Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps

The Hawthorne Caballeros
Location	Hawthorne, New Jersey
Division	World Class
Founded	1946
Director	James J. Costello Jr.
Championship titles	DCA: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1995, 2003, 2021

Last updated March 26, 2024

The Hawthorne Caballeros, sponsored by American Legion Post #199 in Hawthorne, New Jersey, is a drum and bugle corps entering their 76th season of competition.^[1]

They have won the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championship 10 times, the American Legion National Title 16 times, the National Dream Contest 17 times, and the New Jersey State American Legion Title 43 times. They have completed 5 undefeated seasons, consecutively in 1984 and 1985. They have placed in the Top 3 at the DCA World Championship 36 times in 56 appearances.

History

Founding years (1946-1966)

On March 20, 1946, the Caballeros were officially organized by a small group of recent veterans, former members of the St. George Cadets, including Jim Costello, his brother Bob, future brother-in law John McAuliffe Joe Scarber, and George Hayek. A few short weeks later, the corps made its first appearance.

In August 1947, the Caballeros attended their first National American Legion Championship contest at Randall's Island Stadium in New York City, and placed eighth. In 1948, the corps attended the Nationals in Miami, finishing fifth; but a year later, they were disqualified because they had not finished in the top ten at the 1949 Nationals in Philadelphia. A month later, however, after regrouping and putting in some extra practice sessions, the Caballeros won their first Legion State Championship at Wildwood, New Jersey over the Jersey Joes of Riverside, the 1948 National Champions.

The Caballeros developed into a first rate contender, to which 1951 proved to be a pivotal year. The Caballeros went on to win their first Legion National Championship. While in Miami, were offered a trip to Havana by the State Department, which was declined. The Caballeros would win the Legion National Championship in 1953, 1954, and attained a seven year winning streak from 1958 to 1964. By the discontinuing of the American Legion Championship in 1980, the Caballeros had won 15 times. After the 1958 Nationals, the Caballeros accepted another offer to tour Havana.

Transition to DCA

In the late fifties and early sixties, there was a growing consensus among drum corps in rejecting the Legion Nationals as a legitimate championship, primarily because for more years than not, the contest was held in a distant city; generally convenient for Legionnaires attending the convention, but not for drum & bugle corps based in the Northeast. Unfortunately, the drum corps championship was one small event in the overall Legion convention, and most of the top corps, including the Caballeros, often found it difficult to make the considerable expenditure in money and time to attend an event in cities such as Los Angeles, Portland, or New Orleans. The logistics and costs involved in transporting and housing a large corps over such distances was simply far greater than it was worth, often taking a year or longer to recover from financially. In addition to the financial burden on corps in general, the Legion rules were based largely on military concepts and styles. As the war years faded further and further into history and senior corps became increasingly staffed with non-veterans, there was a general feeling that the Legion's rigid competition rules had become outdated and overly restrictive.

Frustrations which existed mainly from these two situations gave birth in 1965 to Drum Corps Associates (DCA), a sanctioning body founded by drum corps people to be focused on, and devoted exclusively to senior drum & bugle corps competition.

The Caballeros would continue to attend the Legion National Championships until the final championship in 1980, which the Caballeros won.

DCA years (1966-present)

A member of DCA since 1966, the Caballeros have fielded a finalist corps every year since. The corps would be the first to distinguish themselves with a winning streak, winning DCA championships thrice from 1973 to 1975. In 1984 and 1985, the Caballeros completed two undefeated seasons. In 1989, during the DCA's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration, fans voted the Caballeros as their all-time favorite drum and bugle corps. In 2002, the corps would place outside of the top five for the first time in 34 years. The corps would place its lowest in recent years with the 2005 season. However, the corps would climb back into the top five in subsequent years, but fall back out top five for the 2018 season. In 2020, with the growing threat of COVID-19, the Caballeros would not perform a season for the first time since its founding. In 2021, the Caballeros completed an undefeated championship season. The Caballeros have won ten championships, the most recent being in 2021.^[2]

Show summary 1972-2021

Source:^[3]

Key
Pale Blue indicates DCA Open Class Finalist
Gold indicates DCA Open Class Championship

Year	Theme	Repertoire	Score	Placement
1972		España Cañi by Pascual Marquina Narro / El Gato Mones by Enrique Calva / Captain from Castile by Alfred Newman / Theme from Patton by Jerry Goldsmith / Everybody's Everything by Carlos Santana, David Brown, and Tyrone Moss / Sabre Dance (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachturian / Cha Cha Cha Flamenco by Mario de Jesus / SAmba de Orpheo by Luiz Bonfa	90.600	1st
1973		Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion / South Rampart Street Parade by Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart / Everbody's Everything by Carlos Santana, David Brown and Tyrone Moss / Sabre Dance (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachturian / Cha Cha Cha Flamenco by Mario de Jesus / Harmonica Man by Sam White	89.850	1st
1974		Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion / Sweet Gypsy Rose by Lawrence Brown / Soul Train by Alwyn Roberts / MacArthur Park by Jimmy Webb / Cha Cha Cha Flamenco by Mario de Jesus / Harmonica Man by Sam White	83.500	1st
1975		Conquest (from Captain from Castille) by Alfred Newman / TSOP (from Soul Train) by Alwyn Roberts / Opening Theme (from Chico and the Man) by Jose Feliciano / MacArthur Park by Jimmy Webb / Cha Cha Cha Flamenco by Mario de Jesus / Closing Theme (from Chico and the Man) by Jose Feliciano	91.110	2nd
1976		Bully by Mike Simpson / Brazil (from The Gang's All Here) by Ary Barroso and Bob Russell / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Cha Cha Cha Flamenco by Mario de Jesus / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione	92.500	1st
1977		Bully by Mike Simpson / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo / Closing Theme (from Chico and the Man) by Jose Feliciano	94.100	2nd
1978		España Cañí (Spanish Gypsy Dance) by Pascual Marquina Narro / Land of Make Believe (Drum Solo) by Chuck Mangione / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo / Salsation (Drum Solo) / Espirito del Toro	88.050	2nd
1979		Conquest (from Captain From Castile) by Alfred Newman / Conquistador by Jay Chattaway and Maynard Ferguson / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky / Bull Fever	89.250	2nd
1980		Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / La Bamba by Ritchie Valens / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / El Cid by Miklos Rozsa / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Hoedown (from Rodeo) by Aaron Copland	88.950	2nd
1981		Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / Late in The Evening by Paul Simon / La Fiesta by Chick Chorea / Marianne by Terry Gillkyson / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro	85.150	5th
1982		La Virgen de la Macarena by Bernardino Bautista Monterde / Faces by Larry Dunn and Verdine White and Maurice White and Bailey and Philip F / Land of Make Believe by Chuck Mangione / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro	87.450	4th
1983		La Virgen de la Macarena by Bernardino Bautista Monterde / Rio by Mack David and Oswaldo Santiago and Alcyr Pires Vermelho / El Toro Caliente by Joaquin Rodrigo / Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro	89.950	2nd
1984		Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo / Nothing But D. Best by Denzel de Costa Best / Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber	92.400	1st
1985		Corre Nina byFlora Purim / Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / L.A. Is My Lady by Quincy Jones / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro	92.500	1st
1986		Bully by Mike Simpson / Carnival by Maynard Ferguson / Echos by John Arietano / El Gato Triste by Chuck Mangione / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro	90.900	3rd
1987		Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion / Company (from Company) by Stephen Sondheim / Ritual Fire Dance by Igor Stravinsky / Georgetown (from St. Elmo's Fire) by David Foster / España Cañí by Pascual Marquina Narro /	93.240	2nd
1988		Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo /	91.940	5th
1989		Artistry in Rhythm / Granada Smoothie / Malaga / Peanut Vendor / Reuben's Blues /	93.000	3rd
1990		Granada Smoothie / Maria (from West Side Story) / Malaguena /	96.200	3rd
1991		Pictures in Spain by Evgeny Svetlanov / Here We Are by Gloria Estefan / Get on Your Feet by John DeFaria, Clay Ostwald, and Jorge Casas / Echano by Chuck Mangione	96.300	2nd
1992		Symphonic Dance #3-Fiesta by Clifton Williams / One More Time Chuck Corea by Gene Purling / Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber / España Cani by Pascual Marquina Narro	94.200	3rd
1993		One Hand One Heart / Prologue / Mambo / America / Somewhere (All from West Side Story by Leonard Berstein)	93.200	3rd
1994		Pictures of Spain by Evgeny Svetlanov / El Borojol by Ramon Reyes / Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo / España Cani by Pascual Marquina Narro	95.400	2nd
1995	Spanish Fantasies	Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / Conquistador by Jay Chattaway and Maynard Ferguson / Spanish Fantasy by Chick Corea / Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo / España Cani by Pascual Marquina Narro	97.770	1st
1996	Celebration D'Oro	Entrance to Reality / Bully / Concierto de Aranjuez / Malaguena / Spanish Fantasy / Evita (from Evita) / España Cañí	96.800	2nd
1997		La Virgen de la Macarena / My Spanish Heart / En Fuego	95.400	3rd
1998		El Corazon de Toro / El Toro Caliente / Concierto de Aranjuez / Lateen / Malaga	95.000	3rd
1999	The Mask of Zorro	The Plaza of Execution (from The Mask of Zorro) / The Legend - Zorro's Theme (from The Mask of Zorro) / The Tornado Ride (from The Mask of Zorro) / The Mask/Espana (from The Mask of Zorro)	94.500	5th
2000	Fiesta de España	Fantasia de Espania / La Cumparsita / La Fiesta / Beautiful Maria of My Soul (from The Mambo Kings) / España Cañí	95.700	2nd
2001		En Vuelo / When She Loved Me / Spain / Perfidia / España Cañí	95.350	3rd
2002	1975 Muchachos	Pictures De Espana / Pines of Rome / La Fiesta / Marianne / Concierto de Aranjuez	91.150	6th
2003	El Toro Nuevo	El Toro Rojo (from El Toro Nuevo) / The Prayer / El Toro Furioso (from El Toro Nuevo)	97.375	1st
2004	Pamplona: - Fiesta de San Fermin - The Running of the Bulls	Chupinazo y Fiesta (from Pamplona!) / San Fermin (from Pamplona!) / Encierro (from Pamplona!) / Corrida de Toros (from Pamplona!)	95.100	4th
2005	Passage to the Pyramid	The River Nile (from Passage to the Pyramid) / Sandstorm (from Passage to the Pyramid) / The Riddle and Passage to the Great Pyramid (from Passage to the Pyramid)	89.688	7th
2006	Reflections Through the Future!	Fuego (from Reflections Through the Future!) / Malaga / Spain / Reflections of El Toro (from Reflections Through the Future!)	95.000	4th
2007	Carmen 2007		96.650	2nd
2008	Sketches of Spain	El Camino Real / Spanish Fantasy / My Spanish Heart / Malaguena	93.625	5th
2009	Ritmos de Pasión	España Cañí / Amparito Roca / Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Parto) / El Diablo Rojo! (drum solo) / A Mis Abuelos	94.328	5th
2010	Behind the Mask; Spanish Heritage	Behind The Mask	93.963	5th
2011	Heritage: The Days of Future Past	Memoriam / Malaguena / Call To The Bulls	93.130	5th
2012	¡Alegria! Shades of the Heart	Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / Alegria / Bolero	94.780	3rd
2013	unRavel!	Bolero / Rhapsodie Espagnole / Time To Say Goodbye / Paint it Black	96.980	2nd
2014	Entrapment	Seduction (from Entrapment) / Allure / Pursuit (from Entrapment) / Hypnotized (from Entrapment) / Entrapped (from Entrapment)	95.530	3rd
2015	Unchained	Bound (from Unchained) / Restrained (from Unchained) / Unchained Melody / Free (from Unchained)	94.880	4th
2016	Red, White & Black	Malaguena / Million Years Ago / Original Composition	94.280	4th
2017	The Pathway of Remembrance	La Fiesta Mexicana / Stairway To Heaven / Zambra / La Fiesta	94.380	4th
2018	DuEal	España Cani / Asturias / Original Music / Nights in White Satin / Main Theme from (Green Hornet	91.950	6th
2019	Out of the Box	La Ruptara / Mombozart / Northern Lights / Reduce, Reuse, Recycle / Trio Saxiana / Viego Nuevo	95.200	3rd
2020		Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021	At the End of the Tunnel	Arrival of the Birds / Oscillation / Milonga del Angel / Renewal	94.650	1st
2022	Timeless	Romeo and Juliet Overture / Bad Romance / Just the Way You Are / Paradise By the Dashboard Light	96.725	2nd

Traditions

The Hawthorne Muchachos

The Hawthorne Muchachos, the Caballeros' junior corps, was formed in 1959 by the renowned Caballero drum major, Ralph Silverbrand. The impetus for forming the corps was primarily to extend the great world of drum corps to younger players in Hawthorne and surrounding communities, but a secondary benefit was to create a ready pool of talent which would eventually "graduate" into the Caballeros once members reached the age of twenty-two and "aged out" of the junior corps. The Muchachos wore the same basic uniform as the senior corps except for minor trim differences, and shared the instruction staff and rehearsal facilities with the Caballeros

The Muchachos were instantly successful, totally dominating the entry-level circuit they initially competed in with two undefeated seasons their first two years out. From there they moved into a more challenging circuit.

The Muchachos were eventually a member of DCI, the top junior circuit, and placed as high as fourth in 1974, a considerable achievement, given the incredible competition within that organization. Unfortunately, the Hawthorne Muchachos were disqualified during the 1975 season due to allowing an over-aged snare drummer to participate in their program. After a placement of 21st in the 1976 season the corps folded.

The Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps

The Caballeros have maintained a strong alumni association for many years. In 1994, the Association spawned another unit, the Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. Organized by a small but enthusiastic group of former corps members, the Alumni Corps quickly grew and continues to grow, currently numbering close to one-hundred members. The corps has been in great demand from the start, but unlike the competition corps, the Alumni Corps maintains a somewhat less rigorous schedule, and is strictly an exhibition and parade corps.

In addition to assisting the competition corps wherever and whenever possible, one of the purposes for launching the Alumni Corps was to return to some of the great music from the fifties, sixties and seventies; bringing back memories for older players and fans, and exposing younger fans to the music that made the Caballeros famous in earlier years.

Related Research Articles

A modern drum and bugle corps is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions. Participants of all ages are represented within the corps activity, but the majority are between the ages of 13 and 22 and are members of corps within Drum Corps International.

Classic drum and bugle corps are musical ensembles that descended from military bugle and drum units returning from World War I and succeeding wars. Traditionally, drum and bugle corps served as signaling units as early as before the American Civil War, with these signaling units having descended in some fashion from ancient drum and fife corps. With the advent of the radio, bugle signaling units became obsolete and surplus equipment was sold to veteran organizations. These organizations formed drum and bugle corps of civilians and veterans, and the corps performed in community events and local celebrations. Over time, rivalries between corps emerged and the competitive drum and bugle corps circuit evolved.

Drum Corps Associates (DCA) was a governing body for modern all-age and senior drum and bugle corps in North America. Its responsibilities included sanctioning competitions, certifying adjudicators, maintaining and enforcing rules of competition, and hosting an annual World Championship during Labor Day weekend. Historically, DCA members were referred to as "senior corps" in contrast to the "junior corps", who limit participants to a maximum 22 years of age. As DCA had no age restriction, the term "all-age corps" has come into common use.

Drum Corps International (DCI) is a governing body for drum and bugle corps responsible for developing and enforcing rules of competition and for providing standardized adjudication at sanctioned drum and bugle corps competitions throughout the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps</span> Junior drum and bugle corps based in Madison, Wisconsin

The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Madison Scouts are one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI) and a two-time DCI World Champion. Entering the 2024 season, the Madison Scouts are currently the oldest continuously active junior corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps</span> Junior drum and bugle corps based in Rosemont, Illinois

The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Rosemont, Illinois. The Cavaliers were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International and is a seven-time DCI World Champion. The Cavaliers are the only active all-male corps in the activity.

The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Blue Stars was one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International.

The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in Reading, Pennsylvania. The corps was a charter member of Drum Corps Associates, and is now a member of the Drum Corps International All-Age Class.

The Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps was an all-age or senior drum corps based in Rochester, New York, United States. They were the only all-age corps to place in the top four of the DCA finals for 24 years straight (1988–2011) including five first place finishes in that same span.

The Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps that competes in the Drum Corps Associates circuit, It was founded in 1981 in Harrison, New Jersey. The corps is based in Princeton, New Jersey and is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The corps' percussion section is the only one in either junior or senior corps to ever win six straight High Percussion Awards at Championships: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991. The Corps has won the Drum Corps Associates Open Class World Champions six times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps</span> Drum corps from Long Island, New York

The Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age, or senior, drum corps from Long Island, New York. The corps is a member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA), and as of 2021 competes in Open Class.

The Brigadiers were an all-age drum and bugle corps operated by the Brigadiers Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Brigadiers were charter members of Drum Corps Associates and were based in Syracuse, New York.

Atlanta CV is an all-age drum and bugle corps that competes in the Drum Corps Associates circuit. It was founded in 1997 and is one of two competitive corps in the state of Georgia, alongside Spirit of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps is an senior drum and bugle corps based in St. Peter, Minnesota, that competes in the Drum Corps International (DCI) All-Age class. Founded in 1927, the Governaires are considered to be the oldest continuously active drum and bugle corps. Prior to the dissolution of Drum Corps Associates (DCA), The Governaires won four DCA Class A World Champions.

The Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, that competes in Drum Corps Associates (DCA). A consistent DCA Finalist, Minnesota Brass was the 2011 DCA Open Class World Champion.

The Racine Scouts(formally the Racine Explorer Scouts) Drum and Bugle Corps was a junior parade Drum and bugle corps. Based in Racine, Wisconsin, the corps marched parades in the Midwestern United States. The Racine Scouts, nicknamed the "Chrome Domes", was the oldest continuously active junior drum and bugle corps in North America until they ceased activity in 2016.

The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, also known by their nickname the Hurcs, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in Seymour, Connecticut existing as an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps. The Hurricanes reigned as the oldest, continually active organization in Drum Corps Associates until its merger with Drum Corps International.

White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps is an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps based in Gates, NY. Founded in 1928, the corps has a long history as a parade corps. White Sabers is a two-time DCA Class A World Champion, a perennial DCA Open Class finalist - achieving 4th place in 2019. The Corps began competing in DCA's new World Class in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The New York Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps(formerly the Raymond A. Garbarina Memorial Corps, and Garbarina Skyliners) are an A Class competitive senior drum and bugle corps based in New York City, and currently rehearsing in Tioga County, New York.. The Skyliners were one of the original founding corps of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and have won every major title available to a senior drum & bugle corps. The Skyliners are sponsored by the Raymond A. Garbarina Memorial American Legion Post #1523 in New York City. They have won the DCA World Championship three times, the DCA A Class Championship twice, and the American Legion National Title twice.

References

↑ O'Connor, Ian (23 April 1989). "Championships Are Second Nature to Drum and Bugle Corps". The New York Times.
↑ History of the Hawthorne Caballeros
↑ "DCX - Drum Corps Xperience".

External links

Official website

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] O'Connor, Ian (23 April 1989). "Championships Are Second Nature to Drum and Bugle Corps". The New York Times.

[2] History of the Hawthorne Caballeros

[3] "DCX - Drum Corps Xperience".

[1]

[2]

[3]