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Drum Corps Family


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My uncle got us all started by taking us to a show in Boston in the early 70s.

My cousin Ed marched with the Speigleaires. Several of us marched with the Troy Volunteers - My cousin Steve played snare, my brother ED Contra, and I played Bari/Mello/Sop depending on the year (mainly mellophone).

My brother Ed, his wife JoAnn, and I marched with Excelsior and Sky Alumni. (I also marched with the Sky field corps and had a great time there. :whistle: )

Now, Ed has a lot of problems with his neck and shoulders, and is scheduled for surgery shortly on his neck (I think next week). All this has kind of ruined DC for him. But hopefully he can come back someday. For now, he comes around periodically, and even cooked for Fusion Core this summer in Chambersburg. He opened up a catering business so this takes a lot of his time during the summer.

My family, except for my father (who would rather watch baseball :blink: ), was always following the corps around and still do, including my mother! - we usually have 3 rooms DCA finals weekend.

Many of the kids in the family are in jr/high school bands. My hope is to steer them into doing drum corps for at least a year before they are off to college. I wish my son David would play -- he almost did Sky one year...Keeping my fingers crossed. I think Nate will, and maybe a few of his cousins.

DC is a great activity for everyone to participate which is why it's so appealing to many.

Well that's about it for now. :blah:

b**bs

Edited by fusioncorebusmgr
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The Martin's from Upstate NY.

Harvey (Dad) 1937- 1976 baritone, instructor and administration (met wife in D.C., 1947)

Shirley (Mom) 1940-1976 D.M., support staff (she made Roch. Phoenix's uniforms)

David (Son) 1955- present too much to list

Garry (Son) 1961- 1977, 2006- present (currently on the Crusader's board of director's)

Tim (Son) 1963- 1977, 2000- present (currently on the Carolina Crown's board of director's)

Scott (Son) 1966- 1980, 2003-2005

So far, a total of 182 years and still going!

Dad with 1955 Rochester Grey Knights

HarveyGreyKnightSmall-1.jpg

My dad Grew up with the Martins in good old Gloversville....at least that is the story I am sticking to..LOL b**bs

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I do not have any brothers or parents that new or wanted anything to do with Drum Corps.

But I met my wife in Drum Corps..marched together for a few years in junior. Was teaching my son and daughter for about 4 years in juniors also. My son and I both march with the Toronto Optimists Alumni now....and the newest thing is that my wife, daughter , son and I will now started playing for a small alumni corps at home so we can all be on the hornline together. That is the ultimate for me...except bringing a contra, barritone and 2 mellophones everywere we go.

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Here's the story of my 'drum corps family:'

I'm the middle child of five. All of us were in our local parish fife, drum and bugle corps as kids, St. Clare's in Rosedale, Queens, NY: two drummers, two horn players, and one fifer-turned-drum major. Both our parents were involved for many years on the support side, even after we were no longer marching members but became staff and instructors. To this day, I still instruct the drummers. I am the only one who went on to march in an M&M field corps, and my sister still runs the parish corps and is secretary of two standstill associations. Her son was one of my drummers. She also met her husband through drum corps, as he was a staff member of Our Lady of the Snows in Floral Park, Queens.

I met my wife through drum corps when she came from St. Joseph's Brigade, another parish corps in Astoria, Queens, to instruct the fife section. All three of our children played in St. Joseph's Brigade when we taught there together from 1985 to 1987. They also participated in their high school marching band, but none of them ever went on to a field corps. Fortunately, they still like to go to shows to see the 'old man' perform.

One of my fondest dreams was to see at least one of my children become a second-generation Caballero. So far it hasn't happened, but there's still a chance. My youngest nearly joined the Cabs pit this year, and she hasn't yet ruled it out for next year!

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I met my wife through drum corps when she came from St. Joseph's Brigade, another parish corps in Astoria, Queens, to instruct the fife section. All three of our children played in St. Joseph's Brigade when we taught there together from 1985 to 1987.

Oops! I guess I should have proof-read more carefully! We taught St. Joe's together from 1985 (actually late '84) to 1997, not '87. Incidentally, she 'retired' in '97, but I still teach them also, as well as St. Clare's.

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I actually have had the opportunity to march with my husband, my best friend and three of my daughters. LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Virginia last year when we came in 2nd, we were so excited and I marched off the field in a line after retreat with my husband and two daughters!!!!!

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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In the Royal Coachmen we had:

Me - sop, Colleen - guard (sister), Jamie - drums(bother), Tom Pieper- sop, Debby Pieper - rifle, Robin Pieper - rifle, Scott Pieper - Bari, Kelly Pieper - guard (all my cousins).

All between 1970 and 1977

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Yep... they were both in the hornline. I joined the Raiders after the 1967 season, weeks before the corps folded. I remember your dad from those few rehearsals I attended!

Fran

Thanks for the quick response. So, were your brothers with them prior to 1967? Were you in the guard? My sister was guard captain up until it folded. Yes, it was very much a family affair with us! My Mom taught the winter season competing guard.

I always felt that the Raiders had the chance to break out and be a contender. Unfortunately, many of the better players (horns and drumline) had aspirations of joining the likes of St. Lucy's. You can imagine how disturbed that made me! But, by that time, I was already out of the Golden Knights and in the military.

Have your brothers remained in touch with any of the folks they marched with?

Bob

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i'm the only one in my family that marched. met my 1st wife in cru........her dad was guard captain. met my 2nd wife in cru......she marched with jr. cru. but none of my blood marched. they came to shows and i might add were very proud of me.

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Im an only child of two only children. MY MOM loved drum corps. But my resume is a litany of 1sts.

1st(and only one) in drum corps

1st to go to college(Cornell)

1st to play football in college(also Cornell)

1st to get a PHD(Rutgers)

1st to travel to Europe(add Asia, South America and Oceania)

Drum Corps..while not the END-all in my life

occupies a very very very special niche.

;-)

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