Unbelievable Drum Corps of the 60's
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The Unbelievable Drum and Bugle Corps of the 60's
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Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights
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hi guys, i was a marching member of the toronto optimists drum and bugle corps from sept.62 to sept. 69 preceded by 2 yrs. with the bantam corps. when i came across your site i read kens story and the past came back like a freight train. i marched 1 yr. in the guard, 2 yrs. on rudimentall bass and 4 yrs. on snare.we met gerry shelmar and played with the line in boston after cyo,s gerry and our instructor ron kaiser met in 65 and became fast friends. cut from the same cloth, ya know. i believe we did some shows with roccos during those excellent times. the names mentioned in the article moved me greatly. col. Crawford wrote our scores for many years and am great full for having met the man. a very nice human being.my partner and i have revisited a drum duet we put together 40 yrs. ago and at a recent show had an oppurtunity to meet joe fontana and his sidekick, they are gentlemen and true drum corps guys. our duet is called tribute. it encases what we believe are solos written at the height of these gentlemens powers; bobby thompson, gerry shelmar, and our own ron kaiser. once again thank you for the time machine. the 60s were truly the greatest moments , unarguably, the drum corps community has ever witnessed. i am honored to have been a small part of it. rudimentally yours, emilio russo
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Garfield Cadets
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St. Lucy's
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Hello Emilio, Thanks for writing in and sending me your great letter.... Yes, those were the Days....... And The Toronto Optimists was one of my favorites...
I fell in love with Drums Corps the very first time I heard one in a parade in New York City....
It took awhile but I finally found a Drum Corps that would get me started.... The Drum instructor was Bobby Thompson.... I new nothing about drum corps other than watching them in parades..... There was much to learn and Bobby took the time to teach me, and tell all about the top Drum Corps of the times.....
My first Drum Corps Album was a set of the "Dream" from the early 60's... On the cover were pictures of all the Drum Corps like "The Optimists" "Scout House" "Garfield" " Blessed Sac" St. Kevin's," Chicago," and others.......
My Corps was a standstill Drum Corps, no where close to the talent of any of those drum Corps. So just to see even one of those Drum Corps like seeing a "Rock Group!!!
Then my Corps was in a parade down 5th Ave.. And "The Garfield Cadets" were warming up on the same block as us! Man they looked great! They played "Johnny Comes Marching Home"...
It was then I knew it was time to join a top Drum Corps in my area.......
There were so many.... Then by chance I went to Randall's Island to watch the Skyliners and Bronx Kingsmen practice... Before I knew it almost all the top Corps in New York City showed up to practice.... Well, after the Kingsmen did there thing and I just about made up my mind my next corps would be.......
St. Rocco's Cadets lined up on this over sized parking lot........
The hornline just blew away and the solo sopranos were the best I'd ever heard....
The Cadets sound like the "Skyliners... I join St. Rocco's that week and never looked back...
Now if that wasn't enough! It was the excitement of competing with just about all the Drum Corps on my first Drum Corps Record!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I agree, those days on the 60's there were the most unbelieveable Drum Corps.....
Sincerely Yours
Harold Davis
Web Host of St. Rocco's Cadets
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Chicago Royal Airs
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Chicago Cavalies
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Bostom Crusaders
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Toronto Optimists
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Kilties
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Scout House
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St. Kevin's Emerald Knights
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Casper Troopers
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Bridgeport PAL Cadets
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Hawthorne Muchachos
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St. Raphael's Golden Buccaneers
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St. Rita's Brassmen
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Selden Golden Lancers
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Queensmen
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Mighty St. Joe's
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Audubon Bon Bons
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De LasSalle Oakland Crusaders
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Cardinal
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Des Plains Vanguard
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Bronx Kingsmen
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Boston Gatesmen
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