Time surely is the test! Thinking back to those early days of the 1960’s, one can remember the excitement generated by an 8th place Northeastern Circuit corps known as the Long Island Sunrisers. Clad in orange, blue, and white, this corps thrilled the fans, yet never really was thought of as a threat to the top ranked circuit members.
Those were the days of the Connecticut Hurricanes, the Springfield Marksmen, the Yankees of Stratford. Those were the days when corps fought to gain a place in the senior world of the Northeastern Circuit, in hopes of catching a ride on the open circuit with the Cabs, Reilly, Prince, Archie, Brigs, Dips, Rebs, I-Men, and still many others!!
But, in the year 1963, the road was to change. Northeastern was to open the field season in Providence, RI, hosted by the RI Musketeers. The contest was to include the Hurricanes, Marksmen, Carver Gay Blades, New Bedford Whalers, Connecticut Yankees, Wanderers, Torrington Vagabonds, and ... the Long Island Sunrisers.
Tension mounted as the fans waited for the next corps to appear. The starting line was empty, but one could hear the roar of the two coaches which had just parked on the hill above the contest field. The doors of those two coaches soon released the Sunrisers – Brilliant, in their well known colors. Pride was shining around every corps member as he made his way to the starting line. It was different this time. The corps was featuring 54 horns.
Electricity filled the stadium as everyone waited with baited breath. “Uncle Nickey,” as I called him then, paced the sidelines wearing his jacket which was a montage of color emanating from multicolored corps patches he collected through the years. There was the green and white target of the Marksmen on one side and the happy, jolly Willie the Whale.
Then it happened. The command "Ready ... MOVE!" followed by powerful melodic strains of the “French National,” “The Lord’s Prayer,” from “King of Kings.” The crowd loved this corps and stood in ovation at the conclusion of “Sing, Sing, Sing.” The Sunrisers stood and faced the screaming audience and left the field with the strains of “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.” The “wait,” however, was just beginning.
An over-excited corps placed second at the end of the year. False starts in concert were to blame. But time would have to stand the test. The road to 1976 was long, hard, and filled with heartaches. The Sunrisers had up and down seasons. We remember those difficult musical programs which often found rejection with the fans. We also remember the joy of “The Joker,” the run of “Old MacDonald,” the beauty of “Procession of the Nobles.”
Although the Sunrisers had entered the sanctum of the top ranked corps, it was to be a difficult task of proving that the Sunrisers had what it took! A National American Legion Title, impressed with mixed emotions, the most severe line of critics. Boos greeted the corps when a xylophone was added to increase the classical sound of the corps during its “Firebird.” Critics claimed that Sasso tried to upstage Gennero’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” when he gave his boys “American in Paris.”
In 1969, the Sunrisers went to the DCA Championships without the xylophone, but the fans did not respond with much affection to the classical music program. During the early 70’s the Sunrisers were again attacked for having an all-girl color guard and even a few female horn players. The corps, however, weathered the storm. People began to understand and recognize this drum corps as one of the best ever to hit the field. The girl color guard was outstanding and so were the female horn players.
In 1974 and 1975, judges were the target of the fans. The Sunrisers were not getting the credit for a difficult and spectacular program! But, in 1976, this corps performed with the greatest execution program in every caption and had returned to the limelight. The judges had to give the corps the credit it deserved. The Sunrisers had cracked the king by defeating Hawthorne and pushing back the closest rivals. A third place finish at the 1976 DCA Championships proved that the Sunrisers were a power to be respected.
Drum corps fans have watched this corps rise and fall with each change in the season. We have watched this corps compete with green members. We have seen this corps on the field with the smallest membership of any senior corps. But, considering all the difficulties and drawbacks, the Sunrisers never quit, never complained, and never blamed anyone for their failures. The Sunrisers never quit and the Sunrisers never copied any other corps. I can never remember this corps being involved in fights after a contest or walking off the field because of a low score and placement. I can never remember this corps leaving its gloves on the field with the middle finger extended toward the audience. I can never remember this corps driving over its trophy with a bus or throwing drum sticks into the crowd. This is a corps with class, talent, ambition, and pride. Its members are respected and liked. The Sunrisers are alive and exemplify the meaning of Drum Corps in this country.
Now, we begin a new season and once again, “The World is Waiting for a Sunrise.”
Oh, by the way, I am not a member of the Sunrisers, nor have I ever been! I have, however, had the honor of being beaten by this corps … many times!!
An article written at the beginning of the 1977 season; found and saved by Alumni Doug Grunn.
