cabalumnidrummer

"Joe was a tenor drummer in the Caballeros (1965-1968) as well as played double congas from 1974-1977. At 6 foot five inches, Joe was known for his size that also matched his heart and sense of humor. He was loved by many." I played in line with Joe from 1966 to 1968, and again in the Alumni Corps. He was truly a "gentle giant" who loved his drum corps and his friends, and he was a wonderful guy to know. My condolences to his family, and to Steve and Chris (from the corps) who have been so close to him for so many years. Rest in Peace, Joe. John Smith Caballeros 1966-73 Cabs Alumni 1994-Present

Ok, so let me see now: June 2005, Bugler's Hall of Fame, now the NJ Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Should I notify Vince about fitting you for a bigger sombrero yet? Seriously -- Congratulations, Frank! A well-deserved honor! Next stop: World Drum Corps Hall of Fame? John Smith Caballeros 1966-1973 Cabs Alumni 1994-Present Cabs Alumni Percussion Coordinator

I think the practice of not inviting corps in successive years ended a long time ago. In addition to the Caballeros' competing corps returning to the Forum, the Cabs' Alumni will also be performing at the Serenade this year. This will be our the third year in a row in this show, and our fifth time overall. On two of those earlier occasions, you may recall we also played a few numbers with the competing corps. We will present our entire 2006 musical show, which is almost all new this year. Our first show will be one week earlier at the Dixie Stinger on April 1. John Smith Caballeros 1966-1973 Cabs' Alumni 1994-Present Alumni Percussion Coordinator

I'm going to risk showing my age on this one. Caballeros with an "l" sound, or the "Ca-ba-yeros" from an announcer trying to show he mastered Spanish One is one thing. We've heard it both ways for years, and I guess we're pretty much used to it either way. Occasionally, I have seen the Cabs' name in print as the "Hawthrone Caballeros," as well as the Cabelleros, andCaballaros (they were/are from Cleveland). But the one that always got me was this: On the Fleetwood Records recording of the 1967 American Legion Nationals in Boston, we were listed on the back cover as the Hawthorne Crusaders. It was one thing to lose our title to a great Hurricanes' corps that year, but then we also had to endure the wrong name on the album, for all posterity. Didn't anyone proofread that before it went to the printer? John Smith Caballeros 1966-1973 Cabs' Alumni 1994-Present

I didn't hear the report on WINS, but I wish I had. My dad (86 year old drum corps fan!) did hear it, and he called right away to tell us, he was so excited and proud. To this day, he's still a corps fan, and a staunch Cabs rooter. Too bad he just can't get to shows anymore due to his health. It was great to know that the corps received coverage on "The number one listened-to station in the nation!" as WINS bills itself! Go Get 'Em Cabs! Have a great 60th Anniversary year! You continue to make us proud to be part of the organization and the tradition. John Smith Caballeros 1966-73 Cabs Alumni 1994-present

I was thinking how much I'd like to see the Muchachos re-organize as a junior corps, but as far as an alumni corps, there is no truth to the rumor, as far as I know. Post 199 is already quite busy with both the Cabs' competing corps, and our Alumni corps taking turns. We already number many former talented Muchachos among our Alumni Corps members. The likelihood of another corps based in Hawthorne is remote at best. By the way, look for big things from both the Cabs and the Alumni in this 60th Anniversary year! John Smith Alumni Percussion Instructor Caballeros 1966-'73 Caballeros Alumni 1994-present

I voted yes on the trooping question at Finals. Here are some random thoughts why: As a spectator, I am in complete agreement with those who want more entertainment for their money. After all, this is the last time most fans will see a corps until the following season, and the last chance to show their appreciation to their favorite corps. Why not give the fans more show and less talk at the end? As a former competitor and now an alumni performer, I have always wanted to have one more chance to connect with the crowd by trooping close to the stands. The length of the Finals show has been raised as a reason not to troop. I respectfully disagree here. Someone mentioned the Kingston show -- an excellent point. That contest had 11 corps and an exhibition, and ran smoothly and efficiently. Long, yes, but the crowd didn't seem to mind. The enthusiasm and adulation of the fans was great to absorb as you marched in review along that track. My only complaint is that the corps were not sent onto retreat Olympic-style there as in past years, and that took too long. (I was playing all that time!) I can understand the configuration of the stadium being an obstacle to corps playing themselves on and off and trooping the stands after their performances. That is why I think the facility used for championships should be an important part of the bid process for the future. Baseball stadiums like Lackawanna are not the most suitable, and I feel should be avoided. (And how about that dust-bowl parking lot at Scranton where corps assemble!) I believe sites with football/soccer stadiums with tracks should be given priority consideration in the future. Regarding the retreat issues I've seen raised here, I can recall years ago when the defending champion had the honor of playing all the corps onto the field during the Olympic-style entry. More recenty an exhibition corps has had the honor (we did it in Allentown in '97), and this is far more entertaining than just a drum tap. And, every corps always used to pass in review at all contests, especially Finals, to honor the winner. Actually, I believe it was required, and I think some corps were actually fined some years when they didn't show proper respect. Finally, congratulations to the Buccaneers on their championship and for an outstanding undefeated season. And to all corps, thanks for a great year. Hope to see you all come out strong again next season. John Smith Caballeros Alumni

Hello, John T. Nice to hear from you here. I'm sorry we never got to play in the line together. After my marriage in '74, I had every intention of re-joining the Cabs, but work and family responsibilities took precedence. I came to several rehearsals to watch in those years, convinced I'd be back to join, but unfortunately, it never happened. When the Alumni Corps formed n March of '94, I was ready to return to playing on a limited, part-time, but no less intense basis. Bob Peterson and Danny Raymond (and the rest of us) wouldn't have it any other way! Losing Butch so tragically was a shock. He was a great guy and a great drummer. I have a terrific photo of the drumline from the 1973 undefeated corps that's one of my favorites: Jim Mallen, Tom Munier, me, Butch, Richie Muchen, and Ray Rodriguez on snare. You can also see Chris Sortino and Steve Williams on the double congas. I believe they all played in your first year in '74. The OLPH Ridgemen also have a small Alumni Corps which Jim Mallen instructs, and I assisted him with briefly this past year. You may know Bob Corbino and Bob Steinhilber ("Steinie") who instruct them and play in the line also, from your OLC Rambler and OLPH days. All great drum corps people to know and be associated with, believe me. If DCA is proof that there is life after DCI, I guess you'd have to say that the Alumni corps are proof that there is life even after DCA! If you are interested in exchanging more info about Butch, the Cabs, and mutual corps friends, I love to hear from you. You can reach me directly at my e-mail address: cabalumnidrummer@yahoo.com. John Smith

Thank you, Eric. You got my point exactly. Thank you also for your kind words about both the Cabs Alumni Corps and the Caballeros Competing Corps. John Smith

I've been reading this thread for three days, and have resisted the urge to reply, but I just can't hold back any longer. First, allow me to identify myself and present my background: My name is John Smith (yes, for real!). I'm better known to the guys in the corps as Smitty. I marched in the Cabs from 1966 through 1973, I'm a charter member of the Caballeros Alumni Corps, a member of the percussion staff and was the head percussion coordinator from 2001 through 2003. I play in the Alumni snare line. It would be appropriate for "Tenor Tim" to reveal his corps affiliation to all of us, but he chooses to hide behind the cute screen name. I would hope at some point he'd be man enough to step forward and own up to his background. If you don't like the Caballeros' style of music and marching, so be it. If you don't like Alumni corps in general, that's okay too. It's our era, not yours that we emulate. If you truly enjoy today's DCI and DCA corps, that's fine. Chances are that's what you've grown up with and know best. Personally, I find it hard to be excited and entertained at most contests lately. We all have our own tastes. There are several DCA corps I don't particularly care for, but I would never slam them in a forum such as this. And I would never, ever, denigrate any corps' dedication and hard work. We all do this thing we call drum corps for essentially the same reasons, but we choose different corps, different musical styles, etc. We have more in common through membership in a corps than we have with most of the other people we meet who may have never been in a corps. Why do some people seem to go out of their way to alienate other corps people? I personally was not happy to perform in Foxboro from the start. I made my feelings pretty clear to other corps members as early as January when we were first told of the commitment. My first comment was, "Why Semifinals? I guess they think we aren't good enough to appear at Finals!" I had heard of the disrespectful reception some of the other Alumni corps have received in the past when performing at DCI, and if Tim's latest post is accurate, it bears out what I had feared. In my opinion, we didn't need to do that show. Others in the corps were excited about it. I hated the thoughts of going up there. From where we stood at the end of the stadium to enter the starting line, we could see the crowd begin to leave in droves following the Cadets' performance. This was further proof to me of the arrogant and elitist attitude of some DCI fans. I know, some were there for five or more hours and had enough, but still, it was very disheartening to see from our viewpoint. The encouraging roar of the remaining spectators as we were announced made me feel that at least those who remained wanted to see us. From the field, the reception seemed warm and welcoming. I'd like to think that was truly the case. Tenor Tim's fears that we should be mistaken for a DCA corps by DCI fans after the show is laughable. Does it really matter to him that much what some hard-core DCI fans might believe? Were we really THAT BAD Friday night? What exactly is he afraid of here? Please, Tim, explain why this is such a bad thing. Are we that much of a disgrace, in your mind, that we should not be mistaken for a DCA corps? What bothered me the most was Tim's insinuation that today's DCA corps are all about the dedication, the "blood, sweat and tears," something the Cabs Alumni is not at all about. How dare he say that about my corps, or ANY ALUMNI CORPS! He has no idea the kind of hours and effort we put in. We work as hard as anyone to put on a good show. Since we don't compete and many members can't handle the physical demands of a competing corps (which is why we're in an alumni corps), our schedule is less demanding than a DCA competing corps. But the work ethic, the intensity and the dedication of our members should never be questioned or doubted. Tim, you are welcome to visit to any rehearsal to see that is true. Also, compared to many other alumni corps, ours is a much more rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule. Crowds like us, so we are in demand for many shows. We have to turn down as many as we take, if not more. Why is that, exactly? Tim's elitist DCA attitude really is not surprising. Like so many other current DCA corps members, he has little or no interest in or respect for the history or the accomplishments of the many corps and people who made DCA what it is today (throw in DCI and almost all of drum corps for that matter). Why he shows such animosity toward the Cabs Alumni (despite his protests to the contrary) is puzzling at best and insulting at worst. If I had to venture a guess, I'd bet that Tim's DCA corps (if he is even a member of one -- we just don't know, do we?) is probably staffed by former competitors of the Cabs and/or by former DCI corps members. Wouldn't it be great if he traced his staffs' history and experience back to their roots and found that some had former Cabs as the instructors at some point? That would be poetic justice! It's very possible. The DCA Alumni Show in Scranton may or may not be "spectacular," but it will be fun and it will be entertaining! And by the way, Tim. I always carry drum keys to rehearsals and shows. That way I can be sure our snares sound like drums, and not formica-covered wood boxes. God forbid we should be mistaken for a DCA competing corps. John Smith Hawthorne Caballeros 1966-1973 Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Corps Charter Member: 1994-Present Alumni Percussion Coordinator 2001-2003 Percussion Assistant 1998-2000, 2004-2005 World Drum Corps Hall of Fame Associate Member, Inducted 2002