Today is March 24th 2024, Still Loving and watching the 27th classes. I miss the days when we had Real Drum and bugle c o r p s. Former member of the Long Island sunrises, Real Drum and bugle Corps
'80 Scout here - even though we ate their dust all year, I loved this show and ALWAYS admired their precision. Wouldn't have broken my heart to see them win. Danny Boy still gives me chills.
Hey. We stayed near you guys somewhere on tour and I remember you guys coming over to our school and running our dixie flag down to half mast. Then some of our drummers went on one of your tour buses and stole a corps jacket. Don't know how I remember those events from so long ago. Just one of those things I guess. Good to connect with one of the "oldies" out there who marched in the golden era of drum corps. Dennis Johnson-Spirit Snare 1980
I was in a small corp. Loved Scouts. Loved 27L and BD. One of my friends loved SCV and he ended up marching for them in early 80’s. He was a good contra bass player.
I wonder how many of you drum corps alumni realize the positive impact you had on hundreds of thousands of other kids in marching bands all over the country. I had goosebumps the first time I saw this performance in 1980 on the band room VCR. For a lot of us, you were the first model of excellence we could understand, you were a little like gods to us, and you pointed us toward some higher ideal. You inspired us to try to be our best in everything for the rest of our lives, and we now carry that message to our children. It wasn’t just another summer activity, not just about the tiny slice of immortality that you achieved for yourselves, but also the many lives of kids in band, orchestra, color guards, rifles, majorettes, and dance that you ignited. Think about it.
Your comment reminded of an incident. Was with 27th from 1977-1985 as either marcher or instructor. I was visiting a friend from out of state who was in the local high school band. Word got out that a 27th Lancer instructor was in town. Everyone wanted to come over and meet me. It kind of freaked me out at first but I really appreciated it and enjoyed the 15 minutes of fame.
Make that Drum Corps the world over. Drum Corps was still back in its infancy in the UK back then, transitioning from Traditional Military style bands. Although we aspired to be Blue Devils or Vanguard, everyone had a soft spot for George Bonfiglio's 27!
There are some of us who march in 2 different Alumni Drum Corps. They are the Boston Crusaders Senior Corps and North Star Alumni Corps. Both are in Massachusetts.
27's Guard were the best in the business back then. They were the innovators back then with the double flags, the rifle line that actually danced a little bit, the tosses, all done wth class and style....I had a great time watching them on the field!
This, not the Blue Devils, was the corps which posted the highest score recorded in 1980, they just had the misfortune of NOT posting it at finals (DCI East Prelims a week earlier). After that DCI show, lot of us thought they had the title in the bag. Nope. Crossmen, 1980 here.
1980 27th bell player here. DCI east prelims was our best show of the year. It was like magic. "We have a score, for the 27 th Lancers (pause). 91. Screeeeeam. We just couldn't ride that wave all the way to Birmingham. We knew after we got off at finals that we didn't win. Even before BD performed. You just know.
2-7 was an amazing drum corps filled with amazing people. It was an honor to share the same field and to have competed against them. We also enjoyed some wonderful parties together. ANY of the top four corps that night "deserved" to win the championship, IMHO...those were four incredible drum corps. And Madison had a very nice show that year. Those were the days, my friends, and that was a very special night in Birmingham...Jim Jordan/DM...Bayonne Bridgemen/1978-1980.
this colorguard was the ultimate. We worked hard with the best instructors in the world, thank you Denise Bonfiglio, Peggy Twiggs and George Zingali, You truly brought out the best in us each and every practice. Tours were brutal at times, with little sleep and little to eat, we ran on pride. Those really were the good ol' days. Thanks for posting this video. Great memories. Ps, I think we were robbed in '80 also. BVM rifle line 78-80.
I marched with a B class corp back then but I still remember watching you all perform and damn was it awesome. Your color guard was #1 and spot on, like magic.
What makes old school corps so interesting was that you could see the evolution of the military drill change from year to year-infused with the need to break away but still maintaining that military bearing. That Ralph Pace drill with symmetrical double arcs comprised of horns and flags was something that we had not seen before. It almost was like a new style that 27th developed starting from 1979 and carried over to the following year. Innovation was being done back in 1975 with the double flags and, of course, the rifles spinning on their backs. Where Santa Clara had an almost authoritative grace and precision in their guard work, Zingali's guard was known for doing the I-wish-I'd-thought-of-that equipment handling. Who knew that the possibility of appearing to be doing double jointed flag work combined with blind tossing-to-the-person-behind-you exchanges with amazing tightness could be done with jaw dropping effect? They knew! I marched against them in the Blue Devils that year and always thought this show was visually stunning!
Ahhh, good ol' vintage drum corps. Nothing fancy dancy like today's corps. Everything was so precise. Curves and circles were curves and circles. Squares and lines were just that! Square and straight. And NO RUNNING!! Forms looked GOOD! Thank you uploader.
You should try going to the lot and see how much louder today’s corps are compared to anything pre-2000. It’s literally not even close, go watch Crown warm up, they are easily twice as loud, if not more. Twice as loud would be only 3 dB more
Okay look, I marched with the Cavaliers horn line from '77-'87 as a Baritone and Contra player, and this is STILL one of my favorite shows of all time. How this incredibly talented group of individuals didn't win is beyond me. All due respect to Garfield Cadets, but 27th Lancers should've been the first Eastern DCI Champions. My favorite parts were the Intro count-up to 26 and start the show on 27 (seriously, that was tight), the Contra/Muted Soprano duet at 4:04 and 4:51, the guard throughout the whole show, the OFF-Chord at 9:33, Drum solo, and of course, Danny Boy. RESPECT...We all know who really won this year...R*I*P* 27th Lancers
+George McCormick Garfield won in 81, right? I've yet to find that performance on You Tube. I personally liked the music selection Garfield chose, but now I'd have to see the performance. I know you're not comparing the two performances, but instead discerning that 27th should have won a year before Garfield. I'm a Devils fan, mostly because of the Stan Kenton and Chuck Mangione selections they played in the day, but i have to admit 1980 27th Lancers had the hearts of the viewers. It really was a good show. Color guard looks so good that they should be the measuring stick by which all others are measured... at least for the style and precision of their day.
+knightflyte I remember Huntington WV 82,Garfield bested SCV for the first time and went on a back to back to back Championships. SCV stayed at my HS and Garfield was their bane of practice motivation. 27 came to my HS in 84.I'm glad they had room for me.
I was lucky enough to march in 1980 with 27 in the contra line. Most rewarding year of my life. From the Olympics in Lake Placid to stomping BD in Allentown, my 7 brothers led by contra virtuoso Cliff White. What year. Every once in a while I watch this and wonder how we could of made up .35 ticks. So close. So painfully, achingly close.
Brian Parsons I was in Allentown.... West Chester University had band camp the weekend of DCI East ... we would all go up to see... The crowd was WILD !!!! I had no voice for 4 days!!!
Brian Parsons Okay look, I marched with the Cavaliers horn line from '77-'87 as a Baritone and Contra player, and this is STILL one of my favorite shows of all time. How you and the incredibly talented group of individuals you marched with didn't win is beyond me. All due respect to Garfield Cadets, but 27th Lancers should've been the first Eastern DCI Champions. My favorite parts were the Intro count-up to 26 and start the show on 27 (seriously, that was tight), the Contra/Muted Soprano duet at 4:04 and 4:51, the guard throughout the whole show, the OFF-Chord at 9:33, Drum solo, and of course, Danny Boy. RESPECT...We all know who really won this year...R*I*P* 27th Lancers
'Stomping BD in Allentown'... love... And being from Canton, OH, may I now add my 'Coats stomping them in Indy??? 27 was my first love, bluecoats my eternal...
@@whitey0o5 OMG - Im so sorry to see your dad pass. I marched and was taught by him to play the contra. He was a monster of a player! We ALL gave him mad respect - he was an amazing talent May he rest in peace.
The Lancers deserved a championship. Their music was made for drum corp.My first show was the 69 dream and that was my first taste of the 27th Lancers. Come to think of it that show hooked me on drum corp.
EVERYTHING you want in a color guard! Those gals could spin telephone poles! IN freaking CREDIBLE! This is my favorite drum corps of all time! And my favorite guard...BOOTS!
27th lancers, the most beloved corps. of all. In 1980, if their brass line would have cleaned up certain tick marks on musical balance, they would have won the DCI Championship. Drum line was great drill and colorguard were AWESOME! Another DCI beast from the East gone. RIP 27!
Still get goosebumps listening to their Danny Boy. One of the best corps in the USA back then. We were floored when we got to see the big DCI Corps when they had the World Open in Lynn, MA. And the CYO's in Boston. Miss the way drum corps performed in the 1980's. The marching and maneuvering, color guard, rifles and the music were so in sync.
How I miss 80's DCI....I know kids today work really hard and the drills look really difficult sometimes, but it is not even a shell of what it once was.
The color guard at the opening of this show is unbelievable. I wish I could have been a tenth as good as this when I was a flag. Love this show. Thanks for posting it.
I’m not real sure why this clip popped up on my You Tube, but it is completely thrilling. We were lucky enough to be at Gillette Stadium the year that 27th Lancers Alumni Corps appeared at DCI Nationals. It was magic. My dad, Bill Maling, now 90 years old, was a member of the McCall Drum Corps drumline out of Philly back in the 40s. He continued to be a drumline teacher, and a drumline judge, mostly in the PA/NJ area. He was a protogee of Bill Reamer, who was well-known in Philly area drum corps at that time. In his retirement, he became active with the Canton BlueCoats organization for a time, and then turned to fife and drum corps, performing with Lancraft Fife and Drum out of North Haven, CT. Drum Corps was a huge thing in my childhood, as he took me along to many competitions that he judged.
One of my favorite shows. I was a Senior in High School and in the color guard at my school's marching band. I was such a fan of their guard and paid close attention to the choreography! Precision and execution!
That contra soloist was loud! and this was before amplification! I know there were mikes near the front lines, but he was still loud enough to carry into the stands. ( I was there for this championship)
If today's judges critiqued this show today , there is no way this show wouldn't have won by at least 2 points on GE alone. I always made sure I could watch this show when we were on tour with them. I even traded my Crossmen cape for a rifle from this incredible line.(back in the day it was cool to try to trade uniform parts with competitors) It remained probably my most prized possession. Thanx for the great memories.
I covered this event for Drum Corps News. This performance is one of the greatest of all-time. All of the moving pieces were in perfect sync and harmony. The percussion section was one of 27th's best, and the guard was incomparable, both then and now.
Great GUARD! Real twirling. No dance as most guards (ftont) do today. Miss seeing the 7 and 8 foot polles and double silks. Added so much to the overal presentaion. Rifles twirling at its best. Loved the exchange ripple toss in the drum solo.
This 27 show def had an impact on me. But not til I could watch it more with the advent of RU-vid. Zengali's drill was amazing. 27 Contra section was a beast. Very tight, strong brass. FINALS corps were awesome. Great year for DCI. My best friend marched Vanguard 78 and BD 79. Altough I marched BD '80-81 had students in Vanguard 80 and 81. I knew college peers marching Crossmen 78, 79,80,81 and Spirit '80.
@@earlviney2820 Completely agree Earl, I never heard any corps, DCI or DCA, who were as well balanced in every caption, and performed brass, percussion, and color guard IMPECCABLY. They were true champions of the drum corps world. And should have won the 1980 DCI championship.
Love this George Zingali drill, the future of DCI was apparent here, as you see the drumline moving off the 50 yard line....more curves and Archs than straight lines and angles. If you look carefully, there are some drill sets 27 did that were later used in 1983 Garfield Cadets, and those double flags, how many other corps copied that? and of course the full corps rotation in Danny boy...Bring 'em Back! Please!
1980 was a remarkable year - top four within .8 and even in 5th, Phantom took a caption award. I think any of the top four could legitimately have won.
I remember seeing this show in Whitewater,WI. I have always been a 27th fan. I especially love the selections from "On the 20th Century". It had opened on Broadway two years before and the Lancers made that music one of the favorites. I recently saw the revival of this show on Broadway and thought of 27th. I'm sure I was one of the few in the audience that connected drum corps circa 80's to bway.
Being a young pup, no one can say much about me... I haven't ever really known Corps besides the moderns (my first seen Corps was 2014 Bluecoats). But, I must say, the 27th is my favorite out of all of them. Superb uniforms, drill, music, Guard, everything.
Abet Delapaz Of course! At this time competition rules stated that all brass instruments were to be " bell front" and in the key of G. By 1980 most of the big corps had completely switched to 2-piston valve G bugles, although there were still some piston-rotor bugles around. 3 valve G bugles were introduced in the early '90's, and Bb brass began to be used after 2000 when the rules were changed to allow brass in any key. Many people (myself included) feel that the uniqueness of the G brass was a big part of what made the activity different from other musical arts.
Just a side note for all: Many of you have written the color guard looks to be perfection, and that they should've been the measuring stick that set the standard... For many, if not all, this was the standard. The first song set the tone for years and years to come. FMM - Cavaliers '77 - '87.
You are so right. They say greatness stands the test of time. The lancer rifle LINE in my opinion is the best of all time. The first to combine dance and coreography along with difficult equipment work. All done to perfection. They will never be forgotten. They were revolutionary.
This is by far the very best of the best old school field shows I loved the 27th how ever did the new edit the picture and sound is awesome thank you so very much for putting this video back on I love it
first corps I ever saw first show was THIS corps doing this show. I was 13 became a traditional Drum and BUGLE corps fan for life; and also truly appreciated the Rifle Corps a lot. I joined a RCorps years later !
I Marched bells this year and loved every minute of it. It was hard to come in second but we won DCI east a week earlier at Allentown and that was amazing. Hats off to Blue Devils. If you're gonna come in second at least you "lost" to BD.
They didn't really have anything they could use amplification on. Thankfully only a very small number of corps use amplification now with soloists. I know BD and BlueCoats have. Any others? I am sure I am forgetting someone. But this is great stuff for the time.
Marched snare for Spirit in 1980. We were on tour and needed heads in Whitewater,Wisconsin. Traded a few pairs of sticks for heads or maybe it was the other way around? I remember going back and forth with 27th in drums until pulling away late in the season.(really late) All top 4 corps at finals were within a point of each other. Could have gone to 27th, Bridgemen, Spirit instead of BD. Oh well. Fun times and great memories. I always liked 27's style. Classic drum corps!
Signature tunes, Spirit/Georgia, Phantom/Elsa's Procession, 27th/Danny Boy, Guardsmen/Greensleeves, Bridgemen/Y Paliaci, Madison Scouts/Maleguana. Add to this list from the day.
I was on the staff during that era - that show was incredibly difficult and took 2 years to polish. So glad you enjoyed it. It brings back memories of the best years of my life.
I was in the crowd in 1980 to witness this, but I started marching in small corps (plural) from Florida in 1975, so I was always a fan!!!! The color guard was so fierce. Oddly enough, in 1985, when Star of Indiana hired George Zingali for their first show/drill, etc., I was a staff volunteer! It's a small world after all!
Fantastic show, yes and many rightfully so wonder why it didn't win. You'll never be able to "hear" this from the video, but I remember. This was the age of the power corps. There were four corps louder, BD, Spirit, Bridgemen and 6th place Madison who brought the house down that year with their closer, Ice Castles. I don't know who "should" have won, but I do know that 1980 was an all-time great year for drums corps.
I marched in a smaller corps from Philly (PAL Cadets) and I use to love this corp. Our DM taught our riffle line and he taught them to march just like 27th color guard. I miss them alot and wish them to come back and show these newer corps how to perform!
This corps totally redefined but a color guard could do within the bounds of precision. Yes, today, guards do all sorts of crazy things, but never with the precision exhibited back in 1980. Lancers have long been one of my all time favorite drum corps.
I loved this show when I saw it on the field, and I'm still astounded that they didn't win. The only "real" real reason for their placement that I might hand the judges is the one missing rifle; the hole in the line was distracting, and I think that it gave the GE judge the excuse to downgrade their performance, which was darned near flawless.
if in fact the GE judges did what you suspect, then they were WRONG to penalize. That rifle could have been sick or injured, or heaven forbid a family emergency arose,,, such excuses are inexcusable.
I remember hearing that the missing rifle was suddenly taken ill, but I wasn't aware that it was so very serious. Bayonne was the winner, by one tenth of a point, which blew me out of the water. I admit that I'm a dyed in the wool SCV fan, but Two-Seven had the BEST show that season and the groans in the crowd when Blue Devils were announced actually drowned out the cheers. It was bad form of all of us, I know, but there have been times when sentiment needs to be expressed.
Lancer fan here. The problem was the hornline. BD was miles ahead of everybody in brass back in those days. Way ahead of their time in tone quality and intonation. If it wasnt for this 27 would have won that year by 2 points.
DCA vet and long time DCI fan. I am not a fan of amplification. I gave it its chance. And some of these wonderful old shows bring back memories, especially of the 27th. Everyone loved them, yet the never won a championship!
The America that we live in currently is not even remotely the same America that previous generations lived in. Once upon a time, there were several hundred corps that showed up for Finals. This was one of those corps. I recently looked up a list of the active corps in 1980. Many of the corps that existed then were unknown to me, I graduated in 1990, so most things that happened prior to 1984 are unknown to me. I love drum corps, Star of Indiana is my hero, I am sorry if I do not know your corps, I appreciate all of you, and, as a matter of fact, my fav show of all time is 1988 skyriders......look it up, melophone licks and all.
