Velvet Knights (1963)

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This article is about the original, now-defunct, Velvet Knights. For the newer corps competing under the Velvet Knights name, see Velvet Knights (2005)

The Velvet Knights is a former DCI World Class drum corps based in Anaheim, California.

[edit] History

[edit] Inception and early years

The Velvet Knights were born in 1963, a result of a split within the Anaheim Explorer Scouts that also resulted in the formation of the Anaheim Kingsmen. After the California State Championships in 1963, some Scout staff members wanted to modernize the corps by replacing the existing uniforms with traditional ones, and by jazzing up the musical repertoire. When that did not appear possible, Ziggy Kanstul and some parents left the Scouts to pursue their vision, forming the Velvet Knights (“VK“). The remaining Anaheim Scouts soon reorganized as the Anaheim Kingsmen. Velvet Knights success was rapid. Less than two years after its formation the corps won the California state crown.

Throughout the remainder of the 1960 the Velvet Knights were a West Coast powerhouse, sharing California domination with their erstwhile brothers, the Kingsmen, and trading the coveted California State Championships back and forth. The two corps also traded membership; their corps halls were right across the street from each other in Orange County.

VK first toured nationally in the late 1960s, competing well on the national stage. The corps placed in the CYO and American Legion Finals in 1970. Notably, the corps did not lose a single parade that they entered, beating out even the fabled Troopers.

The corps is credited with being the first corps to perform with G-F bugles, at a 1968 appearance in Chicago's Civic Opera House. They also pioneered electronics on the field as early as 1968 when they fielded an electronic bugle that could sound like a cello, bari sax, or oboe.

The corps had the distinction of appearing in the movie "Americathon" in 1979.

[edit] Modern era

VK in the early 1970s couldn't attract the numbers of members needed to keep up with the competitive sizes of the Kingsmen or the Santa Clara Vanguard, which had appeared in 1967. The Knights, however, did seem to attract incredible talent to compensate for their smaller numbers. Regardless, the corps struggled through most of the 1970s, placing in the DCI top 25 twice, but slipping to 33rd in 1979.

During the 1978 season, the California Surf professional soccer team hired members of the VK percussion section to create the sound of pounding surf with specially micced tympani at Surf games.

They took a year off in 1980 to reorganize the staff and plot a new course. This organizational period gave management and staff time to come up with a five-year plan to reach DCI Finals. Demonstrating the mettle that had kept the VK alive since 1963, the corps performed in parades and rebuilt for the 1981 season. The parade and performance activities of the summer of 1980 proved to be a catalyst to membership in the following year. Performances and other activities created a solid nucleus of members to build on.

Many changes occurred in the early 1980s as the staff began thinking more creatively. From 1982 to 1984, the VK made enormous changes to their style and staff personnel, leaving the military discipline behind and adapting a laid-back Southern California appearance in 1982. Hawaiian print shirts, red Vans sneakers, and straw hats replaced the white silks and cadets jackets of the early years.

The VK immediately became recognized as a West Coast version of the East Coast Bayonne Bridgemen, who at the time were known as DCI's entertaining/funny corps. Due to the enormous popularity of the new VK, only a handful of members (fewer than ten in five years) left the VK to march other corps. Members of corps from northern California, Arizona, and Colorado were traveling to sunny Southern California to march with the VK.

DCI placements advanced from 33rd in 1981, to 21st in 1982, 17th in 1983, and the corps' first Finals appearance in 1984. Perseverance was the corps' virtue, and a four-year promise was being kept to corps members and alumni. In 1985 the VK placed 11th, 12th in 1986.

1987 would be a major boost to the VK. Even though the Finals dream was realized in 1984, there were still ten other places in Finals the VK hadn't reached. Former Bridgemen director Bobby Hoffman joined the staff in 1987, and with his fertile mind for the absurd, the VK ascended to a seventh-place tie with the two-year-old Star of Indiana.

[edit] Later years and demise

Velvet Knights had carved out a place on the drum corps stage as the "Clown Princes of Drum Corps" and "The Harlem Globe Trotters of DCI,“ entertaining audiences all over the United States and Canada and in countries abroad. VK remained a DCI finalist through 1990 before falling short in 1991, but returned to the top 12 for their last Finals appearance in 1992. 1993 through 1996 saw VK remain in DCI’s top 25, but they would not grace DCI Finals again.

The quest to again reach Finals status led to spending mistakes in hiring more expensive staff and acquiring debt which could not be sustained with the existing bingo-based fund-raising.

As was common practice at the time, the Velvet Knights organization classified its staff as independent contractors and paid them with notices to the IRS as 1099s. A staff member who disagreed with this practice contacted the IRS which triggered an audit just before the 1997 season. As the IRS determined that drum corps staff were employees of the organization, the organization was ordered to pay federal taxes and medicare costs for that year and for several prior years. Subsequent penalty fees, back taxes, and interest brought about the financial demise of the corps.

[edit] The Velvet Knights Legacy

A handful of Velvet Knights Alumni have all affected the Southern California drum corps activity. Many corps have been started, while others have made significant contributions to corps in Southern California. To name a few West Coast Express was started by Ziggy Kanstul, Pacific Crest director Stuart Pompel is a 1988 Alumni as well many of PC's staff are VK alumni. Two former competing corps from San Diego: Esperanza founder, Alan Cox was in VK's 1981 soprano section and San Diego Alliance founder, Pat Marks was in the 1985 french horn section. Most notably has been Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps which was started in October of 1998 and continues to compete within DCI Open Class.

In October 2005, a new incarnation of the Velvet Knights, separate from the original corps, was formed in order to bring back the spirit of VK, which was thought by the organizers to be lacking in drum corps since the original VK folded.

[edit] Shows by year

[edit] 1964

Repertoire:
- Around The World In Eighty Days
- Showtime On Broadway
- Lullaby Of Birdland
- Perfidia
- National Emblem March
- California Here I Come
- Begin The Beguine
- Oklahoma

[edit] 1965

Repertoire:
- Sky Sound
- Alabama Jubilee
- God Bless America
- Begin the Beguine
- Call To The Bulls
- National Emblem March
- Speak Low

[edit] 1966

Repertoire:
- California Here I Come
- This Is My Country
- God Bless America
- When Your Lover Has Gone
- If You Knew Susie
- I Want A Girl
- Bill Bailey
- Tiger Rag
- Under The Double Eagle
- Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye

[edit] 1967

Repertoire:
- California Here I Come
- God Bless America
- That's Entertainment
- If You Knew Susie
- I Want A Girl
- Bill Bailey
- Tiger Rag
- Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
- Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye

[edit] 1968

Reportoire:
- Strike Up The Band
- Angels of Mercy
- Wabash Cannonball
- Malagueña
- Tiger Rag
- The Party's Over

[edit] 1969

Repertoire:
- El Conquistador
- From The Ramparts
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic
- You've Made Me So Very Happy
- Wabash Cannonball
- Macarthur Park

[edit] 1970

Repertoire:
- Hooray For Hollywood
- Another Opening, Another Show
- Prayer Of Our Lord
- Under The Double Eagle
- Stars And Stripes Forever
- Down By The Riverside
- You've Made Me So Very Happy
- Captain From Castile
- It Ain't Necessarily So
- Love Theme (from Romeo and Juliet)
- South Rampart Street Parade
- The Long And Winding Road

[edit] 1971

Repertoire:
- Captian from Castile
- Prayer Of Our Lord
- Under The Double Eagle
- Blues In The Night
- Love Theme (from Romeo and Juliet)

[edit] 1972

Repertoire:
- Dialogue In Dissonance
- Patriotic Songs
- Cincinnati Kid
- Blues In The Night
- South Rampart Street Parade
- The Long And Winding Road

[edit] 1973

DCI Open Class
Repertoire
- El Conquistador
- Patriotic Songs
- Frankenstein
- Captain From Castile
- Firebird Suite
- Gift Horse
- Malagueña
- Love Theme (from Romeo and Juliet)
Placement: 29th
Score: 62.35

[edit] 1974

Repertoire:
- España Cañí
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic
- Les Preludes
- Eleanor Rigby

[edit] 1975

Repertoire:
- Mondo Cañí
- El Capitan
- From The Ramparts
- Tribute To The Duke
- The Farewell

[edit] 1976

Repertoire
- Pontieo
- Brass Eel
- Sneaking Up Behind You
- Caravan Medley
- Kachasa
- El Gato Triste

[edit] 1977

DCI Open Class
Repertoire:
- Left Bank Express
- Groovin' Hard
- Chelsdea Bridge
- Critic's Choice
- Star Wars
Placement: 25th
Score:74.25

[edit] 1978

DCI Open Class
Repertoire:
- Left Bank Express
- Grrovin' Hard
- Fantasy
- I'll Write A Song For You
Placement: 25th

Score: 70.45

[edit] 1979

DCI Open Class
Repertoire:
- Dance With Me George
- The Story In Your Eyes
- Fantasy
- Trepak (from The Nutcracker)
- Squonk
- I'll Write A Song For You
Placement: 33rd
Score: 65.35

[edit] 1980

Parade corps only
Repertoire:
- First Suite for Band in E-Flat
- Zippity-Doo-Dah
- Bandstand Boogie
- You Can't Take That Away From Me
- Stella By Starlight

[edit] 1981

DCI Open Class
Repertoire:
- Excelsior Fanfare
- Temptation
- Council Grove Groove
- Armando's Rhumba
- Echano
- Let Me Try Again
Placement: 33rd
Score: 57.95

[edit] 1982

DCI Open Class
Repertoire:
- Fanfare
- Hooray For Hollywood
- Left Bank Express
- Piano Concerto in F
- Temptation
- Catching The Sun
Placement: 21st

Score: 70.20

[edit] 1983

DCI Open Class Semi-Finalist
Repertoire:
- Fanfare
- Hooray For Hollywood
- Seaside Samba
- Shagrila (from Jaws)
- Centurian Starfire
- Beautiful Things
- Ending
Placement: 17th
Score: 71.45

[edit] 1984

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- NBC Chimes Festival
- Centurian Starfire
- Seaside Samba
- All Night Long
- Ending
Placement: 12th
Score: 83.20

[edit] 1985

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- Peter Gunn
- NBC Chimes Festival
- The Storm
- Final Analysis
- Catching The Sun
- Ending
Placement: 11th
Score: 85.30

[edit] 1986

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- James Bond
  - James Bond Theme
  - From Russia With Love
  - Goldfinger
  - Live And Let Die
  - For Your Eyes Only
  - Ending
Placement: 12th
Score: 82.60

[edit] 1987

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- Magical Mystery Tour - Part I
  - Magical Mystery Tour
  - Chinatown
  - Brazil
  - Cannibal Fun Drum Solo
  - Surfer Girl
  - California Girls
Placement: 7th
Score: 90.00

[edit] 1988

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- Magical Mystery Tour - Part II
  - Magical Mystery Tour
  - Zorba The Greek
  - Malagueña
  - Cannibal Fun Drum Solo
  - There's No Place Like Home
  - America The Beautiful
  - Yankee Doodle Dandy
  - You're A Grand Old Flag
Placement: 8th
Score: 90.60

[edit] 1989

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- Yo Mambo
- Velvet Knights in Tunisia
- Sing, Sing, Sing
- 'Round Midnight
- Nutcracker's Ball
- Kansas City
Placement: 11th

Score: 87.00

[edit] 1990

DCI Open Class Finalist
Repertoire:
- Universal Studios/Hollywood Tour
  - Pomp And Circumstance
  - Summertime (from Porgy And Bess)
  - School's Out
  - Fox Fanfare
  - Hooray For Hollywood
  - Singin' In The Rain
  - Wizard Of Oz
  - The Sea Hawk
  - Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof)
  - Keystone Cops
  - Slow Burn
  - The Summer Of '42
  - Born To Be Wild
Placement: 10th
Score: 87.30

[edit] 1991

DCI Open Class Semi-Finalist
- Repertoire:
- A Knight At The Apollo'
  - Can't Turn You Loose
  - Respect
  - I Feel Good
  - Unchained Melody
  - My Girl
  - Ending
Placement: 14th
Score: 83.30

[edit] 1992

DCI Division I Finalist
Repertoire:
- Magical Mystery Tour - Part III
  - Magical Mystery Tour
  - Brazil
  - Kodo Thunder
  - Carol Of The Russian Children
  - The Party's Over (from The Bells are Ringing)
  - Trepak (from The Nutcracker)
  - Hungarian Rhapsogy
Placement: 10th
Score: 86.60

[edit] 1993

DCI Division I Semi-Finalist
Repertoire:
- Kartoon Klassics
  - The Storm (from William Tell)
  - Marriage of Figaro
  - William Tell Overture
  - Hungarian Rhapsody
Placement: 13th
Score: 83.10

[edit] 1994

DCI Division I Semi-Finalist
Repertoire:
- A Midsummer Knight's Dream
  - What's This? (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)
  - Making Christmas (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)
  - Beetlejuice
  - Love On Ice (from Edward Scissorhands)
  - Hot, Hot, Hot
  - Oyelo
Placement: 15th
Score: 80.20

[edit] 1995

DCI Division I Semi-Finalist
Repertoire:
- Harlequin Carnival
  - Lau Flora
  - Afrika
  - Starfish
Placement: 15th
Score: 74.70

[edit] 1996

DCI Division I Semi-Finalist
Repertoire:
- Magical Mystery Tour In Space
  - Magical Mystery Tour
  - Also Sprach Zarathustra
  - Theme from The Jetsons
  - Walking In Space (from Interstellar Suite)
  - Hostility (from Interstellar Suite)
  - Ilia's Theme (from Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
  - Journey Home

[edit] External links

Velvet Knights Alumni Yahoo Group

Categories: Drum Corps Ensembles | California