This post will be the first of a few articles that will cover this year’s APRDC convention in Harrisburg, PA.
For me, this year’s American Patriots Rudimental Drummers Club convention was a joy! From the faces and the conversation of the attendees I interacted with, I believe I was not alone in this feeling.
As mentioned in an earlier posting this year’s, the 5th annual meeting and the last one until 2010, was the first convention to hold individual and ensemble competition.
John and Barbara Flowers,
the wonderful people who founded the APRDC were initially apprehensive about having competition at the convention fearing, as is experienced historically at such competitive venues, arguments and bad feelings over judging. I am happy to report that there was none of that; just good spirits all around.
I didn’t know John Flowers personally before my first attendance of the APRDC convention in 2005. But I knew of his fame for more than 40 years.
John is a many time individual snare-drumming champion. To this day he still competes placing high in the DCA nationals against the youngsters. (He placed 2nd in this year’s APRDC individual rod-tension snare-drumming contest!) Having served with the U.S. Air force Drum and Bugle Corps, John went on to teach and compose for some of the top corps in the country. Today he writes, arranges and performs for The Yankee-Rebels Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps of the Baltimore area.
Barbara Flowers is the delightful person who makes the whole APRDC thing work. Her hard work and enthusiasm in all the aspects of organizing and administering the annual convention is remarkable. She does this with skill and a sense of humor that makes us all feel happy and relaxed when attending the convention as well as when we perform there.
Barbara’s background is with the competitive fire department drum corps of upstate New York. In recent times, besides her performances with ensembles at the APRDC convention, I have seen her march with The Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps and the Yankee-Rebels Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps.
C.A.D.R.E.: Canadian Associates Drumming Rudimental Excellence is the perennial contributor of their talents to the APRDC. In fact the latter organization was inspired by the C.A.D.R.E. This talented group of drummers performs at venues across Canada and the U.S. in exhibition and competition. The group was founded by Canadian drum corps legend, Fred Johnson with the goal of preserving the rudimental style of drumming. The members form different ensemble playing on diverse drum technologies. They will perform on standard rod-tension marching snares or high-tension marching snares and even rope-tension drums. Their repertoire seems endless, playing pieces throughout the day without repeating.On a social level, they are a lot of fun to be with.
In October, C.A.D.R.E. holds a weekend of drumming exhibitions and workshops similar to APRDC convention. I hope to attend this year.
Interesting about C.A.D.R.E. is that although the membership is mature, there is a youthful element in the person of Nathan McLaren. Nathan is a superb multi-drum technologist. At a very young age, Nathan is accomplished in traditional rudimental drumming, world-class pipe band drumming and DCI/DCA competition style (and that is all that I know of!). He has worked with U.S. Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps legend, John Bosworth in the country of Oman and another Middle East country (maybe Nathan can help with this country!). He runs his own drum manufacturing company!
Nathan is extremely outward, amiable and polite individual. He fits well with older members and will surely be the beacon for the next generation of drummers to follow, and thus perpetuating this important drumming organization.
I should mention that the founder and president of C.A.D.R.E., Fred Johnson is a devoted historian of rudimental drumming. He is currently involved in the research of the enduring camp duty tune, "The Three Camps". Having long been interested in drumming history, I am looking forward to see the fruits of his work.
Paul Mosely, one of the fun guys of C.A.D.R.E., is the competitive coordinator of the ensemble. He is generous with his talent, playing exhibition with other chapters and ensembles of the APRDC.
The Mason-Dixon Line is another interesting ensemble consisting of former Yankee-Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps members and playing mixed percussion including drum set. As with C.A.D.R.E, this group is well rehearsed and has a great depth of percussive material. What is outstanding with this group is the fact that they have been friends for decades and they enjoy being and performing together. They are an extremely friendly bunch and will readily shoot you a smile.
What is notable in Mason-Dixon’s write-up on YouTube is that their average age is 60! Their percussion skill just doesn’t allow you to be aware of that!
The Skyliners Alumni Percussion Ensemble these days is Jack Murray and Joe Fontana. The champion snare drummer, Javier Morales, is the some time third member of the ensemble. Dr. Morales, a prominent cardiologist and internist, with his lecture schedule and other doctoring work, finds himself without enough time for his love, drumming.
Jack and Joe are great guys and phenomenal drummers! They perform incredibly difficult stuff. Jack is a many time DCA individual snare drum champion. If he doesn’t get first place, he is usually very close. Joe is right up there in the DCA standings, as well.
Jack and Joe are important members of the APRDC, giving their time and energy to promote and support the organization. Last year they were justifiably inducted into the APRDC Hall of Fame.
The Sky Alum ensemble does the multiple percussion show with a unique flair. Within a composition they will, possibly, start with conventional rod-tension marching snares, move to high-tension models, to rope-tension then to a rack of Roto-Toms with kick-bass and cymbals.
Incredible! And how well they play together!
They don’t use rope-tension snare drums here, but check out this videos of the Sky Alum Percussion Ensemble competing at the 2006 DCA finals:
It goes without saying that The U.S. Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps alumni have had a lot of influence in the success of the APRDC. It seems clear that John Flowers, being an alumnus, was able to get support for his venture from his old friends. Without more research I shouldn’t speculate on all that was done by this group of talented musicians. But I feel that they were the nucleus of the drumming club. And what historically important names form this group: John Bosworth, John Flowers, Dick Filkins, Don Walls, Tom Bitner and others I apologize for omitting.
This year, the Air Force guys with former U.S.M.C. Drum and Bugle Corps member, "Skee" Derr formed an interesting ensemble calling themselves, "The Old Guard". Not to be confused with The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, which is composed of relatively young performers, these dudes are, shall we say, more mature. Donning colonial garb, wigs and all, Don, John, Tom and "Skee" entertained us with this classic Regimentals Fife and Drum Band composition.
"Skee Derr", just mentioned above is another important part of the APRDC. He is currently the club’s videographer and responsible for most of the great videos that I have been able to use in this article. "Skee" was inducted ths year into the APRDC Hall of Fame.
He has a tremendous drumming background going back to 1958 including, as mentioned above, a hitch with the U.S.M.C. Drum and Bugle Corps. He also was a member of some of the top DCA drum corps including the Reading Buccaneers and Westshoreman drum and bugle corps. He is a founding and current member of the Reading Buccaneers Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps and is a member of the Yankee-Rebels Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps.
Presenting his excellent performance of his competition piece at this year’s convention, in his Reading Buccaneers uniform, is J.W. "Skee" Derr:
The Connecticut Patriots Fife and Drum Corps’ drum line, guest performers and clinicians, made a great impression on the crowd. With APRDC membership primarily former drum and bugle corps drummers, it was interesting to see their response to progressive ‘Ancient’ style rudimental drumming.
The CT Patriots’ piece, ‘Drumony’ was particular success with a couple of encores being requested. This exciting drum composition features powerful bass and snare freely using counter-part drumming. Brendan Mason wrote this piece and the other Patriots drum parts that were played at the exhibition. (I am pleased that Brendan created the drum parts for three of the four tunes performed in my corps’, Black River Fife and Drum Corps‘, current concert piece.)
The Masons:
It is interesting to note that a good percentage of the performers of the CT Patriots drum line are of the same family: the Masons. Don Mason, the father, is a many time Connecticut and Northeastern States champion individual bass drummer. In the last few years he has won the DCA national title competing on rope-tension against drum and bugle corps guys.
Donny started as very young boy, under the age of 10, in the legendary, ground breaking fife and drum corps, The Connecticut Yanks. Here he developed with drumming greats such as, Charlie Poole, Jim Clark and others.
Don’s son, Brendan is an incredible snare drummer as well as percussion composer/arranger. Son, Colon, is a multi-talented percussionist: and outstanding rudimental bass drummer; performs Basil style snare drumming and plays keyboard for The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps. This convention weekend he beat out all the individual rope-tension competitors!
The youngest son, Peter, is one of the most enthusiastic young drummers I have met. Beside the challenging drumming of the CT Patriots, he’s playing the equally challenging Basil snare drumming with the U.S. Swiss style piccolo and drum clique, Ameri-Clique. At this convention he he performed with Dave Fontaine in a Swiss drumming duet and again with Dave and the Ameri-Clique piccolos.
Two fifers, friends, Bill Hart and Tishka Musco, members of Ameri-Clique, attended to provide the melody for the tunes performed here taken from their Madison Street Project, ‘The Last Hour’ CD.
Bill and Tishka along with Peter Mason of the CT Patriots accompanied me at my exhibition piece, Circus Boy. This medley is the Black River Fife and Drum Corps’ current stand piece. Circus Boy, named after a Magic Hatmicrobrew that exclaims on its label: “Unfiltered and Unfettered”. We thought on two levels: the name seemed to fit the bouncy music of the piece and the motto reflected our corps’ philosophy. The composition consists of four tunes which were arranged by Bill Hart. As alluded to above, three of the pieces’ drum parts were written by Brendan Mason. I wrote the drum part to one of the tunes.
I’ve known Nick Attanasio for mostly all of my drum corps career. This goes back to the days of the great Sons of Liberty Fife and Drum Corps days. Nick is member of The Drum Corps Hall of Fame, The APRDC Hall of Fame and I’m sure a few other halls of fame that I am unaware of. At 85 years, he is indisputably a true living legend. I am in awe when every season, marching at a long and hot fireman’s convention parade in Upstate New York, I see Nick marching with vigor down the street with The Civil War Troopers Fife and Drum Corps. Arguably, Nick Attanasio is the prototype of what we see today as dynamic, progressive rudimental bass drumming. I believe this and I am supporting Dominick Cuccia in his campaign to have Nick inducted in the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. You can help with Dominick with this by signing his petition.
Nick has taught many outstanding individual snare and bass drummers as well drum corps lines. He teaches to this day. Can he still play? Check out this video of Nick accompanied by C.A.D.R.E.’s Eddie Jacko playing Les Parks’ "Brian Baru" : Nick and Ed playing "Brian Baru"
Each year The American Patriots Rudimental Drumming Club inducts prominent drummers, drumming teachers, officials – anyone who who has contributed to the art of drumming, especially rudimental drumming.
Please read the biographies of this year’s illustrious inductees: 2008 APRDC Hall of Fame Inductees
There is much more to say about the APRDC and the people who have made it work. I apologize to all individuals I might have omitted and the performances I hadn’t covered.
Bill Maling of The Camp Chase Fifes and Drum and Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps, a significant contributor to the club, could not attend this year.
I want to thank my friend, Cullen Triner (check out his 2006 DCA performance!) for supporting me and allowing me to perform with his chapter.
Also, Gary Rockwell for drum research and assisting me with my vendors store.
Thanks to Jim Ellis of The Cooperman Company who through the years has graciously assisted me with my drum needs and with my humble business.
Of course the most thanks to Barbara and John Flowers!
To view more videos from the 2008 APRDC convention, go to YouTube
and search on "aprdc".
Thank you Skee for all your hard work in producing these videos.
-Joe Gillotti
Filed under: Drumming-Percussion by admin - 3 Comments →
