John Mock

Hello and Happy Holidays!-- Are there any plans for the Westshoremen to return? Probably the funniest memory I have, as a fan, of Westshore is Jeff Wilt (lead soprano/soloist 1985) fainting or otherwise passing out every week in a row, for something like 8 straight weeks of ICA competition, upon reaching the goal line at the end of the show, after having turned red--then purple while playing. The only weekend he didn't collapse was a show it rained during Westshore's performance. I wasn't quite sure if it was "added GE" or for real--you could almost set your watch by it. Seriously though, few played as well at his young age then. John

Maybe someone can help me understand this ancient Keystoners question: I had always been led to believe they had indeed won a national title, or at least a Class B title, in 1957. But did they??????? The history posted on corpsreps.com by a former DM who marched at that time states the Keystoners won the VFW OPEN National Championship in 1957--yet a check of that show's listed scores does not even reflect Keystoners among the scores. Reilly Raiders are listed as the Senior Open Class Champions. Based on what some told me, it rained much that weekend, and possibly the Keystoners may have been the only corps in their class to perform, due to rain/thunderstorms. Earlier posts on this thread do indeed show photos of the 1957 Keystoners at that National Championship--yet my question emailed to corpsreps has gone un-answered. I DID find a site elsewhere that discussed the Chicago Cavaliers NEW plastic drumheads of 1957--and credited the drumheads with at least minimally helping them to beat the water-logged competition there in Miami--so the part about the rain may be true. Was there an "Open" or "Invitational" or "Class B" Championship that year and did in fact the Keystoners "win"? Any information regarding that show would be most appreciated, because I've always wanted to know the truth--and by the 1980's field edition of the corps, nobody was currently marching who seemed to know for sure. Thanks all-- John

Are 3 valves even legal in DCA competition?

Any chance that one of those ex-Keystoners King silver plated sopranos survived Dutch Boy, and would be available for sale? I'm assuming that whatever Westshoremen or their alumni plan to use in the future would have 3 valves by now... If any of those old horns might be available, I'd be interested in trying to get one sop. There were at least ten, though 4 or 5 were taken by the allegedly underpaid 1988 instructional staff of the Keystoners. Let me know if you know anything. Thank you. Happy Holidays all! John

oops, deleted. John

oops mistake

And I have to like 1986 for Suncoast Sound's incredible Adventures in Time show--I believe they tied BD for first overall in Field Brass, their only caption win at Championships to my knowledge. It's unfortunate the finances turned south for them. There is no corps I miss more than Suncoast, though Freelancers and Sky Ryders would be up there too. John

Oops, I typed incorrectly and stand corrected. Though I believe actually the '84 Blue Crew basically played Maynard Ferguson's arrangement of La Fiesta, originally written by Chick Corea. I did love the '84 Blue Devils almost as much as '82, and always will. John

The mid-late 80's are notable for outstanding seasons by Sky Ryders, Suncoast Sound, Freelancers, Troopers, and other corps now gone...different corps reaching their zenith in different years. Sure, in 1987 we watched Cadets battle SCV at DCI East and knew SCV was maxed out and Cadets would catch them in the closing weeks--that was obvious, however the rest of the top 12 was not as solidly entertaining as 1982: For pure listening entertainment, I have never heard a Top 12 TOP TO BOTTOM SOLID and entertaining as 1982. The BD blew away all the competition with what I consider the last of their truly great to listen to jazz shows! Though they were hot in 1984 with La Fiesta Mexicana, I never could really understand or get into anything they played after 1984. An entertaining SCV in 2nd A wonderful show from the rising Garfield Cadets (3rd place), very interesting music--Rocky Point Holiday--sounds just like the later outstanding Garfield Corps. Forgotten today, 1982 was the beginning of the marching revolution--by 1984 all the high schools were following Garfield's new "flow" concepts. All the way on down: An outstanding 27th Lancers: Niner Two and Danny Boy among others! Crossmen--EERIE sounding hornline playing some of the best ever arrangements of Shoshanna, Canto Del Viejo, and Russian Christmas music--in parts of the show the eerie sounding hornline still gives me chills for all the RIGHT reasons! Madison Scouts--Strawberry Soup Bridgemen--one of the most exciting drum lines I ever heard Sky Ryders--La Virgen De Macarena/Come in from the Rain/Somewhere Over the Rainbow--perhaps the most classic and entertaining Sky Ryders show ever. Spirit of Atlanta, Freelancers--just great music though all these years later the tune names escape me. Every single corps of that top 12 offered something enjoyable about their show. My 2c. John

Hello-- I'm new to this forum, been out of corps a loooong time... BUT, having read a sampling of these posts--nothing seems new here!!! DCA apparently is little changed from the DCA of the 1980's and 1970's. They like their member corps, those who've paid their dues, and....not everyone else. It took Minnesota Brass years and years of payin' dues to make it in DCA. Some of those corps that finished 11th or lower did not deserve to be that far down. Unfortunately there is nothing new under the sun, and my 2-cent reaction upon reading the first few and last few pages of this thread is that if the Renegades and other corps don't get the satisfaction they desire, then perhaps they should get together with some other similar corps and create a new Senior organization that a few years down the road could put DCA in second place... My (at the time reorganized) corps' management got off on the wrong foot with a couple idiots (or one idiot) shooting off their mouths to DCA officials in 1984, where they made enemies--and they never really recovered from that, and are long gone. I sincerely hope the Renegades do better than the legions of other senior corps now gone! Best wishes-- John

I didn't march Keystoners in 1984, but they did buy uniforms from the Hershey's Chocolatiers, so it is likely them. In 1985 the Keystoners had new uniforms, the familiar Pink, black, and white to recall the bright colors of the 60's corps. John Keystoners '85-'88

Hello All-- I marched with the Keystoners from 1985 to 1988, and at that time Drum Corps World was running editorials saying one should remain with the hometown corps...that it is more rewarding when they finally "make it". I listened and have regretted that I stayed loyal with them when my grandmother would've sent me to any junior corps I wanted to go. Despite the challenges faced by a small corps in central PA, we had some talented members--many of which went on to march elsewhere, as I gather from this thread. The Criswell family in particular was very generous to those from out of town; every summer weekend myself and often others would stay overnight out in their camper rather than drive back and forth...we had a blast with them! About 6 Bluecoats did indeed join us for the end of (I believe) the 1987 season, and I believe in 1988 a lady from the struggling Bridgemen brought her children and some friends up for the last part of the summer with us--then the next year they marched Sunrisers. A lover's dispute the weekend of DCA Championships resulted in two people not marching 1987 DCA Championships--and their bad attitude may have contributed to 2 or 3 others out as well---which I'm sure made us look real good to the very professional Bluecoats who were with us. I look to little things like that as contributing to why the Keystoners are not around today. After 1988 some instructors, evidently as part of a financial dispute regarding their pay, elected to keep their horns--along with those who commuted with them--which took away a good chunk of the excellent King Sopranos. Then apparently Dutch Boy borrowed, or was to lease, some of the remaining horns. A local businessman had kindly donated a complete set of new King silver-plated bugles in 1985. G Two-valve horns--they were excellent as long as you cleaned them. Regards-- John