Suncoast Sound - the real story of what happened: Re Suncoast what happened
Tim Hendrix
artistic, and thoughtful...moreover, it was something completely different than
had been conceived of in the drumcorps medium to date...ah...good memories that
you have stirred. Tim
APFCor205 wrote:
> >Funny, the creative and original things that Suncoast were famous for were
> >sometimes frowned on heavily by the judging community in the 80's. Now
> >everyone
> >thinks the corps created it or started it in the 90's - Original music, shows
> >based on children, shows that made you think..... or displayed a historical
> >portrait of contraversial times (ie-1984 and 88 suncoast).
> >
>
> Ah, bringing back fond memories of the past. I thought then, and still do,
> that 1988 was one of the best shows ever put on the field. Many people didn't
> care for it, because it wasn't a typical, mindless, exercise in drum corps
> entertainment. I, however, loved it for just that reason. It was a show I
> could sit back and enjoy, just trying to soak up all of the elements of the
> show. I don't think all corps should be like that, but one a year certainly is
> nice, such as 88 Suncoast, or 93 Star (oop, there it is. Keyword:Flame).
>
> Andrew Fordham
Jim Wunderlich
apfc...@aol.comnospam (APFCor205) wrote:
> Ah, bringing back fond memories of the past. I thought then, and still do,
> that 1988 was one of the best shows ever put on the field. Many people didn't
> care for it, because it wasn't a typical, mindless, exercise in drum corps
> entertainment. I, however, loved it for just that reason. It was a show I
> could sit back and enjoy, just trying to soak up all of the elements of the
> show. I don't think all corps should be like that, but one a year
certainly is
> nice, such as 88 Suncoast, or 93 Star (oop, there it is. Keyword:Flame).
Nope...you're right on!
--
Please remove "nospam" to reply to me by email.
Slote4
From: <A HREF="mailto:slo...@aol.com ">slo...@aol.com </A> (Slote4)
Date: Sat, 07 August 1999 01:31 PM EDT
Message-id: <19990807133117...@ng-fm1.aol.com>
Wow!!! a lot of stories and some are fact, some are people's bitter renditions
of what they think happened, and some are totally wrong!
The "Real" Suncoast Sound stopped after 1989. During the summer of 1989 Robert
Cotter Sr. who in 1979 initially was one of the founders of the drum corps and
by that time was retired manipulated his way back into the organization. Robert
Cotter Sr. in his two years as director (79 & 80) left the Suncoast Sound
organization in great debt and ruin. In 1989, Mr. Cotter stated that he had
time on his hands and he wanted to come back and help raise funds to pay off
the debt that was incurred when he was the director. Robert Cotter Sr. is not
a bad person , but he did not manage the corps very well. In 1981, Suncoast
Sound under the new leadership of Don Fisher handling the administrative duties
and Robert Smith handling the membership, were able to field a full
size-quality drum corps for many years and either work on the debt or at least
raise enough funds to pay the interest on the debt.
Fortunately, it was amazing that Suncoast Sound was able to survive as long as
it did. When you are a non-profit organization and you begin thousands of
dollars in debt and have the expenses that takes to field a drum corps, it was
rough to say the least. Some of the people who are accused of incurring the
debt at Suncoast Sound are the very same people who spent their own money to
keep it alive (second mortgages on homes). Thank God for those people and their
sacrifices for everyone who ever was affiliated with this organization. So many
memories, so many friendships , and so many great performances.
After returning home from tour in 1989 and very proud of what the corps was
able accomplish, the staff was not congratulated by the newly formed Cotter Sr.
administration, but was asked to leave and send a resume. While that 1989 drum
corps and staff were giving it all they had on the road, Robert Cotter Sr. was
planning and implementing a take over. Remember, he intially said he was only
there to raise money for the corps, and nothing else. In reality, Cotter Sr.
had already hired his 1990 staff, which included his son to write the music
and others who were not qualified to teach a drum corps on that level. Most of
the people who were hired by Mr. Cotter in 1989 were the same people who taught
the drum corps back in the 70's. Nice people, under qualified!
The determination of the 1989 students and staff still to this day has been
unmatched as far as a corps (top12) that came from nothing, a 48.05 in the
beginning of tour and to break 90 in the end! Competition was never a
motivating factor for Suncoast, but it felt very good to improve that much over
the summer. What a great group of people.
Back to the debt and what eventually ended this great drum corps existance. In
1986, The Circle K cooperation became Suncoast Sound's corporate sponsor.
Circle K intended to sponsor the drum corps for many years to come. At the
time we got the sponsorship, the drum corps was in dire need to replace the
badly damaged bugles and had to replace the equipment, food, and souvie trucks
which were dead. The money in 1986 was
spent on things that the corps needed to operate and/or needed to replace.
There was a plan since Circle K said they would sponsor the corps for several
years to purchase major items - horns, food truck, pit equip, new pants, misc.
and the next year use the sponsorship money to pay off the debt completely. It
was a solid plan by a great corps director. Unfortunately, through changing
financial status of the Circle K corp., the loss of a fla. lottery monopoly
(which Circ. K lost out on), the firing of
the Circ. K VP that got the sponsorship for the corps (whom marched Drum
Corps), and not showing up to the Coca Cola aniv. parade in Atlanta the
sponsorship was lost and the debt was still there.
People that responded to this news posting that were involved with the org.
after 1989--NO offense, but you are misinformed. Many of the people who came
to the drum corps after 1989, have been carelessly outspoken and have made
many negative comments about the past staff, administration, and membership.
You have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at the results of your efforts. I am
sure you tried very hard and your heart was in the right place, but it is very
hard in today's society to run and succeed with any non-profit youth
organization. I only wish you would of had the opportunity to have marched
Suncoast Sound in the eighties when that organization was taught by great
people, creative designers, and outstanding educators, which represented the
epitome of "The Greatest Love of All."
Unfortunately, after 1989, anything that came out calling itself Suncoast Sound
was a mistaken identity. The uniform was the same , but the corps was not.
Totally different!!! The philosophies were drastically different and the heart
and soul of the organization was not there!!! I am not saying that anyone who
marched after1989 was a bad person, because I know there were many good hearted
people that were involved in the struggling 90's but it was not the Suncoast
experience!!!!
In 1990 makings were in the works for a corps in Orlando.......Seeing we were
no longer welcome to teach at the organization we grew up in and we got into
finals that year by strong teaching and kids determination and a some
creativity. A majority of the staff was hired at Magic. Would magic still of
existed if these events didnt happen??? Probably yes, but the unwelcome
departure of the staff and kids that
wanted to be taught by these caring people -Magic came out in full force and
placed 16th it's first year.
It was a little confusing at first........traditions were new and old ones from
suncoast...basically the philosophies were the same, but the group was totally
different.
Staff members such as Robert Smith, Frank Williams, Jerry Kelsey, Greg Martin,
Larry Clark, Karl Lowe, Russell Stanton, Mike Raiford, Al Murray, Ken Brooks,
Jed Davis, Don Fisher, Jack Starling, Paul Gansemer, Kevin Ford, John Fulton,
Diaz Clarke,
John Campese, Adam Mason, Bob Barfield, Howard Weinstein, Art C., Mike
Robinson, Alan
Clark, and many, many ,many more made up the unique and creative side of
Suncoast
Sound. These people and many support staff, administrators, and thousands of
the great members are the ones that made up the corps that was always ahead of
the times.
Funny, the creative and original things that Suncoast were famous for were
sometimes frowned on heavily by the judging community in the 80's. Now everyone
thinks the corps created it or started it in the 90's - Original music, shows
based on children, shows that made you think..... or displayed a historical
portrait of contraversial times (ie-1984 and 88 suncoast).
Well sorry to ramble on,but I felt i wanted to tell my part of the
record......did not mean to offend any one, and I probably did...very easy to
do on the RAMD, but oh well.......Suncoast Sound still lives on in memories and
trends, styles, staff teaching other corps, members teaching other corps
now....There is a little bit of Suncoast in half the top 12 and 17. It was
really a great group of people that was involved in the corps during the 1980's
Stranger, is that everyone involved with the org. for the most part as staff
and members has had a ton of success in their lives and went on to do greater
things....Doctors, , attnys, college director of bands of large and small
colleges , music ed. profsrs, corp. executives. , teachers, successful h.s. and
middle sch. band directors., extremely successful arrangers, composers,
clinicians, brokers of stock and real estate, marriages to other members and
staff, professional musicians- both at disney and the real world , nurses,
architects, politicians, DCI, BOA, WGI judges & administrators, military band
conductors of high level groups, high tech comp. excs, school administrators,
photographers, designers, etc.......A truly unique group of people that came
together at a truly remarkable time in drum corps to a corps we know as
Suncoast Sound....... My best to all in D.C. land,and to all the former
coasters no matter what the year involved.
"Teach them well and let them lead the way"
APFCor205
>sometimes frowned on heavily by the judging community in the 80's. Now
>everyone
>thinks the corps created it or started it in the 90's - Original music, shows
>based on children, shows that made you think..... or displayed a historical
>portrait of contraversial times (ie-1984 and 88 suncoast).
>
Ah, bringing back fond memories of the past. I thought then, and still do,
that 1988 was one of the best shows ever put on the field. Many people didn't
care for it, because it wasn't a typical, mindless, exercise in drum corps
entertainment. I, however, loved it for just that reason. It was a show I
could sit back and enjoy, just trying to soak up all of the elements of the
show. I don't think all corps should be like that, but one a year certainly is
nice, such as 88 Suncoast, or 93 Star (oop, there it is. Keyword:Flame).
Andrew Fordham
Steve Sorrell
<complete snip>
Wow. I really had no idea how similar Suncoast and Spirit of Atlanta's
history was. A lot of the details sound just like you were speaking of
Spirit. The one major difference is that Spirit is still around. But like
you said of Suncoast after 1989...it is the same name on the field, but a
different corps and a totally different philosophy. I too wish the present day
members of Spirit had the opportunity to march under such wonderful people
that I had the pleasure of calling my staff.
Steve
LEG at cba
>trends, styles, staff teaching other corps, members teaching other corps
>now....There is a little bit of Suncoast in half the top 12 and 17.
And at least one alumni corps - I traced the "heritage" of the mello I bought
and after cleaning off layers of paint, "Suncoast" appeared.
Larry "G"
NY Skyliners Alumni corps
GSNewell
>and after cleaning off layers of paint, "Suncoast" appeared.
>
Your mello had "layers of paint" on it?
Ugh.
:)
Greg
G00DY
with Velvet Knights/Impulse.
I think it's really cool that although some of the organizations may crumble,
their "spirits" live on in other organizations.
LEG at cba
>
>Ugh.
>
Yeah, and you should have seen the case!!!
Larry "G"
Dan Sloan
>Subject: Re: Suncoast Sound...what happened??
>From: <A HREF="mailto:slo...@aol.com ">slo...@aol.com </A> (Slote4)
>Date: Sat, 07 August 1999 01:31 PM EDT
>Message-id: <19990807133117...@ng-fm1.aol.com>
>The "Real" Suncoast Sound stopped after 1989.
"Real" = "Open Class"
I've had many years to recollect over the demise of our beloved corps,
and I used to be very bitter towards the organization post-1989. But
I really think their hearts were in the right place...
>The determination of the 1989 students and staff still to this day has been
>unmatched as far as a corps (top12) that came from nothing, a 48.05 in the
>beginning of tour and to break 90 in the end! Competition was never a
>motivating factor for Suncoast, but it felt very good to improve that much over
>the summer. What a great group of people.
We just covered this whole 89 story recently. How appropriate,
considering that it's the tenth anniversary of that crazy summer. :)
It was quite a ride indeed...
>In 1990 makings were in the works for a corps in Orlando.......Seeing we were
>no longer welcome to teach at the organization we grew up in and we got into
>finals that year by strong teaching and kids determination and a some
>creativity. A majority of the staff was hired at Magic. Would magic still of
>existed if these events didnt happen??? Probably yes, but the unwelcome
>departure of the staff and kids that
>wanted to be taught by these caring people -Magic came out in full force and
>placed 16th it's first year.
Personally, I'm more bitter towards 90 Magic than the post-89 Suncoast
experience. Although 16th was a remarkable finish for the new corps,
many former Suncoast members gave away their opportunity to age-out
in the top12 in order to provide the necessary experience to get that
corps off the ground. So although "Tragic 90" (as we bitterly called
it at the time) was not Suncoast in a new uniform, it did have some
key people from the Suncoast organization that gave it a running
start.
>It was a little confusing at first........traditions were new and old ones from
>suncoast...basically the philosophies were the same, but the group was totally
>different.
Agreed.
>Stranger, is that everyone involved with the org. for the most part as staff
>and members has had a ton of success in their lives and went on to do greater
>things....
Shit, I wish I had inherited that luck! ;)
>"Teach them well and let them lead the way"
So many memories.........
-Dan
Visit the Suncoast Sound Yearbook and Alumni Website!
http://home.att.net/~gary.L/suncoast_sound/index.htm
EmLinMan2
involved in the post 1989 Suncoast Sound weren't Suncoast Sound is unfair.
These individuals suffered the debts incurred by the Div. I corps. They did
what they could to continue the proud traditions and reputation of Suncoast
Sound. You pre-1989 members are bitter and are the reason the activity is in
the state it is in. To say the current Blue Stars aren't the Blue Stars would
be a sin. A former Open Class finalist and now a Division III champion and
consistent finalist. I think they are in fact the same organization. Spirit
of Atlanta went inactive in 1994 and returned. Yes, a new administration, but
still Spirit of Atlanta. Boston Crusaders were known as only Boston for many
years due to financial concerns, and were able to bring back the Crusaders
portion. Still the same organization. It may be a bitter pill for you to
swallow, but the post 1989 Suncoast Sound was still Suncoast Sound. Accept it
and move on.
-Bryan Jenner
Assistant Director
Suncoast Sound (1995)
EvilTuba
So do I, but it's easy to be bitter about things we are passionate about.
>To say that the people
>involved in the post 1989 Suncoast Sound weren't Suncoast Sound is unfair.
>These individuals suffered the debts incurred by the Div. I corps. They did
>what they could to continue the proud traditions and reputation of Suncoast
>Sound.
Trashing schools in Wisconsin is carrying on the SS tradition? This happened
several times in the Div 2/3 life of SS. It never happend pre-90.
> You pre-1989 members are bitter and are >the reason the activity is in
>the state it is in.
No, we aren't. I'm insulted by that statement,t as a long time "pre-89" SS
member, and as a drum corps fan in general.
>To say the current Blue Stars aren't the >Blue Stars
>would
>be a sin. A former Open Class finalist and now a Division III champion and
>consistent finalist.
Differnet corps, different situation. It's not a valid comparasin.
>Accept it and move on.
I accepted it when I left before the 89 season. Perhaps you should accept some
of the responsibility for the corp's failure in the 90's.
>-Bryan Jenner
>Assistant Director
John Adcock
Suncoast 85-88
Slote4
Yet still should not of left the corps in 1989
3rd in Brass at Prelims!!!!!!!!!!
Blue Devils 4th!!!!!!!!!
made frank cry!!!
just kidding, but thanks for the response toward that clueless 1990's person
"Teach them quick before they think"
EmLinMan2
because I allowed Shawn Rowland, a shall we dare say, 80's vet of Suncoast
Sound to destroy the corps in 1995 because there was no money and he insisted
there was? Gee, I think I found a clue. I openly admit that the Suncoast
Sound open class years were some of the finest drum corps performances EVER!
But I am asking you to appreciate the kids, those individuals that make up the
corps for what they did post 1989. They wanted to experience the thrill of
being a Suncoast Sound member, just like you! That was all they ever wanted.
Say the words of the corps song to yourself and ask yourself if that isn't what
they wanted too. That is all I am saying. But please don't say they weren't
Suncoast Sound. That is it. Those kids gave everything they could to be
Suncoast Sound. It just isn't fair that you insult them by saying they
weren't.
-Bryan Jenner
Assistant Director (1995)
Suncoast Sound
Allan Murray
Please let it rest in peace. There is no need for this talk. Let our
memories be pure and let's enjoy the present.
Please.
Al
earpl...@gmail.com
jamest...@gmail.com
We start in Hershey, PA with a 52. and broke 90 in semifinals!
I wanted to join the staff of Suncoast in 1990 and was present at a meeting in September 1989 where Bob Cotter introduced the new staff, almost all from the "Largo Band of Gold".
Missing was future DCI HOF members Robert W. Smith and Frank Williams. Also Kevin Ford, Deanna Forster, Karl Lowe, Larry Clark, etc.
We were in shock. The returning members followed Robert and Kevin to Magic. No, Magic would not have existed if Cotter hadn't shanked the staff. There was a massive hemorrhage of members defecting. Bottom line, Magic took 16th, Suncoast folded that year.
I have no relationship with anyone associated with Suncoast post 1989, but it is unfortunate that the hostile takeover resulted in the split and eventual death of top 12 corps in talent-rich Florida.
No, right-brained muddlehead-creative types should not run a corp's finances, but executives should also not try to be program directors.