Dutch Boy Banner
Take Me Home Your tour begins here Learn about the history About this website Alumni                
 


History of the Corps
- 48th Field Squadron
- Flying Dutchmen Sr.
- Flying Dutchmen Jr.
- Dutch Boy Cadets
- Northstar
- 1977 Cadets of Dutch Boy
- Dutch Boy 1980-1993
- 1980 Cadets of Dutch Boy
- Dutch Boy 1998-2009

John Robins
- J.R. - 50 Years of Dedication
- J.R. - Words from Al Tierney
- John Robins Roast - 1986
- Memorial Video
- Tribute Video

Northstar Centre

Video
NYO 30th Anniversary
NYO 2007 Reunion
Recruitment Video 2008

PDF Brochure
CDCA 1934-1984
"Salute to 50" Years


CDCA Salute to 50

THE DUTCH BOY DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS 1980 - 1993

Dutch Boy 1987

The Al DiCroce Era 1986-1993

With the retirement of John Robins Dutch Boy was now under the leadership of Al DiCroce. Al had been the horn arranger of the corps since 1983. His initial contribution had been to introduce popular movie themes to the corps' repertoire.

Dutch Boy fielded a Corps of 86 members in 1986. In keeping with the movie theme score, the show continued to draw from the world of films and TV. This year, however, had more of a contemporary jazz and Hollywood flavouring, calling to mind the sophisticated big band style of the 60s and 70s.

The Corps opened with the prime time cartoon medley featuring the music from The Jetsons, Top Cat and Magilla Gorilla, following with selections from Henry Mancini's popular Pink Panther soundtrack. The program closed with the title theme from the movie Octopussy and the exciting James Bond/007 theme.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1987 brought big changes to Dutch Boy. Al had built an experienced staff to help push the corps towards the Top 12. With a sophisticated theme like the music of Frank Sinatra the corps needed a new sophisticated look. Show Designer Michael J. Cesario was just the person to achieve this with a distinctively Vegas-show style look that still maintained a Canadian identity. The musicians wore white jackets over black pants with red sequin bibs and their felt hats were exchanged for black and silver shakos. The colorguard wore silver sequined, one-piece body suits with a mulitiude of wardrobe accessories including black capes with hot, red satin lining. Repertoire: The Song is You, The Wee Small Hours, L.A. is My Lady, It Was a Very Good Year, My Way.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The journey to Top 12 proved to be challenging and was achieved over a three year period by 10ths of a point. The Sinatra inspired show continued in 1988. Repertoire included: The Song is You, It Was a Very Good Year, I've Got You Under My Skin & My Way.

In 1989 the focus changed from performer to arranger and featured the tunes of Nelson Riddle including: Begin the Beguine, I've Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

1990's "Frank and Sammy Suite" finally took Dutch Boy into the Top 12. Repertoire: Strangers In The Night, "My Way", "It's Alright With Me", "What Kind of Fool am I?", "Come Back to Me", "Once in a Lifetime", "Side by Side". Having now reached that achievement was certainly worth the effort but maintaining it would continue to be a battle for the corps. Despite it's efforts the next 3 seasons would take their toll and expense on the corps as it tried to compete at the world class level.

By the end of 1993 the vision and determination of Corps Director Al DiCroce was no longer the vision of the Board of Directors and ultimately the challenges of competing at the world class level would cost Dutch Boy it's existance.

The Cadets of Dutch Boy would now carry the torch forward.

To jump to the Al Dicroce Era including synopsis, repertoire, photos, video and audio CLICK HERE.

 
 
Footer