"The Bayou City Blues...


is a non-profit, intergenerational organization for motivated and talented musicians. In once a week rehearsals taught by qualified professionals, we seek to provide an opportunity to prepare and perform a variety of music from classics to jazz to pops. Through the exchange of ideas and personal interaction, we work together to create a musical experience that will last a lifetime."

History

The Bayou City Blues Senior Drum & Bugle Corps was formed in the summer of 1991 by a group of dedicated drum corps fans that wanted to bring the drum corps activity to the Houston area. Since 1991, the "Blues" has grown considerably from five horn players to twenty-five hornline members in 1997. Members of the Bayou City Blues include former members of the Boys of '76, the Racine Scouts, the Madison Scouts, the Canton Bluecoats, the Phantom Regiment, the Cadets of Bergen County (Garfield Cadets), the Sunrisers, the Saint Xavier Sanctians, the Northernaires, the Florida Wave, Black Gold, the Velvet Knights, the Crossmen, SkyRyders, the Memphis Blues, the Bellville Black Knights, the Night Hawks, Blessed Sacrament, the Railmen, the Troopers, the Norwood Park Imperials, the Guardsmen, the Skyliners, the Saint Andrews Bridgemen, the Minnesota Brass, the Hawthorne Caballeros and the Empire Statesmen.

The corps is very active in the Houston area performing in parades and giving standstill performances for audiences in various areas of the city. Since 1994, the corps has taken a summer tour through the Midwest during the 4th of July holidays. The Bayou City Blues performs in parades in various Midwestern cities such as Kenosha, WI, Blue Island, IL, Milwaukee, WI, and Racine, WI. The corps also performed at the 1995 Freedomfest in Milwaukee, WI before 500,000 spectators. Aside from performing in parades, the Blues also performed in exhibition shows on the tour including a joint performance with the Racine Kilties Senior Corps and the Mighty St. Joes Alumni Corps -- a show with more than 200 performers on the field at one time!!! A major feature was the 15 contras executing the death defying spinning ripple horns up!! The crowd went wild!!!!! Some pictures from all of our tours are listed below under "corps pics."

About the Bayou City Blues

The Bayou City Blues provides opportunities for motivated and talented musicians of the Houston community to perform before large, appreciative crowds. In addition to music instruction, BCB offers concerts, parade and exhibition performances with talented soloists and instructors! If you like performing before responsive, excitable audiences, then check us out! We invite you to join us for an exciting season!

For the 2002 season we are planning three DCI field show exhibitions, in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. Probability is high that we will do another Midwest tour in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. Every year we are the featured ?band? in the Galveston Mardis Gras Parade.

Membership is open to anyone 14 or older with a desire to have fun performing for audiences' enjoyment! Musical experience is always a plus, but not necessarily a must!!

"YOU DON'T AGE OUT OF JUNIOR CORPS, YOU AGE INTO SENIOR CORPS!!!"

 -anonymous quote

The Music Program The music performed by the Corps is fresh, entertaining and exciting. Audiences will enjoy the sights and sounds of our field show this year, Drum Corps Texas Style, with its collection of old favorites and contemporary western themes.
The Hornline Conducted by Jason Guidry, this ensemble is comprised of the brass players of the Corps. Members practice and perform a variety of music from classics to pop.
The Drumline Roger Willis, this ensemble is comprised of the percussionists of the Corps. Members practice and perform a variety of music from classics to pop. The drumline performs a special ensemble feature in our field show.
The Color Guard Conducted by Anne Montgomery, this ensemble is comprised of the visual caption of the Corps, in which equipment like flags, rifles and sabers are moved and spun to emphasize sections of the music, and some dance routines are performed. The Guard ?adds the icing on the cake? to our field show.
The Honor Guard This ensemble performs at parades and leads the Corps onto the field, carrying the flags of the United States, Texas, and the Bayou City Blues. This is a tradition for decades in senior corps, and demonstrates the organization?s loyalty and dedication to our Corps, our state and our country.

All sections of BCB rehearse weekly on Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:30 PM at American Legion Post 416 in Houston. There is a $200/year registration fee ($100 for add'l family members), or $20/month, which includes use of an instrument and musical instruction.

Click here for directions to rehearsal sites

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