Anaheim, CA United States
Founded: 1965
When the Explorer Scouts came into existence, corps founder Don Porter had enough contacts within the military to secure practice sites on military installations such as taxiways and hangers. This military style carried over into the corps members' dress and behavior, precision and bearing as well, even out of uniform. Haircuts were short, sports coats were required, and "corps members were encouraged to walk in step with each other when seen by the public out of uniform."
The Explorer Scouts split into the Velvet Knights and the Anaheim Kingsmen in 1963.
Also known as The Blue Machine, the Kingsmen first made VFW Finals in 1969, placing ninth. In 1970 they placed second at American Legion Nationals. With a fifth-place finish at VFW Nationals in 1971, they became a charter DCI member.
Kingsmen sponsorship from such uniquely Anaheim industries as Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and the California Angels, as well as a strong parent group, ensured the group's financial strength.
In 1972, the Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands joined with the ten corps from the Midwest Combine and the United Organization of Junior Corps as founding members of Drum Corps International (DCI), which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America
The Kingsmen's leadership situation was not as stable as its finances were. Long-time director Don Porter resigned suddenly in the spring of 1972, to be replaced by interim directors Don Wells and Don Linscott. Reports throughout the drum corps world had the corps folding. Despite the difficulties, after just six weeks of tremendously long hours and concentrated practice, the Kingsmen headed east and was able to win U.S. Open and CYO Nationals. They placed third in the first DCI Prelims, but then put together a great performance and made their mark in drum corps history by becoming the first World Champions in the history of the fledging Drum Corps International.
1972 was the Kingsmen's finest hour, but their success was part of the cause of the corps' eventual downfall. The concentrated rehearsal schedule leading up to the DCI Championship left no time for paying performances. This, combined with a motel stay the night before Finals and the loss of the financially savvy hand of Don Porter, left the Kingsmen unable to continue at the same level of intensity. The corps remained a contender for only three years before going inactive in 1975 to "reorganize its finances."
The Kingsmen returned to DCI competition from 1982 to 1986, but the corps never placed higher than 28th. Thereafter restricting itself to local West Coast performances in Class A60 the corps met with some success. While preparing for the 1987 season, their drum line was recruited by a Top 12 corps. When they also lost their fully loaded equipment trailer to thieves, the Kingsmen cancelled their season.
Operating under the slogan "spectemur agendo" (Let us be judged by our actions), the corps moved to Stanton, California in 1989 and reorganized their bingo operation, which continued to run into at least 2002. The organization also purchased its own building in Garden Grove.
The Kingsmen have been active in winter guard and percussion ensembles since the late 1980s. A small brass and percussion ensemble named Star Corps was formed in 2002 with the intent of it being the startup for a return of the Kingsmen, but has gone no further.
The 286-member Kingsmen Alumni corps marched a full field show exhibition at the 2007 DCI Semi-Finals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on August 10.
[rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, catherineburr@yahoo.com, 1/22/2002; www.thekingsmen.org; Garrison Kean; Phil Norris; Keith Wilbur, Drum Corps World, various issues; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, Steve Vickers, ed.]
Highest Score 75.483
Final show in DCX Archives June 26, 1965 California State American Legion Championships San Diego CA placed 6 with a score of 72.000
Highest Score 75.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 1966 National Championship Anaheim CA United States placed 3 with a score of 72.450
Highest Score 74.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 23, 1967 Prelims New Orleans LA placed 14 with a score of 74.700
Highest Score 81.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1968 CYO Nationals Lowell MA placed 11 with a score of 68.960
Highest Score 85.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1969 American Legion National Championships Atlanta GA placed 5 with a score of 71.650
Highest Score 83.940
Final show in DCX Archives August 30, 1970 American Legion National Championships Portland OR placed 2 with a score of 76.650
Highest Score 90.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1971 VFW Nationals Dallas TX placed 5 with a score of 87.750
Highest Score 88.150
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1972 DCI World Championships Whitewater WI placed 1 with a score of 88.100
Highest Score 86.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1973 Wisconsin State Fair West Allis WI placed 6 with a score of 83.900
Highest Score 88.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1974 Syracuse NY placed 4 with a score of 84.750
Highest Score 77.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1976 DCI World Championships - Prelims Philadelphia PA placed 19 with a score of 76.900
Highest Score 83.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1977 DCI World Championships - Prelims Boulder CO placed 14 with a score of 83.600
Highest Score 75.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1978 DCI World Championships - Prelims Boulder CO placed 19 with a score of 75.000
Highest Score 64.150
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1982 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 28 with a score of 64.150
Highest Score 49.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1983 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Miami FL placed 21 with a score of 45.450
Highest Score 73.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1984 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Atlanta GA placed 24 with a score of 55.800
Highest Score 61.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1985 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 22 with a score of 61.400
Highest Score 67.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1986 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 18 with a score of 67.700
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Alva, Ken | Lead Baritone | 1976 |
Anderson, Gary | bugle | 1969 |
Anderson, Patricia | Color Guard | 1969 to 1970 |
Anderson, Steve | Tympani | 1976 to 1978 |
Arnot (Roebuck), Ann (Happi) | flag | 1982 |
Barnett, Victor | Brass | 1982 |
Biondo, Steve | Tenor | 1975 to 1978 |
Brown, Robert (Robbie) | Baritone | 1974 |
Craig, Charles | Timpani | 1978 |
Crew, Edward | Percussion | 1982 to 1983 |
DONLON, DENISE | GUARD-FLAG LINE | 1978 |
Dean, Craig | Contrabase | 1969 to 1970 |
Devlin, Dave | Snare Line | 1977 to 1978 |
Douglas, Earl | Drum Major | 1966 to 1972 |
Frederick, Bob (Fred) | bass drum | 1974 |
Glahn, Jeff | French Horn | 1983 |
Good, JIm | Drum Major | 1972 |
Groh, Charlie | Marching staff | 1974 to 1976 |
HOUSLEY, RON | Lead Baritone | 1967 |
Hall, Lynne | Color Guard | 1968 to 1972 |
Harris, Wayne | Baritone | 1972 to 1974 |
Hathaway, Steve | Baritone | 1982 to 1983 |
Henderson, Lozell | drumline(Quad Section Leader) | 1985 |
Henderson, Scott | contra | 1982 |
Hernandez, Felix | Hornline - Lead Baritone | 1976 to 1978 |
Hernandez, Felix | Hornline | 1977 to 1978 |
Hicks, Audra | Cymbals | 1985 |
James, Bob | Soprano | 1983 to 1985 |
Kamer, Angela | Color Flag | 1982 |
Kean, Garrison | French Horn | 1968 to 1970 |
Kean, Garrison | Drum Major | 1973 to 1974 |
Kelly, Scott | Baritone | 1982 |
Keyes, Michael | Contrabass | 1966 to 1967 |
Laird, Steve | Horn - Lead Soprano | 1964 to 1970 |
Laub, Calvin | Baritone | 1976 to 1977 |
Leet, Sandy | Soprano | 1978 |
Lewis, Nathaniel (Junior) | snare | 1986 to 1988 |
Lucas, Jeff | Baritone | 1986 |
MARTINEZ, BILL | Soprano | 1975 |
McCay, Frank | Drumline (Cymbals) | 1978 |
Moore, Lester | Contra | 1974 |
Nash, Glenn | French Horn | 1968 to 1972 |
Neilson, Brian | Soprano | 1982 |
Nelson, Duane | Baritone | 1978 |
Oneyear, Kari | Color Guard | 1982 |
Ortega, David | Baritone | 1977 to 1978 |
Palmer, Randy | Baritone | 1971 |
Powers, Dwayne | Soprano | 1985 |
Powers, Dwayne | Soprano | 1985 |
Pugh, Mike | Snare | 1975 to 1977 |
Rochford, Greg | Drum Major | 1983 |
Rochford, Greg | Guard/Visual Staff | 1984 |
Romanelli, Mark | contra | 1974 |
Rybus, Joe | Soprano | 1972 to 1974 |
Saldana, Leonard | Snare | 1976 to 1978 |
Salvatore, Thomas | french horn | 1977 |
Sanchez, Ray | Soprano | 1976 to 1977 |
Senske, Rick | Euphonium | 1982 |
Short, LaVon | Color Guard | 1976 to 1978 |
Tesar, Scott | Marching Mallets / Front Ensemble | 2007 |
Vasquez, Rene' | Horns | 1982 to 1984 |
Ventura, Steve | Soprano | 1977 |
Vestesen (Bliss), Elaine | saber Flag Flunky | 1970 to 1972 |
Watt, Phil | Cymbals | 1985 |
Welke, Chris | Lead Baritone | 2007; 2009 |
Wilson, Greg | Bass Drum | 1972 |
Wilson, Greg | Snare | 1975 |
Yee, Jackie | Rifle | 1976 |
fitzgerald, jim | baritone | 2007 |
maciejewski, john | Soprano | 1974 to 1978 |
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