Geneva, NY United States
Founded: 1929
The Appleknockers' unusual name is said to have derived by 1947 from the fact that they hailed from apple-picking country in New York (and therefore were rural yokels), and that they “knocked” around the country to different events.
One of the earliest corps to use jazz arrangements, the 396 made finals in the 1941 American Legion Championships before that event closed down for World War II. Some famous names associated with the 396 were arrangers John Kinyon and Jack Bullock, soprano soloist Frankie Farr, who improvised his solos on the field, and Hall of Famer John S. Pratt. The corps is credited with having featured the first individual horn soloist, a man named Ken "Ace" Peterson, and they also used a bass fiddle once for a standstill concert in Carnegie Hall.
The corps’ colors were green and white.
The Appleknockers placed in the top ten of every American Legion Nationals they ever attended. Known for their jazz charts, the Appleknockers performed sit-down jazz concerts during the off season.
The corps folded in the mid 1960s, giving way to the Appleknockers junior corps.
[Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; Drum Corps World 12/92, p. 13; 3/3/89, p.9; Bernie Gaffney; Geoffrey Whiting]
The corps went inactive after the 1964 season. They reactivated as a parade corps in 1983-1988. [submitted by Geoffrey Whiting 10/21/2017]
Highest Score 85.433
Final show in DCX Archives January 1, 1951 American Legion National Miami FL placed 9 with a score of 82.500
Highest Score 85.633
Final show in DCX Archives January 1, 1953 American Legion Nationals St. Louis MO placed 6 with a score of 85.633
Highest Score 83.266
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1954 7th Annual Pageant of Drums Syracuse NY placed 4 with a score of 82.850
Highest Score 82.273
Final show in DCX Archives July 23, 1955 5th Annual Pageant of Drums Rome NY placed 5 with a score of 82.273
Highest Score 88.440
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 1958 Finals Chicago IL placed 6 with a score of 88.440
Highest Score 81.270
Final show in DCX Archives September 5, 1959 Bellefontaine OH placed 4 with a score of 81.270
Highest Score 79.660
Final show in DCX Archives October 16, 1960 American Legion National Championships Miami FL placed 4 with a score of 71.930
Highest Score 82.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 16, 1961 Toronto ONT Canada placed 5 with a score of 79.270
Highest Score 81.983
Final show in DCX Archives September 8, 1962 Fulton NY placed 2 with a score of 76.750
Highest Score 86.445
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1963 5th Annual Music in Motion Titusville PA placed 2 with a score of 86.445
Highest Score 76.280
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 1964 Cavacade Of Champions Lewisburg PA placed 5 with a score of 76.150
Highest Score 67.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1973 Willowdale ONT Canada placed 3 with a score of 67.250
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Church, Kevin | soprano | 1970 to 1972 |
Church, Kevin | mellophone | 1973 to 1974 |
Gagliano, Joe | Drums. Color Guard, Horn Line | 1959 to 1962 |
Gagliano, Joseph | Color Guard, Drums & Horn Line | 1959 to 1963 |
MUCHLER, THOMAS | HORN LINE (LEAD SOP) | 1970 to 1972 |
Novosel, Mark | Hornline | 1966 to 1972 |
O'Malley, Pat | Soprano | 1968 to 1973 |
Reed, Jerry | French Bugle | 1953 to 1954 |
Roth, Jim | soprano | 1963 to 1964 |
Stevenson, Jack | Brass | 1960 |
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