Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class (formerly Division I) drum and bugle corps
based in Canton, Ohio
, and founded in 1972; The Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International
. The corps name stems from the origins of the organization, based out of the Canton Police Boys' Club, in honor of the police
officers associated with that club. Greeted by fans with a distinctive crowd cheer of "Blooooooo", the Bluecoats are currently the top corps from Ohio
by placement in finals and were the first Ohio corps to make finals when they did so in 1987.
activity. The stock statement of “They’re not booing; they’re blooing” is often used to explain it to confused spectators.
The signature "Blooo" began during Finals Week in 1987, when the corps was vying for its first-ever Top 12 appearance at the Drum Corps International World Championships. The corps' signature song of Autumn Leaves was the middle song of the repertoire in 1987 and included an expanded snare line. Featuring the original snare line plus the quad line and several pit ensemble members, the line's drum-to-drum stickwork at the end of the "drum break" led to a frenzied and fortissimo ending of the song that drove the crowd to their feet. The resulting "Blooo" and applause lasted a full 30-seconds before the corps was able to continue its finale. As such, the tradition was born. In 1988 the corps featured a record 20-snare drum-to-drum section in a reprisal of Autumn Leaves.
Like most drum corps, the Bluecoats hold an annual “home show” near their hometown. The Bluecoats’ home show is a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
festival, a series of events leading up to enshrinement ceremonies; the Hall of Fame is also located in Canton, Ohio
.
The corps song of the Bluecoats is Autumn Leaves
. The corps first performed the ballad in 1987, also the same year the Bluecoats broke into DCI’s
elite top twelve. The song has remained a part of the corps’ repertoire since then, even reappearing as part of their 1988 and 1998 shows. It can often be heard being performed during impromptu parking lot concerts following competitions.
The Bluecoats also have a tradition of giving each member a necklace with pennies on it. The pennies are silver plated at a local manufacturing company and the attached to the blue necklace using a link from the chin strap of a Bluecoats helmet. Each member gets a penny for each year that they are members of the corps. This is a very distinctive mark of a Bluecoat, current members and alumni.
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
based in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and founded in 1972; The Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
. The corps name stems from the origins of the organization, based out of the Canton Police Boys' Club, in honor of the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officers associated with that club. Greeted by fans with a distinctive crowd cheer of "Blooooooo", the Bluecoats are currently the top corps from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
by placement in finals and were the first Ohio corps to make finals when they did so in 1987.
Traditions
For many years the Bluecoats have been welcomed to the field and praised for their performance by long shouts of “Blooooooo,” perhaps the most recognizable act of audience participation in the drum corpsDrum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
activity. The stock statement of “They’re not booing; they’re blooing” is often used to explain it to confused spectators.
The signature "Blooo" began during Finals Week in 1987, when the corps was vying for its first-ever Top 12 appearance at the Drum Corps International World Championships. The corps' signature song of Autumn Leaves was the middle song of the repertoire in 1987 and included an expanded snare line. Featuring the original snare line plus the quad line and several pit ensemble members, the line's drum-to-drum stickwork at the end of the "drum break" led to a frenzied and fortissimo ending of the song that drove the crowd to their feet. The resulting "Blooo" and applause lasted a full 30-seconds before the corps was able to continue its finale. As such, the tradition was born. In 1988 the corps featured a record 20-snare drum-to-drum section in a reprisal of Autumn Leaves.
Like most drum corps, the Bluecoats hold an annual “home show” near their hometown. The Bluecoats’ home show is a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
festival, a series of events leading up to enshrinement ceremonies; the Hall of Fame is also located in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
The corps song of the Bluecoats is Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves (song)
"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. Originally it was a 1945 French song "Les Feuilles mortes" with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert. Yves Montand introduced "Les feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes de la Nuit...
. The corps first performed the ballad in 1987, also the same year the Bluecoats broke into DCI’s
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
elite top twelve. The song has remained a part of the corps’ repertoire since then, even reappearing as part of their 1988 and 1998 shows. It can often be heard being performed during impromptu parking lot concerts following competitions.
The Bluecoats also have a tradition of giving each member a necklace with pennies on it. The pennies are silver plated at a local manufacturing company and the attached to the blue necklace using a link from the chin strap of a Bluecoats helmet. Each member gets a penny for each year that they are members of the corps. This is a very distinctive mark of a Bluecoat, current members and alumni.
Shows by Year
| Year | Repertoire |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Fanfare and Coronation March / Variations On America / Gospel John / Livin' for the City |
| 1976 | Quejada / Drum Fugue / I Believe (from Ice Castles) / Turkey in the Straw / Theme from Gold / Theme from SWAT / Bridge Over Troubled Water |
Open Class
| Year | Repertoire | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Le Coq D'Or / Porgy and Bess Medley / Carmina Burana / Bridge Over Troubled Water / Fanfare (from Quejada) | 65.30 | 35th |
| 1978 | Farandole / Corazón / Sweet Inspiration / Oklahoma Crude / Where He Leads Me / Stony End / Big Noise from Winnetka / New York, New York (from On the Town) | 68.50 | 28th |
| 1980 | Farandole / Left Bank Express / Encore for Jazz / Friends / Exodus | 52.050 | 38th |
| 1981 | Barnum / Aquarius (from Hair) / Encore for Jazz / Porgy and Bess Medley | 59.600 | 31st |
| 1982 | Compendium / Carnival / Aquarius (from Hair) / Root Beer Rag / Pavanne | 56.250 | 33rd |
| 1984 | Run Back to Mama / Night in Rome / Bugle Call Rag / Magnum Opus / For Your Eyes Only | 66.600 | 29th |
| 1985 | Run Back to Mama / Lover Man / Walk Between the Raindrops / Sunrise Lady / Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway / Our Voice | 70.200 | 28th |
| 1986 | Hungarian Dance No. 5 / Doodletown Fifers / Salt Peanuts / Everything Happens to Me | 80.300 | 15th |
| 1987 | Bye Bye Blues / Autumn Leaves / Body and Soul | 85.700 | 11th |
| 1988 | Old Black Magic / Take Five / Autumn Leaves | 86.700 | 11th |
| 1989 | Johnny One Note (from Babes in Arms) / My Funny Valentine (from Babes in Arms) / Sing Sing Sing | 90.300 | 8th |
| 1990 | Caravan / I Got It Bad and that Ain't Good / Don't Get Around Much Anymore / It Don'e Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing | 89.200 | 8th |
| 1991 | Nutville / Palookaville / A Whiter Shade of Pale | 84.400 | 11th |
World Class
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "A Day in the Life" | Nowhere Man / Eleanor Rigby / The Long and Winding Road / Penny Lane / A Day in the Life of a Pool / The End | 84.600 | 11th |
| 1993 | "Standards in Blue-A Tribute to Dizzy Gillepsie" | All The Things You are (from Till the Clouds Roll By) / 'Round Midnight / A night in Tunisia | 87.200 | 9th |
| 1994 | "Blues" | Things Ain't What They Used to Be Things Ain't What They Used to Be Things Ain't What They Used to Be is a 1970 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. The final album that Fitzgerald recorded on the Reprise Records label. The album was re-issued on CD with alternative artwork, in 1989... / Blues for Alice Blues for Alice "Blues for Alice" is a 1956 jazz standard, composed by Charlie Parker. The standard is noted for its rapid bebop blues-style chord voicings and complex harmonic scheme which is a fine example of what is known as "Bird Blues"... / In a Sentimental Mood In a Sentimental Mood "In a Sentimental Mood" is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington which is also performed as a song. Ellington composed the piece in 1935 and recorded it with his orchestra the same year. Lyrics were later written for the tune by Irving Mills and Manny Kurtz. According to Ellington, the song was... / Sandu / C Jam Blues C Jam Blues "C Jam Blues" is a jazz standard composed in 1942 by Duke Ellington and performed by countless other musicians, such as Dave Grusin and Django Reinhardt. As the title suggests, the piece follows a twelve-bar blues form in the key of C major.... |
84.300 | 9th |
| 1995 | "Homefront: 1945" | Come Rain or Come Shine / Shippin Out / I'll Be Seeing You / Newsreel / Sing Sing Sing | 89.500 | 7th |
| 1996 | "American Celebrations" | My Funny Valentine (from Babes in Arms) / Big Day in Bristol / Yankee Doodle Dandy / Strike Up The Band (from Strike Up The Band) / Prophet's Margin / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Auld Lang Syne | 86.300 | 7th |
| 1997 | "Midnight Blue...Jazz After Dark, The Bluecoats' Way" | Harlem Nocturne / Moon / You and the Night and the Music | 85.600 | 11th |
| 1998 | "The Four Seasons of Jazz" | Winter / It Might as Well be Spring / Summertime (From Porgy and Bess) / Autumn Leaves | 87.100 | 10th |
| 1999 | "Music of Chick Corea" | Armando's Rhumba / Duende / Leprechaun's Dream / Celebration Suite | 83.000 | 13th |
| 2000 | "Threshold" | Intro / And on the Sixth Day / The Witch / Air Antique / Finale | 84.400 | 12th |
| 2001 | "Latin Sketches" | Intro / Candelabra Rhumba / Red Cape Tango / Tango-Finale | 90.750 | 8th |
| 2002 | "Urban Dances" | Sunrise / Paradise Utopia (from Concerto for Bass Trombone / Reflection (Overture from Dancer in the Dark) / Pedal to the Medal (from Motor City Triptych) | 91.500 | 7th |
| 2003 | "Capture and Escape" | Time to Take Back the Knights / Adagio for Theresa / Mediterraneo / Libertango / Code Name: Eternity / Original | 90.750 | 7th |
| 2004 | "Mood Swings" | Ride / One Day I'll Fly Away (from Moulin Rouge) / Hunting Wabbits | 92.125 | 6th |
| 2005 | "Caravan" | Caravan / Incantation (from Cirque du Soleil) / Ombra (from Cirque du Soleil) / Hajj | 94.450 | 5th |
| 2006 | "connexus." | Roots of Coincidence / Distorted (from La Nouba) / My Heart and I / The Tihai | 93.175 | 4th |
| 2007 | "Criminal" | Battle Music / Small World / Room Service / Smooth Criminal / Hummingbrrd / Timbuktu / Every Breath You Take | 94.050 | 7th |
| 2008 | "The Knockout" | On the Waterfront / The Boxer / Excerpts from the "Rocky" Soundtrack | 93.175 | 6th |
| 2009 | "IMAGINE" | Imagine / Children's Hour of Dream / Hunting Wabbits 2 / Sky Blue / Haitian Fight Song | 93.150 | 6th |
| 2010 | "Metropolis: The Future is Now" | 160 BPM (from Angels and Demons) / AHA! / Metropolis / Asphalt Cocktail by John Mackey | 96.400 | 3rd |
| 2011 | "Brave New World" | Creep (Radiohead) / Deus ex Machina by Michael Daugherty / Harvest: Concerto for Trombone | 92.050 | 7th |
