Bleu Raeders

The corps was put together from migrants from two local corps - the Stardusters and the Southern Rebels - that had splintered, though they continued to compete.

Because the Raeders began life with a core of experienced members, they had the basis for an accelerated rise. DCI hall-of-famer Moe Latour was the Bleu Raeders' director from their 1971 formation. Other staff included Marty Hurley (percussion), Gene Polowski (charts), and Ray Baumgart and Jay Kneible (horns).

The group made finals in the first DCI International competition on their first year out, the first corps ever to do so. They were also the first southern corps (and only southern corps until Spirit of Atlanta in 1978) to make Finals. They also finished sixth in World Open competition in 1972.

As befits a performing group from New Orleans, the Raeders marched in many a Mardi Gras parade, in addition to their field competition.

After another infusion of members from the defunct Stardusters in 1974, the corps changed its name to Regiment Militaire, under which name it competed at DCI for two years. Under the Bleu Raeders name, the corps continued in DCI competition through 1980, often in Class A and, curiously, as an all-girl group in 1980.

[DCW, 8/2/02, p. 10; 6/29/90, p.2; Ted Purdue, RAMD, 6/2/2000 and 2/21/98; Sambuca312, RAMD, 8/9/02]