New Orleans in September of 1968 wasn't very pleasant. It's below sea level and it was hot and very humid. Practice was brutal. Lots of mosquitos. We did two shows.
I think the one the night before the A.L. Nationals was an exhibition. We just went through the motions and it was lackluster to say the least. You can feel when a corps is on fire and when it's not. You of all people would know that. My brother was in the Navy in California at the time and used to visit a small junior corps called the Lynwood Diplomats. He told some of their members to look me up when they got to the Nat's.
Well, they were at that first show and weren't all that impressed with us. They were polite about it though.
The following night, John Sasso had a plan and a mission. We were the biggest thing there, and John was gonna make us bigger. We had this street beat with extended rolls and the drum line shinned with it. It was perfect for an entrance. We were huddled out back behind the field, waiting to march out. John told us to pace ourselves 6 counts apart. They opened up the gate, the drums kicked in and kicked ass and we started to enter the field one at a time, single file. At 6 beats apart with about 80 guys, it took about 20 minutes for the corps to hit the starting line. The crowd couldn't believe what they were about to see. You see, besides St. Lucy's, we were the show and the crowd knew it. You could feel the excitement in the stands.
Needless to say, it was one of the best performances of the season. Only the 68 Dream could challenge this one. Going off the field, the crowd went nuts. We made our way over to a spot away from the stands and several people from the Lynwood Diplomats junior corps came over to extend their excitement and well wishes. One young man said he never saw anything like what he'd just seen and that we were way ahead of the performance from the night before. Made my day to say the least, and yes we won.
It was a little bitter sweet because most of the top corps stayed home for this one, but we didn't care. We had planned this many months before and nothing was going to deter us. We like to remember it this way. They didn't show because they knew they were going to lose. Why make the trip? Only Reading could have stopped us that night, but they already had DCA's in their pocket. Besides, I don't remember if they had American Legion sponsorship.
So you see, all things about New Orleans aren't all that bad. It's just that I'd rather remember the win than the mosquitos.
Don Angelica was the horn judge at the 1968 Dream and when we came out of concert, this gent stood at the front of the field near Frank Dorritie, Johnny Olivieri, Fedyck and Bob Murphy as they triple tongued "The Joker". He stood with his clip board and watched as they shined on this one. When they finished, he put the clip board down by his side and just shook his head in amazement. Not a tick in sight. True story.
Admins note: this story has been confirmed by Bob Murphy - who ought to know!
"The judge is/was Don Angelica and we gave him quite a bit to listen to that day. He had two other great reactions that I remember. They came during "American In Paris". The first happened right after the melo solo. We played five very hairy chords, very slowly and very softly and very IN TUNE. Angelilca's response was to clutch his clipboard to his chest, look up to the heavens, bend his knees, and bounce up and down two or three times with a look of unrestrained glee on his face (It takes longer to write it down then it took to execute the move). The second came a moment later at the conclusion of Cookie Kamerdan's solo when Angelica again clasped his clipboard to his chest. looked to the heavens, and spun around in place. I think that the man had an orgasm right there in the middle of Roosevelt Stadium!"
There is another Don Angelica story on Bobs page not to be missed.
Glenn Krug - lead soprano, 1966-68
