Anaheim, CA United States
Founded: 1963
Velvet Knights success was rapid. Less than two years after its formation the corps won the California state crown, which at the time was the holy grail on the West Coast.
Throughout the remainder of the 1960 the Velvet Knights were a West Coast powerhouse, sharing California domination with their erstwhile brothers, the Kingsmen, and trading the coveted California State Championships back and forth. The two corps also traded membership; their corps halls were right across the street from each other in Orange County.
VK first toured nationally in the late 1960s, competing well on the national stage. The corps placed in the CYO and American Legion Finals in 1970. Notably, the corps did not lose a single parade that they entered, beating out even the fabled Troopers.
The corps is credited with being the first corps to perform with G-F bugles, at a 1968 appearance in Chicago's Civic Opera House. They also pioneered electronics on the field as early as 1968 when they fielded an electronic bugle that could sound like a cello, bari sax, or oboe.
The corps had the distinction of appearing in the move "Americathon" in 1979.
VK in the early 1970s couldn't attract the numbers of members needed to keep up with the competitive sizes of the Kingsmen or the Santa Clara Vanguard, which had appeared in 1967. The Knights, however, did seem to attract incredible talent to compensate for their smaller numbers. Regardless, the corps struggled through most of the 1970s, placing in the DCI top 25 twice, but slipping to 33rd in 1979.
During the 1978 season, the California Surf professional soccer team hired members of the VK percussion section to create the sound of pounding surf with specially micced tympani at Surf games.
They took a year off in 1980 to reorganize the staff and plot a new course. This organizational period gave management and staff time to come up with a five-year plan to reach DCI Finals. Demonstrating the mettle that had kept the VK alive since 1963, the corps performed in parades and rebuilt for the 1981 season. The parade and performance activities of the summer of 1980 proved to be a catalyst to membership in the following year. Performances and other activities created a solid nucleus of members to build on.
Many changes occurred in the early 1980s as the staff began thinking more creatively. From 1982 to 1984, the VK made enormous changes to their style and staff personnel, leaving the military discipline behind and adapting a laid-back Southern California appearance in 1982. Hawaiian print shirts, red Vans sneakers, and straw hats replaced the white silks and cadets jackets of the early years.
The VK immediately became recognized as a West Coast version of the East Coast Bayonne Bridgemen, who at the time were known as DCI's entertaining/funny corps. Due to the enormous popularity of the new VK, only a handful of members (fewer than ten in five years) left the VK to march other corps. Members of corps from northern California, Arizona, and Colorado were traveling to sunny Southern California to march with the VK.
DCI placements advanced from 33rd in 1981, to 21st in 1982, 17th in 1983, and the corps' first Finals appearance in 1984. Perseverance was the corps' virtue, and a four-year promise was being kept to corps members and alumni. In 1985 the VK placed 11th, 12th in 1986.
1987 would be a major boost to the VK. Even though the Finals dream was realized in 1984, there were still ten other places in Finals the VK hadn't reached. Former Bridgemen director Bobby Hoffman joined the staff in 1987, and with his fertile mind for the absurd, the VK ascended to a seventh-place tie with the two-year-old Star of Indiana.
Velvet Knights had carved out a place on the drum corps stage as the "Clown Princes of Drum Corps" and "The Harlem Globe Trotters of DCI,“ entertaining audiences all over the United States and Canada and in countries abroad. VK remained a DCI finalist through 1990 before falling short in 1991, but returned to the top 12 for their last Finals appearance in 1992. 1993 through 1996 saw VK remain in DCI’s top 25, but they would not grace DCI Finals again.
Errors by corps management led to an IRS audit before the 1997 season. Subsequent penalty fees, back taxes, and interest brought about the financial demise of the corps.
VK lives on in the memories of corps fans. Many VK alumni came together to found Impulse, Southern California's heir apparent to VK, in 1998, a corps that could carry on VK’s tradition of audience-friendly, entertainment-focused shows.
[http://members.tripod.com/DrumCorpsHistory/VelvetKnights.htm; VKGARRY73 (vkgarry73@aol.com), rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, 11/24/98; DCW, 6/8/90, p. 16; DCW, 4/03, p.3; DCW, 1/04, p.3; DCW, 3/04, p.3; DCW, 8/6/04, p.3]
Highest Score 63.500
Final show in DCX Archives October 3, 1964 California State Open Championship Santa Clara CA placed 3 with a score of 63.500
Highest Score 82.816
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1965 American Legion Nationals - Preliminary Contest Portland OR placed 8 with a score of 64.300
Highest Score 73.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 1966 National Championship Anaheim CA United States placed 2 with a score of 73.216
Highest Score 67.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1968 Burlington WI placed 6 with a score of 67.400
Highest Score 67.400
Final show in DCX Archives July 6, 1969 Dixon IL placed 5 with a score of 67.400
Highest Score 82.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 30, 1970 American Legion National Championships Portland OR placed 3 with a score of 68.100
Highest Score 61.100
Final show in DCX Archives June 5, 1971 Anaheim CA placed 2 with a score of 61.100
Highest Score 71.000
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1972 California State Open Santa Clara CA placed 5 with a score of 62.700
Highest Score 76.000
Final show in DCX Archives September 8, 1973 Southern California Circuit Championship San Diego CA placed 1 with a score of 70.200
Highest Score 83.850
Final show in DCX Archives September 7, 1974 The Southern California Circuit Championship San Diego CA placed 2 with a score of 55.250
Highest Score 62.750
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1975 Drum Corps West Finals Salem OR placed 7 with a score of 62.000
Highest Score 69.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 28, 1976 Drum Corps West Finals Renton WA placed 6 with a score of 66.950
Highest Score 76.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1977 American Legion Nationals Finals Denver CO placed 7 with a score of 76.100
Highest Score 70.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1978 DCI World Championships - Prelims Boulder CO placed 25 with a score of 70.450
Highest Score 66.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1979 DCI World Championships - Prelims Birmingham AL placed 33 with a score of 65.350
Highest Score 57.950
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1981 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 33 with a score of 57.950
Highest Score 73.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1982 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 21 with a score of 70.200
Highest Score 74.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1983 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Miami FL placed 17 with a score of 71.450
Highest Score 87.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1984 DCI World Championships Atlanta GA placed 12 with a score of 83.200
Highest Score 86.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1985 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 11 with a score of 85.300
Highest Score 86.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1986 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 12 with a score of 82.600
Highest Score 90.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1987 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 7 with a score of 90.000
Highest Score 93.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1988 DCI World Championships Kansas City MO placed 8 with a score of 90.600
Highest Score 88.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1989 DCI World Championships Kansas City MO placed 11 with a score of 87.000
Highest Score 88.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1990 DCI World Championships Buffalo NY placed 10 with a score of 87.300
Highest Score 83.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1991 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Dallas TX placed 14 with a score of 83.100
Highest Score 87.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1992 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 10 with a score of 86.600
Highest Score 84.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1993 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Jackson MS placed 13 with a score of 83.100
Highest Score 82.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1994 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Foxboro MA placed 15 with a score of 80.200
Highest Score 81.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1995 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Buffalo NY placed 15 with a score of 74.700
Highest Score 76.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1996 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Orlando FL placed 17 with a score of 74.600
Highest Score 71.600
Final show in DCX Archives July 16, 2011 So-Cal Classic Ontario CA placed 5 with a score of 71.600
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Allen, Tyler | Soprano | 1995 |
Arnot (Roebuck), Ann(Happi) | flag | 1984 |
Baer, Lex | Drum Major | 1969 to 1970 |
Ball, Darla | Colorguard | 1976; 1980 to 1982 |
Barber, Jeff | Bass Drum | 1995 |
Biondo, Steve | Tenor | 1974 to 1975 |
Boots, Larry | Drumline | 1979 |
Brimson, Snapple | Baritone | 1996 to 1997 |
Briseno, James | hornline/mellophone | 1989 |
Burns, Don | Contra | 1991 |
Carnegie, Ron | Soprano | 1978 to 1979 |
Castle, Jim | Soprano Bugle | 1977 to 1979 |
Claar, James | Euphonium | 1987 to 1988 |
Conley III, Everett | Contra line | 1989 |
Cross, John | Mellophone | 1981 to 1982 |
Cunningham, Sean | percussion | 1988 to 1989 |
Damewood, Kevin | Soprano | 1971 to 1973 |
Douglas, Earl | Snare Drun | 1963 to 1965 |
Eaton, Matt | Upper Euphonium | 1986 to 1987 |
Egland, Todd | Pit | 1992 |
Egland, Todd | Pit | 1992 |
Emmond, David | Mellophone | 1992; 1994 |
Emmons, Troy | ALTOS | 1991 to 1993 |
Findler, Nona | Colorguard | 1983 to 1985; 1988 |
Gaba, Mel | Baritone | 1983 |
Geiges, Jamie | Alto | 1994 |
Gilman, Greg | Marching Instructor | 1982 to 1983 |
Gray, Joe | mellophone | 1995 to 1996 |
Groh, Charlie | hornline/m&m staff | 1963 to 1993 |
Hall, Lynne | Color Guard | 1965 to 1968 |
Hargett, Charles | Soprano | 1983 to 1986 |
Harris, Catherine | French Horn | 1974; 1977 |
Harris, Catherine | French Horn | 1974; 1977 |
Hathaway, Steve | Baritone | 1984 to 1985 |
Henderson, Lozell | drumline(Quads) | 1986 |
Hendricks, Francine | Soprano | 1994 |
Herring, Kevin | Soprano | 1988 to 1989 |
Holgate, Nancy | colorguard | 1977 to 1982 |
Hubbard, Scott | Drumline - Tenors | 1991 |
Johnson, Jeff | soprano | 1985 |
Kendall, Karen | Color Guard | 1980 to 1982 |
Keys, Corkie | Color Guard | 1975 to 1978 |
Kuramoto, Eiichi | Baritone,UpperLead | 1989 |
Lima, Gary | Middle Horn | 1982 to 1986 |
MARTINEZ, BILL | Soprano / Mellophone | 1974 |
MOORE, LESTER | CONTRA | 1973 |
Magee, Gregory | Soprano (UpperLead) | 1986 to 1987 |
McCoy, John | soprano | 1977 to 1984 |
McLaren, Steven | Contra | 1984 |
McMillen, Eric | Contra Bass | 1986 to 1989 |
Meade, Dave | Baritone | 1982 to 1987 |
Michael, Steve | Mellophone | 1985 |
Mitchell, Jeff | Pit | 1992 to 1994 |
Mitchell, Marcus | Colorguard | 1980 |
Moreno, Scott | Tenors '76, snare '77-'79 | 1976 to 1979 |
Neilson, Brad | Alto / Soprano | 1989 to 1992 |
Nelson, Kim | Color Guard | 1988 to 1990 |
Neugroschl, Scott | Soprano | 1978 |
Norris, Dale | Baritone Horn | 1968 to 1969 |
Oneyear, Kari | Winter Color Guard | 1985 |
Palmer, Randy | Soprano, French Horn | 1969 to 1970 |
Parker, Garry | tenors | 1971 to 1973 |
Price, Bill | Drum Major | 1989 to 1990 |
Riebesehl, Dale | contra | 1984 to 1985 |
Roberts, Patti | Color Guard | 1994 to 1996 |
Roland, AnnaMarie | Snare | 1979 |
Rosebrock, Eric | Horn Line | 1976 to 1978 |
Salvatore, Joe | Drum Line - Cymbals | 1984 to 1985 |
Sarbeck, James | Contra | 1980 to 1982 |
Sierra, Martin "Muff" | Contra | 1995 to 1996 |
Silbaugh, Melinda (Mindy) | Colorguard | 1978 to 1982 |
Simpkins, Bill | Drum Major | 1964 to 1965 |
Smith, Steve | Snare Drum | 1969 to 1970 |
Thompson , David | Euphonium, Baritone, Visual Staff | 1992 to 1994 |
Tillery, Scott | Euphonium | 1994 |
Turner, Bill | soprano | 1973 to 1975 |
Turner, Bill | alto | 1977 |
Turner, Bill | mello, instructor | 1978 |
Turner, Bill | mello, arranger, instructor | 1979 |
Turner, Ryan H. | Baritone, Drum Major | 1984 to 1987 |
Turner, Ryan H. | Baritone, Drum Major | 1984 to 1987 |
Warrick, Randy | Soprano/Mellophone | 1975 to 1976 |
Watson, Thom | Contra | 1984 to 1985 |
Watt, Phil | drumline | 1987 to 1991 |
Welke, Chris | Upper Lead Baritone | 1996 |
White, David | Mellophone | 1975 |
White, David | Mellophone | 1975 |
Wilson, Greg | Snare | 1977 |
Wilson, Greg | Drum Staff | 1978 to 1979 |
Zeilinger, Dan | Soprano | 1972 to 1974 |
Zeilinger, Ron | Baritone (Lead) | 1980 to 1985 |
heckman, robert | sopranos, lower lead | 1989 to 1990 |
mcguire, kristie | color guard | 1974 to 1975 |
mercure, oniel | percussion | 1979 to 1980 |
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