Alex M. Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 It seems that Glen Crosby has been a sidekick to Ralph for sometime (didn't he follow Ralph to BK too?). And, Glen seems to have had his hands in some of the most memorable SCV lines. However, he doesn't seem to get much public credit for his work. Who is this mystery man? jplattSCV said this about Crosby: One of the scariest and yet nicest guys you'll ever know. He is about getting things right as opposed to getting the highest score. What role did Glen play in those legendary SCV lines AND what is he known for? Is he a tech specialist? Is he a cleaning machine? Motivator? All of the above? Was he the "bad cop." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84BDsop Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Tenor in BD 81-84. Awesome chops.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplattSCV Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Tenor in BD 81-84.Awesome chops.... Yes. He never marched in SCV. He was a BD tenor. Keep in mind my comments are the comments of an observant member of the pit. Not a battery member. But, I know he brought a tremendous intensity. He cared immensely for the guys and gals in the line. He commanded respect. He consistently talked about quality of sound. uniformity of technique. touch. control. etc. All of these qualities were things that translated to anything that we might do musically in the future. I talk to a lot of musicians that have to ignore many of the techniques they were exposed to in drum corps. Not, the guys that are taught by Glen. If he was talking I was listening. I can't remember how many times I heard him jokingly refer to the whole drum corps activity as "###### rediculous". It was a bunch. I often got the impression that he was fighting through other people's habits and tendencies to get us all to do things that would give us the best possible and most consitent sound. I can vivdly hear him in my mind running right through the pit muttering "Hammerheads!!" to himself as he went out on the field to give the battery a lashing. BTW, I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that is Crosby's voice saying "Yes!" on the recording of us at finals at the release of the ever-so-tasty mixed tempo rolls that are in the Carmen closer. This was the last notes the batttery played before running into the tunnel. I remember seeing him watching from the front sideline at about the 30 yard line as I went from one station to another before we started playing the closing passages from the pit. It is wierd what trivial things the brain decides to store. And I would never call him a sidekick. Certainly not to his face. He didn't just parrot what Ralph was saying. They were just inherently speaking a compatible language. The language of quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snare36 Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 A few words to describe Glen: No nonsense, cut to the chase, tough, thoughtful, methodical, deeply emotional (though you SELDOM have the opportunity to see this side of him), honest, serious, and an excellent judge of character. Glen's forte is ensemble cohesiveness. In a short time, Glen can figure out the most convoluted of listening situations and teach young musicians to play in time in situations when doing so is next to impossible. He is short with time wasting, impatient with ego maniacs, and can never be beat in a battle of sarcasm. Glen is not in the business of sparing feelings or accepting mediocrity. Glen is a man of deep integrity who will not accept less than the best from members. Glen's lack of notoriety, in my observation, is not due to a lack of talent or "second best" status to Ralph. Rather, Glen does not seek the limelight or have much use for great personal recognition. It seems to perhaps make him uncomfortable. In the short two years I worked with Glen I found that he gleams his greatest satisfaction in life from the excitement of creating excellence and quality music from young people. When he showed up at SCV in 1997 we were sure he ate young children and rusty nails for breakfast. But as the year wore on, he became one of the most revered and trusted members of our staff by the drum line even if we did peek in his breakfast bowl every so often just to be sure. He never lost his cool but had the voice of a volcano when the drum line reverted to stupid mistakes. One never wanted to be the focus of Glen's wrath. Glen is one of the best teachers drum corps has to offer, period! Thanks for everything, Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadetsnare Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Glen's a great friend of mine...he's a MONSTER teacher, and really cares about the kids. If I had to go to battle, I'd want Glen in the foxhole with me! If I could pick a guy to work with in ANY drum corps percussion situation, it would be Glen. No doubt, no second guessing. He's the real deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex M. Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 For anyone who cares (like me) I found this interview with Glen: http://www.dci.org/audio/2007/080407_sanantonio_crosby.mp3 Glen's a great friend of mine...he's a MONSTER teacher, and really cares about the kids. If I had to go to battle, I'd want Glen in the foxhole with me!If I could pick a guy to work with in ANY drum corps percussion situation, it would be Glen. No doubt, no second guessing. He's the real deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex M. Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Spike, Thanks for sharing. By the way, your posts on DCP always make a good read. Now I just need to pony up and buy your book! Alex A few words to describe Glen: No nonsense, cut to the chase, tough, thoughtful, methodical, deeply emotional (though you SELDOM have the opportunity to see this side of him), honest, serious, and an excellent judge of character. Glen's forte is ensemble cohesiveness. In a short time, Glen can figure out the most convoluted of listening situations and teach young musicians to play in time in situations when doing so is next to impossible. He is short with time wasting, impatient with ego maniacs, and can never be beat in a battle of sarcasm. Glen is not in the business of sparing feelings or accepting mediocrity. Glen is a man of deep integrity who will not accept less than the best from members. Glen's lack of notoriety, in my observation, is not due to a lack of talent or "second best" status to Ralph. Rather, Glen does not seek the limelight or have much use for great personal recognition. It seems to perhaps make him uncomfortable. In the short two years I worked with Glen I found that he gleams his greatest satisfaction in life from the excitement of creating excellence and quality music from young people. When he showed up at SCV in 1997 we were sure he ate young children and rusty nails for breakfast. But as the year wore on, he became one of the most revered and trusted members of our staff by the drum line even if we did peek in his breakfast bowl every so often just to be sure. He never lost his cool but had the voice of a volcano when the drum line reverted to stupid mistakes. One never wanted to be the focus of Glen's wrath. Glen is one of the best teachers drum corps has to offer, period! Thanks for everything, Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeOtherJoe Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Greatest sidekick ever was Ed McMahon... no contest! As far as Crosby goes, legend has it he came out'a the womb with a beard, a scowl, and a lit, half smoked marlboro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Brace Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Some people are very happy Glen spends as much time as he does in Tempe, AZ. Thank you Glen for all your work with the Arizona Academy. We are very glad to have you on our team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trwiggin Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Glen is great and has this vibe about him that any line just plays better when he is around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.