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weren't the Velvet Knights the first to use the contra bass?

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weren't the Velvet Knights the first to use the contra bass?

No, but they may have been the first to ABUSE the contra bass.

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weren't the Velvet Knights the first to use the contra bass?

WDCHOF INDUCTED 1981

JACK BULLOCK

Jack Bullock is known for his innovations in bugle instruction and arranging, mainly with the Geneva Appleknockers in upstate New York. In the 1950s, he was one of the first to create jazz-styled horn arrangements. He also made performing a year-round activity, scheduling sit-down stage concerts during the winter months. For many winters, the Appleknockers attracted more members for the winter schedule of performances than for summer parades and field shows. He was instrumental in working with Whaley Royce and Co. manufacturers of Toronto, Canada in introducing the first contra-bass bugle, almost 10 years before the over-the-shoulder model became common. The Whaley Royce design produced the proper sound, but the horn was the conventional bugle shape. The weight of the instrument made it too heavy and cumbersome to manage while marching, and it was used only briefly by the Appleknockers. He had joined the Geneva Appleknockers senior drum and bugle corps as a bugler in the spring of 1948. In 1951, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving for two years. He rejoined the Appleknockers, serving as a bugler, arranger and instructor intermittently through the 1960s. When the Appleknockers ceased operations, he became arranger and instructor for a number of corps in western New York, including Geneva Junior Appleknockers, Auburn Purple Lancers and Rochester Crusaders. He was a well-known arranger and instrumental clinician with Warner Bros. Music, in Miami, FL for many years following his drum corps career.

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Wouldn't the first themed show be either Madison or Cavaliers '71? The circus show and the Alice in Wonderland show. Commonly referred to as, "The Summer Drum Corps Died?"

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The Chicago Royal-Airs played the Paul Anka hit song "Diana" for a number of years in the very early 1960's. Although in 1965 we were the first and only drum corps to ever win the Triple crown of the drum corps nationals (CYO, VFW & American Legion) in the same year we didn't have a Contra Bass to march with until 1966. In 1967 we marched with 59 players in the horn line. We were the first corps to start using various multi-pitched base drums in 1966 and we marched with tympani's in 1968.

Edited by royal-air canada
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The Bethesda Emerald Knights in 1974 played Halo of Flies by Alice Cooper. Not sure if that was the first "Rock Song" But, it also took up half the show time, which almost qualifys as a theme :w00t:

The Emerald Knights were at my junior corps' home show that summer in Manville, NJ... in the Eastern States circuit.

That "Halo of Flies" stuff was pretty wild.... I think it might have been just a tad over the heads of many in the audience, and some of the judges. :tongue:

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You really didn't specify Junior or Senior even though it's a Junior corps thread; so I'll go with 1958 Archer-Epler Musketeers show based on "The King and I" for the first themed show.

Ray

Me too, Ray. That was a groundbreaking show.

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Wouldn't the first themed show be either Madison or Cavaliers '71? The circus show and the Alice in Wonderland show. Commonly referred to as, "The Summer Drum Corps Died?"

I've said it on DCP a few times in other threads...... IMO, the Cavaliers' show that year wasn't a "theme show" at all.

The circus stuff was limited to the Cavies' out-of-concert production number that season, and a reprise of the circus theme during the corps' finale, played in the end zone after crossing the finish line.

The rest of their show was pretty much standard fare for that era. An Irish medley for the opener, "Americans We" for the color presentation, "Eleanor Rigby" for the concert tune.

Now... the Scouts that year, that was much more of a theme show. Again, IMO.

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