< PreviousThe New York Warriors Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps held its cornerstone fund-raising event November 5. It was a rainy fall day that coincided with the New York City Marathon only a block away, but the dismal weather and the traffic did not affect the beautiful gala held at the Lt. J. P. Kennedy Center in Harlem. This was the second annual dinner and awards night attended not only by Warriors alumni and their families, but also former members of present and past power corps, including the Bayonne Bridgemen, Westchester Brassmen and Director Joseph Mazzullo, Hawthorne Caballeros, Carter Cadets, Norwich Firettes, Morrisanian Lancers, Brooklyn Privateers, New York Skyliners, the PAL Travelers, as well as the New York City Housing Authority Vanguard, just to name a few. All showed up in their Sunday best to reminisce, celebrate the drum corps activity, honor a few folks and enjoy each other’s company. Over 100 people from all over the East Coast packed the auditorium of the Kennedy Center to honor Mark Finkle, Bobby Winslow and James Cooke. These three men dedicated their lives to drum corps as well as to the betterment of all people who came in contact with them throughout their many years in and out of this activity.Mark Finkle (left) was a music teacher for the New York City Board of Education starting in 1969 and was also the founder of the Apollo 8 Cadet Unit that continued to assist in recruiting membership for the New York Knickerbockers as well as the New York Lancers. He served as business manager of the New York Lancers and assisted Director Carmelo Saez in acquiring the corps’ own buses through grants. Mr. Finkle then became business manager for the Warriors starting in 1980 and helped them to purchase their own buses as well. This is how Mark got his nickname “Skipper.” He showed his fondness and appreciation for the Warriors by giving back to the audience that evening a demonstration of his present work singing for many charities like the Boys & Girls Club at his home in The Villages in Florida. He delighted the crowd with his singing of the song I (Who Have Nothing), an apropos vocal selection, with English lyrics by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and music by Carlo Donida. The next honoree was Bobby Winslow (left), the innovative drum instructor, who was way ahead of his time during the late 1960s and 1970s. He was a champion individual snare drummer who won three gold medals during his days with Brooklyn’s Privateers. One of these medals was over the well-known Billy Cobham who placed second behind Bobby. Robert’s rhythms were based on his wisdom. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music and The Jazz Legendary CMCC Warriors alumni host second annual gala and awards nighttext and photos by Keith Griffin, Drum Corps World staff (kgriffone@aol.com)Congratulations,Cadets and Cadets 2,on your 2017 Season!2017125th Anniversary1892www.demoulin.comOfficial Uniform SponsorMobile. He was the first percussionist to break the color line in the world famous New York Skyliners. When Bobby was teaching the Warriors, he was younger than some of the students he taught, but he flourished as an instructor because he was always kind, smart and confidant. In his acceptance speech, he really made a case for the need of a drum corps in the African-American community. He has always been a proponent for the combination of people of color and the wonderfully educational world of drum and bugle corps. As he stated, the two go together so well that they both make each other better. As a good friend of Bobby’s, I know that he will be one of the forces to ensure that this will happen in the not so distant future. The third and final honoree was James C. Cooke, Jr. (far left, accepting the award from Derek Lathen, president of the Warriors Alumni Association). He was the business manager and sports psychologist for the 150 members of the New York City Warriors in the 1960s and early 1970s. He served under Director James A. Lathen, who was known to wield a strong hand with the membership. He was a good counterpart who always kept everybody cool, calm and collected. The two of them made a great team of administration and order. James is a great motivator of people. He thanked the entire room, including his mother, Kirkalena, his sisters and many friends for the honor of the award that evening. It just so happened that it wasn’t until this occasion that Mark Finkle had the pleasure of meeting James Cooke for the first time. Here were two gentlemen, both known for their deep contributions to the Warriors drum corps, who both served as business managers, but during different periods in the corps’ history and who never got to work together. If there was ever a need for a testament to the significance of celebratory events like these, it would be the meeting of these two drum corps icons on this night and for them to enjoy each other’s camaraderie. The evening also included the James Dixon, Sr. Award, given to four members who had distinguished service with the New York Warriors. This award was named in honor of the long-serving director of the Warriors in the 1950s. Mr. Dixon also served as the quartermaster during their glory years of the operation. This year’s honorees (left to right, Kamali and Sienna, with Michael and Alia, Kamali’s parents) were Sandra Brown (color guard captain), Roxanne Barnes (color guard member with nine years of service), Walter Whitehurst (cymbalist with eight years of service) and Alan Peoples (soprano soloist with nine years of service to the corps). Alan stated that all members of the Warriors truly deserve to receive an award. He was proud when it was finally presented to him at his home in Mount Vernon, NY. Finally, the Warrior of the Year went to Mr. Curtis Simpson (far left receiving the award from Bill Parker, horn instructor) and the Youth Corps awards went to Sienna Thomas and Kamali Smith. The City Mission Cadet Corps (CMCC) Warriors have shaped thousands of lives throughout its history and it looks like this new Warriors Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps will continue in its footsteps as well. The new director, Mr. Boyjiue Lathan (son of former Director Jimmy Lathan) is doing his best to form an organization that builds character in men and women of all ages. Tama Marching DrumsTAMA Tuned PercussionTAMA by Kanstul Marching BrassTAMA by Vic Firth Sticks & Mallettstamamarching.comThe group will be practicing once a month starting in February on the last Saturday of the month at the Lt. J.P. Kennedy Center, 34 West 134th Street, New York, NY 10037. Members of the board of directors for the alumni corps include Gloria Black, Olivia Cooke, Kevin Dennis, George Douglas, Keith Griffin, Stanley Hicks, Boyjiue Lathan, Dyrek Lathen, Bill Parker, Terrence Simmons, Tim Smith and Larry Thomas. I would like to thank the board members for their continued dedication to the drum corps activity in Harlem, NY. The next celebration will be on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at 8:00 PM, held again at the Lt. J.P. Kennedy Center. Everyone is invited. n n n(This page, top to bottom, left to right): CMCC Warriors, 1973 (Moe Knox); 1970 (Moe Knox); painting by Wayne Hiller from www.dcxmuseum.org; 1974 (Dick Deihl); 1985 (Donald Mathis); (next page): 1970 World Open (Moe Knox). Ta Up an Octave! Take Your Lip Care Now available at Reduces swelling, soreness, and chapping Get FREE samples at chopsaver.com Order or find a store at chopsaver.com The Skyliners (below, Raymond Fudge) proudly announce their 2018 Show, “TOTALITY -- Everything Changes.” There are five movements, just as there are five parts of a solar eclipse. It's going to be a fun, uplifting show that members will all enjoy performing and one that will captivate and entertain the audience.Selections include:Part 1 -- Hymn to the SunPart 2 -- Totality (original music)Part 3 -- Song of JoyPart 4 -- Here Comes the SunPart 5 -- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me The program starts with an Introduction and opener from Hymn to the Sun, With the Beat of Mother Earth by Satoshi Yagisawa. He is a modern Japanese composer whose work includes orchestra, chamber and choral music, as well as music for traditional Japanese instruments. He acts as a judge in competitions, is a guest conductor with many orchestras and authors articles in professional music journals. Totality, the percussion transition, presents original, upbeat music by Battery Arranger Scott Johnson and Pit Arranger and Sound Designer Sean Gordon. This piece will drive the audience into the applause break before the ballad. Reach Totality: Ballad includes source music from Song of Joy by Captain & Tennille. This piece is also the second studio album by Captain & Tennille, released in 1976, with music by Billy Preston and Reginald Rasputin Boutte. William Everett Preston was an American musician whose work included R&B, rock, soul, funk and gospel. The song was featured in Preston’s own "It's My Pleasure" album (1975).The percussion-with-winds number is Here Comes the Sun by George Harrison. This song was first released on the Beatles’ 1969 album “Abbey Road.” Along with Something and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, it is one of Harrison’s best-known compositions from the Beatles era. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John and Bernie Taupin will bring Skyliners’ show to a close. It was originally recorded in 1974 by Elton John for his studio album “Caribou,” released as a single that peaked at number 2 on the “Billboard Hot 100 Chart” and reached number 16 on the “UK Singles Chart.”Designers John Meehan (brass arranger), Scott Johnson (battery arranger), Sean Gordon (pit arranger and sound designer), Brandon Wickham (visual designer); Krysta Ganey (color guard designer), together with Keith Dunton (program coordinator) have planned an intricate and amazing show with diverse styles to challenge and enlighten the Skyliners in their fifth season back on the field of DCA competition.Keep up-to-date via the corps’ Web site, www.skylinersdbc.org, or join the Skyliners’ 2018 interest page. You can also e-mail Joshua Delanuez, info@marchsky.org, for more information. n n n Skyliners announce plans for 2018 musical productionPeriodically we receive historical material f rom Bill O’Connell, a former member of the Des Plaines Vanguard in suburban Chicago. The corps traces its roots back to the mid-1930s, originally sponsored by the International Order of the Svithiod. In 1939, Logan Square Post #405 (above, 1951) picked up naming rights, followed in 1951 by the Mel Tierney American Legion Post and later the Skokie Valley VFW Post. In th late 1960s, the Des Plaines Vanguard was sponsored by the AFL & CIO labor union and their headquarters in Des Plaines was used for rehearsals. The corps existed as a junior corps until the early 1970s, making finals at the first DCI Championships in 1972 at Whitewater, WI. For half a dozen years in the late 1970s and early 1980s they performed as a DCA senior corps. These photos from the Logan Square days feature eight-year-old John Opager (left) who later was prominent in the operation of the Illinois Drum & Bugle Corps Association during the 1960s and also a member of the Men of Brass senior corps from Chicago in the 1950s.The Reading Buccaneers recently announced four more individuals were inducted into the Buccaneers Hall of Fame at the corps’ annual year-end banquet November 25. They join 103 other members previously added since the founding of the recognition in 1995. Each of these individuals has made a lasting impact on the Buccaneers and the drum corps activity.Wally Cherasaro has been involved in the activity since 1959 when he started with the Silver Beavers. He remains an active member of the Emmaus Sentinels and the Belvederes Alumni. His first year with the Buccaneers was 1978. He returned as a member of the alumni corps in 1988 through 2015. Wally also returned to the Buccaneers competing corps in 1995 and marched through the 2007 season. Over his drum corps career with the Bucs, Black Diamond Regiment and the Highlanders, he played soprano baritoner, bass drum and helped as a truck driver, grass cutter, cook, housekeeper, quartermaster and was also the Bucs’ honor guard captain. His commitment helped him earn the Director’s Award in 1998. Wally was always one of those who sold the most raffle tickets and would not hesitate to drive miles out of his way to pick someone up to take them to rehearsal. During the lean years of the 1990s, when he was in the honor guard, he drove five other members to rehearsal every week. One of his fondest memories is winning two DCA World Championships. His greatest joy is watching the corps grow and flourish. Wally remains a fixture at rehearsals and performances, often driving many miles just to be with the corps he loves. Behind the scenes and with no fanfare he has made a significant contribution to help the corps provide an unparalleled member experience. For all of his years of involvement in the activity, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2007. Deanna Garber claims the distinction of being the only Buccaneer to have been a performing member each year of the corps’ historic run since 2005. That is a remarkable accomplishment, but it is only one reason why she is worthy of induction. Her entire career in the Buccaneers has been marked by excellence in performance, dedication to corps, leadership by example and a love of family that makes her an inspiration and an institution. She first marched in the color guard in 1996 and she returned for the 1997 season. She marched with Jersey Surf in 1998 and Carolina Crown in 2000, returning to the Buccaneers for the 2005 season where she has been since. Outside of drum corps, her performance experience includes many years with the Apex and Just Class Independent World indoor color guards as well as The Guard Independent Senior. She’s translated her skill and love of performing into being an effective teacher, serving on staff at Cpex, where she also served as director, The Classics and William Penn High School. Her dedication is legendary, always there, always reliable, a quick learner who uses her experience to help make the performers around her better. Deanna epitomizes the values of teamwork, dedication and selfless leadership that have made this success possible. Matthew Heckman can be summed up in one phrase: Matt Heckman epitomizes what the Buccaneers are all about. He first came to the corps while in his teens as a member of the 2007 50th Anniversary corps. He has been a mainstay ever since, marching trumpet from 2007 through 2011, when he served as the trumpet section leader. In 2012 he aged out with DCI’s Glassmen, but served his Bucs family as a member of the support staff. He returned to the trumpet section in 2013 where he has remained since. He leads by example, holding himself and his corpsmates to the highest standards of excellence, class and humility, without fanfare. For the past several years he has spearheaded the recruiting efforts, organizing a highly-ambitious schedule of appearances at band shows to promote the corps, enlisting a committee of volunteers and himself devoting countless hours to promoting the corps.Johnny Trujillo is an immensely talented and innovative artist and teacher, who in a relatively short time has put an indelible stamp on the Buccaneers’ already-legendary percussion program. His drum corps performance history includes three years with Phoenix s, one year with Bushwackers and two years with The Cadets. As an instructor, he cut his teeth with the Buccaneers tenor line from 2007 through 2010, before returning to teach The Cadets tenor line in 2011. Under his watch, the percussion program has been consistently at the top of DCA, always pushing the envelope in design and achievement. Reading Buccaneers induct four to hall of fameFor Sale“A History of Drum & Bugle Corps” -- Volume 1Hardcover 432-page book$95 .00 including shipping to a U.S. address (media rate)“A History of Drum & Bugle Corps” -- Volume 2Hardcover 432-page book$95 .00 including shipping to a U.S. address (media rate)“The Art of Drum Corps World”Softcover, spiral-bound 376-page book$80 .00 including shipping to a U.S. address (media rate)Sold to the first person to call Steve Vickers, publisher, at608-249-2590 (cell) after 7:00 PM Central time, November 30Will accept VISA or MasterCard for payment, promptly shipped via USPSVolume 1Volume 2The art ofThe art ofOne copy of each!Next >