Blue Notes

Ishpeming, MI United States
Founded: 1957

Inactive Junior
YearPositionScoreTheme/Songs
1963 This Could Be the Start of Something Big * Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart * Over the Rainbow (from The Wizard of Oz) * Battle Hymn of the Republic * El Capitan * The Sound of Music  
1964 25 74.300 (Repertoire not available)  
Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.

CORPS Photos

The Blue Notes drum & bugle corps began in Ishpeming on Halloween night in 1957 as an all-boy junior corps. The corps was founded by two very dedicated young men, Joe Mayrand and Jim Medlyn and was sponsored by the Ishpeming American Legion (AL) Post 58.

The corps competed in the Badgerland Drum and Bugle Corps Association. Their colors were red, white and blue. They performed in local parades for the first time in the summer of 1958. In 1959, an all-girl color guard was added, under the direction of Marvin Blight, entering the field competitive arena, placing 3rd at the Upper Peninsula AL championships. The following year, girls were accepted into the horn line as the corps finished 2nd at the 1960 MI AL state championships.

Over the next few years, with the tremendous support of hard working parents and the community, money was raised to purchase new uniforms and instruments. In 1961, the corps finished once again in 3rd position at the Upper Peninsula championships, improving to a 2nd place in 1962, along with a 3rd place finish at the AL state championships.

Awards included the Lake States Loggers Congress 1963 and '64 and the 1963-1964 Michigan American Legion and 1964 VFW championships. The corps participated in their first National championships with a 25th place finish at the 1964 VFW Nationals in Cleveland, returning the following season in Chicago, finishing 29th in the preliminary round. They were also crowned, for a third year in a row, the 1965 AL state champions.

From 1966 to 1971, the corps continued their strong showing within the Midwestern circuits by winning the 1967 MI state championships and the 1970 and 1971 Upper Peninsula titles. In 1972, the Blue Notes returned to the National scene, placing 23rd in the prelims of the American Legion Nationals held in Chicago, and won three consecutive state championships between 1973 to 1975. They also captured a finalist spot at the 1975 AL Nationals, placing in 4th position.

In 1976, their final season of competition, the corps competed in the US Open “Class A” finals, placing 8th and topped the AL state championships one last time. The corps disbanded in 1977.

An alumni corps was formed in 1984, celebrating the corps’ 60th anniversary in 2017.

 

Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; DCW, 4/02, p/23; Paul Legault (DCX)






Members (4)

Member Name Section Years Involved
Duesterbeck, Wayne Percussion Arranger 1968
Perry, David Soprano 1963 to 1973
Tyza, Walter percussion 1966 to 1969
Waters, Tim Percussion 1970 to 1976

CORPS 3 items

Blue Notes

BlueNotes,Ishpeming,MI,Pin1-1976-StateChamps(RE-2.0x3.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Blue Notes

BlueNotes,Ishpeming,MI,Pin2-IndianOval(RE-2.75x1.75)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Blue Notes

BlueNotes,Ishpeming,MI,Pin3-BaldEagle(Site)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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