Night Hawks

From DrumCorpsWiki

The Night Hawks are an inactive junior drum corps that was based in Houston, Texas.

1 History
2 Repertoires
3 Traditions
4 Trivia
5 External Links

[edit] History

The corps was formed in 1982. The immediate goal was to create a competitive drum corps for DCI. An extensive tour (nearly 20 performances) for the time was planned. It was also decided that the corps would immediately compete as a Open Class Corps, instead of climbing up through the A and A-60 Ranks as most new corps usually did. The corps performed at various shows throughout the South, including performances at DCI East, the U.S. Open, and the American International Championship Finals. For it's first year of competition, the corps did not do badly in it's rookie year, placing 41st at the Open Class DCI Prelims with a score of 46.600. The corps also scored high in both M&M and Brass.

In 1983, the corps decided to continue with the same musical stylings as the previous season. The corps also decided to perform as a Class A corps and see where things took them. While at times, the placements seemed to be the same, the corps was performing stronger than it had the previous year. The tour included Drums Along The Rockies, the DCS Championships, and DCI Midwest. This held out at the DCI Class A Finals, where the Night Hawks placed 3rd with a score of 47.800. The hornline was the pillar of strength for the corps, taking 2nd in all brass captions and in GE Brass. The drumline also came across with a 4th place finish in a very competitive field. At the Open Class Prelims, in which the judging had been revamped from previous years, the corps took 18th place with a 44.450.

In 1984, the corps continued to build on what had been established in 1982. Again, as they toured, they had improved upon previous seasons. But after the August 12th show in Houston, the corps stopped touring. It is believed that finacial hardship forced a premature end to the season, about a week before the DCI championships. It is sadly obvious that the corps would have performed better at Finals Week than previously.

Performance of the corps sometime during 1982.

[edit] Repertoires

1982
This Could Be the Start of Something Big
The Adventures of Supertonic
Children of Sanchez
That Cat is High Amazon
My Funny Valentine (from Babes in Arms)
41st - 46.000

1983
Chelsea Morning Amazon
The Tales of Rhoda Rat
Jimmy
Spinning Wheel
Somewhere in Time
3rd (Class A) - 47.800
18th - 44.450

1984
Sinfonians
From Mighty Oaks
Classical Drag
Somewhere In Time
47.800

[edit] Traditions

The corps performed a jazz style similiar to such corps as the Bridgemen.
The corps was noted for its very strong brass sound.
The corps uniform was comprised of black shoes and pants, a blue top with a white ascot and cumberbund, and a black muchachos style hat with a silver band. This uniform was worn by all members of the corps, including the color guard.

[edit] Trivia

The Nighthawks were the first corps from Texas to compete at DCI. They would also hold the highest placement in DCI by a Texas corps until 1991, with the Sky Ryders of DeSoto earning 12th place at the DCI Championships.
The corps was named after a bird native to the Houston area. In fact, there are many things in Houston named after the Nighthawk.