North Star

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North Star was a former top 12 D.C.I. junior drum corps based in North Shore, Massachusetts.

For Northstars from Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, see Northstars

[edit] History

The corps was formed in 1976 as a merger of the Blueveries and Beverly Cardinals.
The corps became inactive in 1983 due to financial reasons.

[edit] Trivia

A DCI powerhouse in the late 1970's and early 80's, North Star was one of the most crowd pleasing drum corps in history. Under a "Dream Team" management group made up of Jim and Linda O'brien, Bob Mulvanity, Bill Dunne, and Al Solombrino, North Star went on to finish in Drum Corps International's elite top twelve three years in a row, from 1978-1980. This successful run included numerous victories over local rivals such as the Lancers and Boston Crusaders, as well as national powers such as the Madison Scouts, Bayonne Bridgeman, Garfield Cadets, and Crossmen. The crowd pleasing approach to their program design paid huge dividends as the corps established a reputation of being one of the most entertaining units in the country.

The staff was made up of a slew of local talent including brass members Lee "Sharpy" Gianangelo, Rick Connor, Gerry Noonan, and Dan Lutz, drill members Neal Smith, Ron Genest, Paul Cain, Frank Morris, Jerry Hickey, Tom Holland,and Dolores Zappala, and percussion members Dave Vose, Paul Lusardi,Tom (Jumbo)Shaheen, Jim Galvin, Mike Manning, Steve Cavanaugh, and Jack Donovan.

The North Star drum line which was nicknamed the "Chrome Wall" because of it's eleven man snare line sporting chrome finished drums, is considered one of the finest D.C.I. drumlines of all times. In 1979 the North Star drumline took second in percussion at the DCI world championships - Second only to the Santa Clara Vanguard. Their soprano soloist Jerry Noonan is widely considered as one of the top soloists of all time. His powerful screaming soprano solos in Ole' in 78 and 79 are nothing less than legendary! North Star arranger Dan "Danny" Lutz arranged for the N.B.C. Orchestra. Neal Smith's legendary drills had some of the finest transitions in the history of drumcorps. North Star's bass line in 1983, (along with the Spirit of Atlanta in 1984), was one of the largest ever in jr. drumcorps.