OrlandoContraAlum
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Posts posted by OrlandoContraAlum
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Spewie Inside Santa.... LOL
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No offense taken, this crazy communications medium we are fond of does lend itself to misunderstandings.... from time to time. It's all good, I know where you were coming from.
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I believe they did (maybe Marwan can confirm). In '85 the snare line dropped thier snares and marched with double bongos for the first half of "Midnight in Miami", and with triple-bongos in '86 for the first half of the closer.
In 89, the snares had 2 bongos attached to the front of their snares rather than switching drums completely.
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Steph, I don't think that John was saying that Suncoast should not have been on the field in 88 due to anything the kids did, just that financially it was not a sound move.
Trust me, John was there (as was I) and it WAS an issue with the kids at the time. Additionally, since most everyone involved then is now in their mid-30's, I don't think that learning things like this now will be all that traumatic.
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First off...to all alumni of Suncoast...Thank You!! 83,85,86, are still some of my "go to" performances for my cd player..
1987 Suncoast was the first corps I saw live ( Cary, NC ) and will always remember that.
However, I did have a couple questions about that specific year.
1) Was there a lot of turnover after 86 season member-wise ( ie. a lot of age outs )
2) After such a stellar programming year as 86 was..I guess I always wondered why the staff chose "My Fair Lady"? It just doesn't seem to have the follow up strength. I guess I would have loved to have heard some more exploration of Kenton's music..
either way..you guys are missed
CM
A few more notes about 87....(rookie year)
Suncoast Sound was the reason that I learned a brass instrument. My HS director was on Suncoast staff from 85-88. The corps had many, many camps at my HS during the 85 and 86 winter programs. 85 was the summer after my freshman year, in which I played clarinet. I first saw Suncoast live sometime in the spring of 85 and was simply blown away. I would practically live at camps at my school, sitting in front of that hornline with my tape recorder. I knew then that I had to do this...
In my sophmore year, a scheduling conflict caused be to drop to beginning band, so I figured now was the time to learn an instrument. I wanted french horn, but the director needed a tuba, so, at 5' 5" and 120 lbs, I picked up the biggest horn there and started working.
I went to just as many camps as a spectator in the 86 winter season. That corps was just incredible. Larry Clark, who was one of the DMs in 85 was on staff in 86 and did his internship at my school. He tried to talk me into marching that summer, but I didn't think that I was ready. In my eyes, those guys (Suncoast hornline) were like gods, there was no way I could make it (I thought), but I KNEW that I would be there in 87. That's how I missed out on the best Suncoast year.
I went to my first camp in February of 87 and was quite taken aback. There were maybe 40 horns there, and a LOT of them seemed to be rookies. I didn't think that the music was that challenging, and when we started to learn the drill, I didn't find that tough either. Now don't get me wrong, I was no stud, by any means, but I really thought that it would be the hardest thing that I ever did. We did not have a full hornline all winter, in fact we went on tour with several holes. If I recall, we never made it to the planned 60 horns, probably closer to 52.
I think that, for a lot of the folks that were there in 86, 87 was very hard. These were folks that were used to competing with BD, Cadets, Cavies and SCV, and we came out of the gates getting beaten by Florida Wave, Bluecoats, Dutch Boy, etc. Now, I am in no way trying to belittle those corps... just not the competition that the vets were used to. We eventually turned things around and were quite competitive, but it was a tough year for me as a rookie, I can't imagine what it would have been like for vets.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that it was all bad, just not what I expected. It was still an incredible experience all around, and one I will never forget. 88 and 89 were tough as well, for other reasons. Still some of the best people that I have ever been around. I am really glad that there are so many people that really dug what we did, even in the "twilight" years of 87-89,
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But, she was essentially reprimanding alumni from a corps she did not march with, as to what they should or shouldn't be saying. As she threw herself into the fray, she deserves to hear dissenting views to her opinion and rebuttals to her reprimand.
Fair enough strutta....
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Heh, so SkaJerk, how do you really feel about Suncoast 85? (j/k)
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First of all, no one needs to jump on LancerLady for her opinions. She was simply expressing her feelings on this subject, that's all. Some organizations just have different beliefs, that's all.
No one is disparaging the director in question, just the opposite. The story of the corps is an important tale, for the reasons that John mentioned. The sad thing is many corps have faced the same decline or demise, and more needs to be done to ensure that it does not happen.
As far as a reorganization of the corps, I for one think that it would be a tough task. Most of the folks involved that have stayed close to the activity have moved on to other corps and are quite successful there. The list of Suncoast alumni that are still active in the activity is quite impressive, really.
Boston Crusaders:
Howard Weinstein - Director (former Marching member and staff)
Dr. Mike Robinson - Brass Caption Head (former staff)
Jerry Kelsey - Brass Tech (former staff)
Rich Viano - Percussion Caption Head (former center snare)
Bob Barfield - Visual Caption Head (former MM and staff, bad-a@@ bari soloist in 84 and 85)
Jon Zollo - Visual Tech (former sop)
Glassmen have the dynamic duo of Robert Smith (former director/arranger and composer of the 85, 88, and 89 shows) and Frank T. Williams (former Brass Caption Head and all-around bada@@).
Former members and staff have also worked with Magic, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, SCV, and others.
I think that, sadly, events in 87 and 89 really left a bad taste in the mouths of some really good people. Additionally, some former Suncoast members who marched with Magic in 1990 had a really tough time, and it would be quite tough to bring them back into the fold. Not to mention the inevitable issues with ego and power struggles.
While I would love to see it, I just don't know that it could be done.
I will concur that those unis looked great but were HEAVY! And BOY did they STANK!
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Cool, I do web development and windows programming in Orlando, and this year I am marching with Heat Wave (a senior corps here)... kinda strange picking up the beast after 14 years, but I will give it a go. Good to hear from you!
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Suncoast Bari solo in 85 (Midnight in Miami, Bob Barfield)
There are others, but right now I am drawing a blank.... back to you soon.
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The only things shakin never used to shake before....
Things are good, what are you up to these days?
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The two corps were closer that "near each other". From 1982 to 1988, they were right next to each other:
82 - Spirit 12, Suncoast 13
83 - Suncoast 6, Spirit 7
84 - Spirit 6, Suncoast 7
85 - Suncoast 6, Spirit 7
86 - Suncoast 5, Spirit 6
87 - Suncoast 9, Spirit 10
88 - Spirit 9, Suncoast 10
The three years I marched it was a fun rivalry. And yes, we made a large delta on the field at finals with horns and drumsticks. Photos are here (this links to another thread on this site).
We also left our age-out socks under the horns, so when we left the field, the delta stayed. It was pretty cool.
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And I can add to this (I was there in 89)
John's info is pretty much spot on. The only coda that I would add to the Circle-K piece is that the corporation was also a bit upset at some of the spending decisions made by the current board and how quickly the corps went through money.
1989 was a very, VERY tough year. I had been with the corps from November to February, but I dropped due to school situations (it was my freshman year in college) and the persistant rumor that we were not going to make it to tour. I went to the preview show in June and saw the progress that had been made with the corps and decided to jump on board. Tour was ####. Period. It seemed that we could not go a night without a bus breaking down, our bus lacked A/C for days at a time, we had to cram 3 busloads of people onto 2 busses for a 10 hour drive, stuff like that.
About halfway through tour we had a corps meeting because the rumor that we were about to go home was going through the corps. The aforementioned (by John) director got us together and promised us that we would finish the tour, no matter what, and not to worry. That's when things started to turn for us. The food situation was VERY bad however, and it caused major morale problems (yeah, you are going to be on the bus for the next 12 hours, here's a cookie and some juice). I had heard that other corps were helping out with the food, but we never were officially told anything.
All in all, it was a satisfying summer (we had a nearly 40 point improvement from June to August) but the conditions were rough.
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Well, glad to see I had the shots right.
I always thought people went nuts then b/c they KNEW that the corps were about to do so. Good to see that others share that opinion!
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I may be off a bit here, but IIRC, all judging except GE stopped at the 11 or so minute mark back in the day of the 13 minute show. The shots were to signal the judges of that mark.
Kinda cool, cause it seems like on every recording I have from back then, people cheered when the shots rang out.
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Has it ever been verified that they won Prelims (not Semis . . . please)? I've never heard a score for that show. Their GE score would have been very high, but a guy in the corps (who was also, believe it or not, in SCV '72 and '74) told me they felt they were dirty that day . . . hard to say if they would have beaten Madison, not to mention SCV and BD.
According to corpsreps.com, they DID participate in prelims, but their score was never released. Anyone else?
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Nope, I believe that the reviewer meant EXACTLY that you could tell who was and wasn't Jewish. Therein lies the beef. (pun most CERTAINLY intended)
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My personal tick....
If you watch the 88 Suncoast vid, you will see it. At the end of the opening number, the entire corps folds into a dot in the middle of the field, facing backfield. On the last 4 counts, we turn to face front, then hold a second or two, then launch into the next tune. Well, if you watch, you will see one contra kinda "step out" after the turn.
Don't know if it was nerves or what, just did the turn too fast and the contra wanted to keep going. I remember looking right at one of our marching techs as it happened, and her jaw dropped. I think that she though _I_ was going to drop!
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Ok, I stand corrected. Thanks!
Man, I don't even remember going on so late at prelims! And I am quite sure that I NEVER knew that we went on right after BD. ####.
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LOL - have you ever "seen" the camera coverage from 1983 ? (even 1984) it is a disgrace..you see malletts hiting keys, bells of horns, the inside of the bell during 1812..
Ahh, yes. You are correct sir! Very good point. The first DVDs I ordered were 84 and 87. For some reason I thought that the DVDs offered both multi cam and high angle, and was SEVERELY dissappointed to see that they were multi only. Oh well.
You are right about the camera work in 84. Watch Suncoast's closer, you would never know that during the huge closer push, all the way through the tag ending, they are doing a pretty darn cool flag effect on the field, b/c the #### camera man does a tight shot of the color guard presenting arms, followed by the drum major, followed by a zoom in on the flag and night sky. Irks me to this day.
I stand corrected.
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83 Phantom...very underrated..possibly the best drill ever.....unless you have the tapes or remember it.....sigh.......you'll never see it....It is written and performed perfect !!
Ummm, can't you get it on the Legacy DVDs? Just wondering, since you can get 74 - 99.
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<snip> ...probably still in a mental quagmire thinking about THE SOLO.
<cue Psycho music>
Man, not to bring up a sore point, but I know what you mean. I saw you guys several times that year and LOVED the solo. It was just awful what happened to that guy. It was very sad, as that solo is in the top 5 all time in my book, and at least I got to hear what it really sounded like.
So, evilcontra, you know John Adcock then....
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Hey VK... I thought that Phantom went first at 88 Finals. I am pretty certain of it. I know, because we went second, and felt the same way (that we may have placed higher had we gone on later).
Anyway, just thought that was the order, could be wrong.
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And, as an added trivia contest, does anyone know what transpired at the 1989 retreat regarding Suncoast and Spirit?
<<Hint>> Spirit did NOT make finals in 89.
Suncoast formed a delta with their horns on the field during retreat.
Very classy.
Ding Ding!!! Jim wins!
Yeah, it was very bittersweet. We had a real tough rivalry with Spirit, but no one wanted to see them in the stands on Saturday. I had a really good friend, John McBrayer, who had marched Suncoast 88 and was with Spirit in 89. He and many others were right behind us at finals Retreat. We just felt that people could not forget the "other" Southern corps on Saturday night. And really, it was not only our horns, but we left our socks under the horns, so that when we left the field, the Delta was left behind...
Here are a couple images:
The irony is that the rumor at the time was that Spirit was folding. Little did we know...
Freelancers
in Historical Junior Corps Discussions
Posted · Edited by OrlandoContraAlum
I loved the 83-85 offerings from SAC. We played Breakin' Up/Lover Come Back in my HS band, it was much fun. The next year we tackled Born Again, which also did not suck.
I REALLY liked the 85 show. The music was quite cool, and I really liked the uni's. (That _was_ the year of the funky unis that seemed to change when you turned around and such...no?)
A good corps that is missed. :(
"We got something you're really gonna like!"
"Here it is!"
"Live! From Sacramento... the Freelancers!"
Good stuff!