My name is Steve Smith and I played Contra from late 1967 to fall of 1970, for those that might remember, John Sasso nicknamed me Mouse because of a sound I made in the horn once.
It all started in the Fall of 1967, I'd been with the Oceanside Legionnaires playing baritone for about 5 years. Now I was all of 16, but some friends asked me to join them in going out to Massapequa to a Sunriser rehearsal. We'll I remember it was a sunny Sunday afternoon. I went in, introduced myself, and was asked what I played. Since I was playing the tuba in high school and always wanted to be a "Contra", I said I wanted to play contra. That's when I was introduced to Teddy Sasso. A little while later I was in!! I remember trying to carry the contra case home, boy was I proud. I just couldn't believe I was a Sunriser!
That winter I managed to get my Riser's jacket with it's white sleeves (I still have it!). I wore it everywhere but bed. The guys were great and before long I fit right in. Teddy and John, Nicky, Nat, Al Beck, Papa, Gene Bennett, Frank Dorritee, and especially John (Screech) and more names I can't remember were my friends We started the marching season in the cold, cold hanger at Mitchell Field doing the toe/heel over the masking tape for hours. Some of these big old guys looked so funny doing that as I remember.
Evening with the Corp's was my first bigtime Corp show. I couldn't believe I was on stage as a Riser, playin Joker, especially the same stage as the Cab's and the Skyliners were on. But the 2 greatest moments of my Sunriser days happened that season. I cry for joy when I think of that night in May, the scene was the Mission Drums, at the time one of the biggest senior shows, and the 3rd contest of the year. The New Sunriser show had faired well at the first 2 shows, I think we won high horns at one. That night we had given our new style its all and now we were standing at retreat. 3rd place Skyliners...WOW....2nd place Cab's...Teddy leans over to us and asks who won..then it hit...WE HAD. Boy I never saw so many old men cry. We'd done it. The new Sasso sound had finally done it. I didn't come down to Earth for a week. At the end of that great season we were off to New Orlean's to the American Legion National's. As I remember Sky and the Cab's didn't want to spend the money on the trip to get beat. There we were...National Champions!! We drove back to this big hotel we were staying at, marched off the buses, thru the lobby, and lined up around the courtyard and pool. There we played the routine again, and it never sounded so good. I still tell people to this day that I was a national champion and I'm damn proud of it.
I spent 2 more wonderful years as a Riser and I will never forget any of it. However, as I was still fairly young I had one more strong desire to fulfill and it came my way in late 1970. Carmen Cluna, ok I know he was a Skyliner, offered me the opportunity to go to the St Rita's Brassmen as a Drum Major. I took it, and spend the next 3 seasons working with Carmen and the great Hy Drietzer. I took a lot of guff from my friends in the Riser's, but I remember one night at a junior/senior show. We had won the junior side and during retreat we trooped the stands. I'll never forget as we passed the Sunrisers, the Drum Majors and guard saluted me as we passed. I felt better after that.
1973 was my last year in Drum Corp as I transferred to a midwest college, married, joined the Air Force, and have remained in the Midwest ever since. There are many more stories in my mind of those years. I miss those days and will always hold a wonderful place in my heart for the Sunrisers and the best Contra section in Drum Corp.
Thank you to all those who share these memories!
Steve Smith, Contra-Bass,1967-70
