1972 Drum Corps Recordings

After winning the Wheaton July 4th show in 1971, but failing to make finals at the 1971 VFW Nationals, the New Orleans Stardusters split into factions. A rebel group of staff and members, led by Moe Latour and drum instructor Marty Hurley, left the Stardusters and started a brand new corps, the Bleu Raeders, from Metarie, Louisiana. The Bleu Raeders burst on the drum corps scene in 1972 and made finals at the first DCI Championship in August. They were the only corps in DCI history to make finals in their first year of existence until the Star of Indiana duplicated the feat in 1985. ​The Bleu Raeders had only competed in a handful of shows before winning the 1972 Wheaton July 4th show. Marty Hurley led their great drumline, and Madison Scouts legend Ray Baumgart wrote their brass music. (In August 1972, the Bleu Raeders knocked Madison out of the first DCI finals)

​​

The Imperials of Saint Patrick were back in Wheaton in 1972, this time finishing in second place. In 1973 they merged with the Thunderbolts from Cedarburg, Wisconsin and formed The Thing, an enormous corps that later changed its name to The Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps.

​​​​

The Silver Sabres, from Salina, Kansas were one of the most entertaining corps at the Wheaton show in 1972. Their version of Parade of the Wooden Soldiers introduced me to a piece of music I already loved by the time we played it in 1978. Their drum solo, Good Night Ladies, was a perfect example of a percussion feature built around a fun timpani melody. As the Silver Sabres were marching off the field, the announcer mentioned the drum corps legends that wrote their show. They played brass arrangements by Hy Dreitzer and Truman Crawford. Their drill was written by Don Pesceone, who became the executive director of DCI a few months later.

The Wheaton crowd was disappointed when the scores were announced and the entertaining Silver Sabres ended up in third place.  ​​​