dukecornwell Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 I first saw the Cabs in 1961 in Denver. From that day forward, I always had a dream of being a part of that great organization. When Frank Ponzo invited me to perform with the alumni in 2005, I could not have been more honored. I have been a Cab ever since....although I always tell people that I am only a Caballero substitute...I am holding down a spot for original Cabs long-passed....and I am thrilled to do that.Alumni corps get slammed a lot.....but I can tell you, for the past three seasons, when the Cabs alums take the field (the most exciting five minutes in drum corps IMHO), the crowd noise is deafening.....like they have been waiting all evening for something to scream about....for someone to blow their faces off; for someone to play recognizable, electrifying music! Yep, we do not march well...some of us are are coming off major surgeries (like my cervical spine surgery)....but we hobble onto the field and we give the crowd the best we have..and most of us are not trying to relive our lost youth....we simply love to play the music, to hear the crowd...and to give something back to drum corps fans around the nation. I respect what I see from competitive corps..regardless of division or association....but none of it electrifies me like Cabs alum or Mighty St. Joes, or Madison Reunion Project, or Bridgemen....et. al. I have lived a dream thanks to the Caballero family, the Kiltie brothers and sisters, and Sie Lurye of the Royal Airs. Hey Bob! I think you march well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Ski Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Hey Big Blue Kiltie, I know how you feel. Back in the day, for various reason, I just wasn't able to travel to the other side of town and march with Royal Airs. When RA opened up their membership to field the 2002 Alumni Corps, it was like a dream come true for me also. Someone estimated the DCI prelim crowd at Madison that year to be 20,000. What a rush that was to experience an appreciative crowd like that. And to play Truman's classic music. Drum corps changes. Heck, music styles change. Big band, rock and roll, soul, disco, heavy metal, rap, new wave... it's all good. But to me it's the music of one's 'yooth' that stays with a person. Kids who are now in their 20's will most likely appreciate a different style of alumni corps when they get into their 50's. And let's hope they get to have that experience, like we are having now. The 'kids' from the 40's, 50's and 60' started drum corps. As others came along, they changed and refined it. And now it's the old timers coming back again who will hopefully keep the alumni trend on-going. Admit it, when we were in our teens and 20's, we had no intention or thought about ever becoming old. And as long as there are alumni corps, we don't have to become old (Die maybe, but not become old!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNSNARE07 Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 THANKS JOHN!! Congrats yourself and to SUn on what's shaping up to be a very successful season. Thanks Laura, best of luck to you and Cabs as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbluekiltie Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Duke and Ski..thanks for the support. I do march well..........just have trouble holding my horn thru those long solos.....the spine thing...the Latin thing...you know? All I can say is there is a strong place for us old folks....the crowd says so...hell, the crowd demands it.......but then, we could be old FAT folks just dissing alumni corps cuz we do not have the courage to participate...but that ain't us........blessings on the RA alums, Cabs alums, Sky alums, and all the folks that just want to play music...not sit on the sidelines and bemoan our fates...eh? Oh, oh...this will make the R and S blog......hurray...heheheheh. Ski, we have a bari hole you could fill, you know? Hey Big Blue Kiltie, I know how you feel.Back in the day, for various reason, I just wasn't able to travel to the other side of town and march with Royal Airs. When RA opened up their membership to field the 2002 Alumni Corps, it was like a dream come true for me also. Someone estimated the DCI prelim crowd at Madison that year to be 20,000. What a rush that was to experience an appreciative crowd like that. And to play Truman's classic music. Drum corps changes. Heck, music styles change. Big band, rock and roll, soul, disco, heavy metal, rap, new wave... it's all good. But to me it's the music of one's 'yooth' that stays with a person. Kids who are now in their 20's will most likely appreciate a different style of alumni corps when they get into their 50's. And let's hope they get to have that experience, like we are having now. The 'kids' from the 40's, 50's and 60' started drum corps. As others came along, they changed and refined it. And now it's the old timers coming back again who will hopefully keep the alumni trend on-going. Admit it, when we were in our teens and 20's, we had no intention or thought about ever becoming old. And as long as there are alumni corps, we don't have to become old (Die maybe, but not become old!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Ski Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Big Blue Kiltie, Did you hear that strange sound this morning? Sounded like two people choking on their Cream of Wheat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC7105 Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 "Admit it, when we were in our teens and 20's, we had no intention or thought about ever becoming old. And as long as there are alumni corps, we don't have to become old (Die maybe, but not become old!)" That is a classic statement!!! John Clougher S.H.Crusaders 71-80 Sunrisers 80 - present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbluekiltie Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Made me grin, John. Hey, I have not had a chance to see Sunrisers yet.....we rarely get to see anyone. I hear your show is making huge leaps. "Admit it, when we were in our teens and 20's, we had no intention or thought about ever becoming old. And as long as there are alumni corps, we don't have to become old (Die maybe, but not become old!)"That is a classic statement!!! John Clougher S.H.Crusaders 71-80 Sunrisers 80 - present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Whatever happened to Jimmy D'Amico, the great Cabs / Cabs alumni soloist? You can see pics with Jimmy on the www.theholynamecadets.org website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browniebrick Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Made me grin, John. Hey, I have not had a chance to see Sunrisers yet.....we rarely get to see anyone. I hear your show is making huge leaps. What happened to RA and M.O.B. ??? Are they even performing in 2007 ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbluekiltie Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 What happened to RA and M.O.B. ???Are they even performing in 2007 ??? RA has a small brass choir..abou 15 horns...apparently sounding balanced and pretty decent. MOB has about 25-30 horns...a few percussion and guard...sound really good. They are doing parades and concerts. Many of their members are splitting time among RA, Cavalier Classics, and Kilts..although I am not sure about Kilts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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