George Zingali memories..
Pdtdc
It's important to once in awhile talk about and remember all the former
greats that have had such an impact in shaping our activity. Reading the
latest "greatist drill move ever" thread reminded of George Z.
Late '70s, early '80s, George's QUASAR years, were the first I remember.
If you were there, do you remember trying to, while the guard was performing,
decide on watching the performance on the floor, or in the corner, as George
would be going CRAZY during the performance. I remember how wild he'd get when
that big toss went up and was caught. Then, would come the exchange.. By this
time everyone in the audience would be giving each other the elbow and pointing
to George in the corner, jumping up & down, cheering his girls on. But what
I'll never forget (and I've said it here before..) had to be this...
Because of his early success with 27 and QUASAR etc. George was
"a star".(in Boston anyway) And everyone wanted to know the star. They'd all
want to say hi, chit chat, shake his hand.. I saw this every week. And you
know, he never blew a single one of them off, EVER! Instead, he'd always flash
that big smile with is big "hi, how are ya!" And move on to the next..
I was a first year C guard instructor in 1980. He must have seen me every
week from the second week in Dec. thru the first of April. Didn't know me from
squat, then. But ya know, he ALWAYS nodded at me, smiled and said HI!
Really!! I don't know what you all think of that but it made a hell of an
impression on me!!! I'll never forget him. George was THE innovator, genious,
& true gentleman!! I'm proud to say I knew him, and treasure his memory.
Imagine what the activity would be like today, had he survived.
Thank you
George,
Paul from Boston~
Mike Killion
as the "greatest drill threads" reminded me that I believe that George was in
St. Anthony's of Revere CYO Band in the 60's and would have also been watching
all of the 60's drum corps that were active in Mass. at that time.
Ryan H. Turner
>impression on me!!! I'll never forget him.
Well, I know for a fact that the impression it made on you was substantial. I
think THAT is worthy of remembering and of being able to be celebrated. It's
difficult for one to keep his head on his shoulders when he is continually
lauded for his efforts, and although I never had a chance to meet him
personally, I heard many similar stories as yours about the man.
Someone also told me he was a born again Christian, and that the cross to cross
move in the Star show was one of his great last moves and an expression of his
faith. Also, did he have any kind of a degree? Was he married? Any kids?
And who was Marc Sylvester, referred to in another post as the man who could
bring to reality "George's big ideas". I mean, I know Marc is a designer too,
but was he George's assistant or something?
Ryan H. Turner--Man w/NO life whatsover...and proud of it!!
MARCHING BAND, DRUM CORPS, WINTER GUARD FAN
VK DM 1986 and 1987
Show Design Consultant/Visual Consultant/Marching Instructor
911/Fire Dept Comm. Dispatcher...and a partridge in a pear tree!
Jr liberty
It ended with a cross which the corps reversed into another cross, and it was
their final championship. He died shortly thereafter.
Jim Reilly
maddog
Oh the memories!! I knew George since I was a little child. The
thought of him makes me cry. I have so many memories but one thing I
think is universal from anyone he ever taught is that he could be mean
as hell to you on the field or in the gym but as soon as practice was
over he would come over to you with a big hug and say I love you nice
job today.
George was the ulitmate drill designer, instructor, and friend. He was
drum corps for me. If it was not for him I would never have marched.
And when he died drum corps changed for me. It is now missing
something very special.
Ryan, as for Marc George and him were design partners and great
friends. George would write the drill with Marc's help and imput and
then Marc would teach it with George's help. The two along with Peggy
Twiggs were a great team and great friends.
No he was not married. His mother is still alive and she is a wonderful
woman. When George was alive he was a great son to her. When is mom
was at a show the whole corps would know and he would say if my mom
doesn't like the show we change it. She was the love of his life.
I can't say anything bad about the man and I have so many memories I
will stop here for now.
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GSNewell
>bring to reality "George's big ideas". I mean, I know Marc is a designer
>too,
>but was he George's assistant or something?
My understanding was that with Garfield, Marc was the guy that made George's
stuff work.
Marc is still with Cadets. He doesn't write the drill. I think his position is
as a visual program coordinator.
Greg
RDeschene
>In article <20000729101401...@ng-fj1.aol.com>,
>vkdm...@aol.com (Ryan H. Turner) wrote:
>> >I don't know what you all think of that but it made a hell of an
>> >impression on me!!! I'll never forget him.
>> Well, I know for a fact that the impression it made on you was
>> substantial. I
>> think THAT is worthy of remembering and of being able to be
>> celebrated. It's
>> difficult for one to keep his head on his shoulders when he is
>> continually
>> lauded for his efforts, and although I never had a chance to meet
>> him
>> personally, I heard many similar stories as yours about the man.
>> Someone also told me he was a born again Christian, and that the
>> cross to cross
>> move in the Star show was one of his great last moves and an
>> expression of his
>> faith. Also, did he have any kind of a degree? Was he married?
>> Any kids?
>> And who was Marc Sylvester, referred to in another post as the man
>> who could
>> bring to reality "George's big ideas". I mean, I know Marc is a
>> designer too,
>> but was he George's assistant or something?
Wow, just reading this thread makes me misty-eyed, and I didn't even
know the fellow. But his work certainly lives on in the inspiration he
gave to others, and in his visual designs that are captured on
videotape. Was it at the end of the 1992 DCI 20th anniversary finals
telecast that they played "Danny Boy," and at the very end showed
footage of George hugging a member of Star? That whole sequence
brought tears to my eyes. Still does when I watch it today. (In fact,
so does the sequence at the beginning, where they show footage of so
many corps who are no longer with us. There's a shot of Oakland's drum
line, and that one gets me every time I see it.)
Thank you to everyone who's participated in this thread and shared
their memories of this man. And please keep 'em coming; I love reading
this stuff.
Sue
Terri Dittrich
We went to the first WGI in Madison in '79. George was there with his
guard "Erte Productions". He was so excited he doing backflips and all
kinds of stuff on the sidelines. It was hilarious.
Another time, he was with Garfield in '84 (they were GARFIELD, then ;-)
and he must have not enjoyed the judges tape at that particular show because
I saw him walk by with the tape around his neck like a necklace.
-Terri
S Muncy100
George Zingali award at finals?
<BR>
Paul Muncy
Cstew57
> George was there with his
>guard "Erte Productions".
I think maybe it was "Quasar". I think Erte came out in '84 or '85.
DTaylor91
>This stuff all sounds so damn cool. Is there by any chance a high visual
>George Zingali award at finals?
you know, that's just about the best damn idea I've read on RAMD in about a
year!
Don Taylor
Phil Earnhardt
<kiltie...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>I remember two things about George Zingali, both very funny to me.
>
>We went to the first WGI in Madison in '79. George was there with his
>guard "Erte Productions". He was so excited he doing backflips and all
>kinds of stuff on the sidelines. It was hilarious.
If you listen to the 1990 WGI tapes from Buffalo, you can clearly hear
George in the background doing "Hup! Hup! Hup!" during the Rifle solo
in Emerald Marquis program. IIRC, that was the last WGI championship
for George.
What a kick.
>-Terri
--phil
gha67
time to meet George as well. It was 1982 in Montreal, and we
ended up having dinner together with a group from my small
corps. I was marching in the Houston NightHawks, and was only
14. I don't really remember the specifics of how it all came to
be. I do remember that I had heard about him and what a
character he was. He lived up to all the stories. He was so
animated and excited about what he did. He talked with us about
making our time in drum corps something we would remember for
the rest of our lives. Looking back now, it is obvious that he
was doing everything he could to make sure a group of kids from
a small start-up corps knew that we were doing something
important and worthwhile.
Another lasting impression...In 1983 at WGI prelims in Dayton.
My guard, Nouveau, had gone on early (it was our first year of
competition) and we were watching the rest of the performances.
I was wandering around in the warm-up area looking for a friend
when I ran in to George. I apologized for bumping into him and
he looked at me and said, "Hey! I remember you. Montreal..last
summer. How've you been?" I was stunned. He never seemed get
too big or wrapped up in who he was to touch the rest of us.
Though I didn't know him, he made a lasting impression on me.
Ginger
NightHawks '82-'84
SOA '85-'87
Nouveau '83-'85
-----------------------------------------------------------
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Kricca0910
is given out to the winner of (I think) the Open Class in memory of George.
His mother is always there to present it to the winning colorguard.
Although I didn't know Geroge myself, as a kid marching winterguard in the late
70's, I was always amazed at the way he acted when Quazar would take the
floor.....and like others have written, you didn't know weather to watch the
guard, or watch George....sometimes, he was more exciting!
Kim
MDLMKRGIL
member of 27. I had the honor to work with him one year at 27, A year he worked
for me. My lack of genius was fairly apparent to all, but he was always
supportive, always polite, and always friendly during a very trying season
where it was also apparent to him, and to me, that he should have been the guy
in charge. I have cried damn few times in my life, but when he died I was
useless for quite some time.
I still think of him often with great fondness. I miss his constant good
cheer, and his unique insight into the visual aspect of drum corps.
Gil Norton
Eastern Old Fart
Adam A. Gawad
toward the main.....sigh...
Terri Dittrich
cst...@aol.com wrote on 7/29/00 4:20 PM:
>
>
>> George was there with his
>> guard "Erte Productions".
>
> I think maybe it was "Quasar". I think Erte came out in '84 or '85.
I think you may be right. I liked them both. I'm getting pretty mixed
about names lately! ;-)
-Terri
RDeschene
<kiltie...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>I remember two things about George Zingali, both very funny to me.
>
>We went to the first WGI in Madison in '79.
<snip>
One small correction. Actually, the first WGI finals were held in
1978, in Illinois; I want to say that it was in Guardsmen territory,
but I'm not sure of the exact location. The reason I know this is
because I went. Favorite guards that year? In no particular order,
Cavies, Phantom, Quasar and Seattle Imperials (loved those ballet
slippers, *so* unusual for guard in the '70s).
Sue
flatla...@my-deja.com
Ditto. Seems about as likely as marching/drill getting its own
caption, though. Sigh.
Stuart E. Rice
ser...@juno.com
wwww.geocities.com/marchingresearch
The Association for Research in the Marching Arts and Sciences
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Maxwell
known. He was my first true instructor and later became one of my biggest
mentors. As I read the posts about him I became sad missing his input and
passion for not only the designs but for the activity and people around him.
There is not a week that goes by that I don't relive a story about him to my
students or teach them something he taught me along the way. He helped shape
me into the instructor I am today and I will always be grateful to him for
that.
We all miss you George!
"Pdtdc" <pd...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000729095724...@ng-md1.aol.com...
Sambuca312
Masters of the Marching Arts. Contact the Magazine through their web site for
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SAM
Terri Dittrich
RDes...@recorder.ca wrote on 7/30/00 9:33 AM:
Maybe I went to that one too! LOL!
Losing more brain cells daily...
-Terri
Domer75
held at Conant HS in Hoffman Estates.
"Terri Dittrich" <kiltie...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:B5AA2A5A.8F3A%kiltie...@earthlink.net...
RDeschene
>Prelims that year were at Crown HS in Carpentersville, IL and finals were
>held at Conant HS in Hoffman Estates.
Thanks! We just went to finals that year, so they would've been in
Hoffman Estates.
Oh, and as I recall, I loved Marcus Whitman that year, too. Great
rifle line!
Did Guardsmen have a winter guard that year? I *think* they did, but
just can't seem to remember them. I'll bet they did a show with the
"toy soldier" theme, but I just can't seem to retrieve that one from
the faulty memory banks. . . .
See, Terri, you're not the only one losing brain cells.
Sue