spirit the sound of the mello line coming over the sops and the way you could here the overtones is what made this corps