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Black Knights

Belleville, IL United States
Founded: 1953

Inactive Junior
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Results from final championship competition of the year
  • Position:
  • Score: 0.000
Repertoire for 1980
Coronation of Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky
My Favorite Things (from The Sound Of Music) by Richard Rodgers Barbara Streisand - The Christmas Song - Columbia 4-44352 (1967); Sound of Music - Movie Soundtrack
I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King Carole King - Tapestry - Sony Music; ASIN: B0000025BA
Battle Hymn of the Republic by Traditional collected by William Steffe | adapted by Julia Ward Howe

- Carole King, - William Steffe
The Black Knights, formed in 1953 or 1954, was a junior marching and manuevering corps based in Belleville, Illinois. The corps was founded by Forrest T. Creson, who remained its director until his death in 1971.

The corps' first 20 years were under the sponsorship of the Tancred Chapter of the Order of DeMolay.

The corps participated in DCI competition from 1972 through 1989. Their highest finishes were tenth in Open Class in 1973 and fourth in Class A in 1985. In VFW competition, the Black Knights finished as high as second, in 1959 in Los Angeles and in 1973 in New Orleans.

The uniforms in later years were styled after the British Cavalry Honor Guard, black and white with red sashes and gold trim, topped with chrome helmets and horse hair plumes. At one point the corps had uniforms with one black and one white sleeve, the white one showcased in an exaggeratedly high arm swing, pinky finger extended.

As a fundraiser, the 1986 Black Knights toured the St. Louis area presenting an 80-minute concert. That production included "The Messiah," arranged by Ron Jones, who also composed music for the television show "The A Team."

The Black Knights disbanded at the end of the 1989 season.

[DCW, 5/02, p.3; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps; DCW, 2/04, p.14]

Members (42)

Member Name Section Years Involved
Baker, Kent French Horn 1981
Berry, Chuck Contra 1984 to 1989
Brethauer, Craig Horn line 1973 to 1978
Brown, Mike Drumline 1980 to 1986
Cochran, Fred Rifles 1961 to 1967
Cochran, Fred Color Guard 1962 to 1967
Compton, Rory Drum Line 1974 to 1976
Creson, Steve Lead Soprano Soloist 1962 to 1968
Dick, Ishmael Baratone Bugle/Drum Major 1956 to 1962
Ford, Wayne administration 1978 to 1979
Frog, GW Assisted with souvies 1989
Greene, Rob Color Guard/Flag 1984 to 1986
Greene, Rob Color Guard 1984; 1986
HAMILTON, JAMES HORN LINE 1959 to 1965
Hommel, Timothy drumline 1971 to 1973
Hopper, Mike Drum line 1973 to 1974
Jackson, Sam Drum line 1967 to 1969
McCarty, Steve Baritone 1970 to 1976
McCarty, Steve Corps Director 1989
Messamore, Amy Colorguard 1988 to 1989
Miller, Scott Contra 1986 to 1989
NICOL, KEVIN LEAD SOPRANO-SOLOIST 1967 to 1971
O'Neil, Larry Drumline 1976
Pierce, Kevin Soprano 1969 to 1973
Poole, Kevin Percussion 1962 to 1971
Rogers, John Drums 1963 to 1965
Sansom, Tammy Color Guard 1979 to 1982
Scott, Dave Soprano 1966
Scott, Dave Brass Tech 1969 to 1972
Smith, Dean Baritone Soloist 1978 to 1985
Stegall, Floyd Management 1983
Waggoner, Scott Snare 1982 to 1983
West, Joel Snare Line 1958 to 1964
Willingham, Alan Color Guard 1986 to 1987
YOUNG, MARK FRENCH HORN 1976 to 1980
Young, Mark french horn 1976 to 1980
french, cindi color guard-rifle line 1971 to 1977
hamilton, charlie percussion line 1982 to 1989
hamilton, jim soprano 1959 to 1965
leggans, charles horn 1960 to 1963
poole, ron baritone 1953 to 1957
thoms, william contra/baritone 1980 to 1986

CORPS 55 items

Black Knights

Bellville Black Knights from the Bill Ives Collection
Black Knights

Black Knights Transportation Staff Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights Transportation Staff Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights Transportation Staff Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights White Linen Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights White Dirty Jacket Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights White Dirty Jacket Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights White Patch Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Black Knights White Patch Jacket from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Belleville Black Knights from the Bill Ives Collection
Black Knights

Belleville Black Knights from the Bill Ives Collection
Black Knights

Belleville BK White Red Sash 1979 Uniform from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Belleville BK Purple White Sash 1950 Uniform from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Belleville BK with Crest Placard Shield A from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Belleville BK with Crest Placard Shield A from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

Belleville BK with Crest Placard Shield B from the Bill Ives Collection Contributed by Jim Hamilton
Black Knights

1971 Belleville Black Knights Drum & Bugle Corps @ VFW Dallas from the Roy Perez Collection
Black Knights

1971 Belleville Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps-VFW Nationals Dallas from the Roy Perez Collection
Black Knights
PDF Document

160-161, Belleville Black Knig from the Steve Vickers Collection
Black Knights

Black Knighs Recruitment Poster from the Steve Vickers Collection

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