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| Marty's Goldenaires is a Parade and Concert Corps which performs primarily in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota from May to Labor Day weekend. Musical selections through the years have pleased all audience types with a mixture of swing, rock, patriotic, and nostalgic drum corp styles. Established in 1950 as a Senior Corps, membership includes men between the ages of 16 and 79 years. This unique age mix gives Marty's Goldenaires a blend of nostalgia, a solid nucleus, and a young enthusiasm and excitement which is evident as the audience involve themselves in Marty's Goldenaires performances! |
| Go Go Marty's! |
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A Brief History In Memory of Martin O. Lamoreux (1902-1968), alias Mr. Music. Original music director and arranger of Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps. It was the post World War II era and members of American Legion Post 27 were having one of their routine meetings. The question came up, "anything good for the Legion?" A noteworthy band director and graduate of Oshkosh and Northland colleges, Martin "Marty" Lamoreux presented the idea to the membership of forming a Bessemer Post 27 Drum & Bugle Corps. Most attendees originally dismissed the notion as perhaps a far-fetched dream; however, the scheme was put into their consciousness. It wasn't until a later meeting that Nick Re, the soon to be assistant director, suggested a Legion Drum & Bugle corps. Marty being a true opportunist immediately backed the suggestion into a motion. It was at this moment of conception that the rest of the Posts 27 membership fell collectively into line with the proposal and the motion carried thus the formation of American Legion Post 27 Drum & Bugle Corps, eventually becoming Marty's Goldenaires. For over 15 years Marty's performed in community events and numerous competitions and conventions all over the region. It was during this period that Director Marty Lamoreux coined the phrase, " Where Ever We Go There Shall Be Music." Due to the illness and further passing of Marty the Corps disbanded in 1966. In 1976 Marty's Goldenaires reunited to march on the 4th of July in honor of the 200th birthday (bicentennial) of the United States. Veterans such as Bill Maki, Bernie Michelli, and Dave Bracket and some new musicians including Dan Pitrone, Dave Paynter and Myron Re (son of Nick Re) succeeded in inspiring enough past members and a few local recruits to practice and play in the 4th of July parade. Since 1980 the Corps has been on a 29 year consecutive streak of seasonal performing. Pitrone has been a significant figure through this period as the Corps music director and arranger (1976-77, 80-93, 2000-present) as well as lead soprano. Dan is a 1974 Northern Michigan University graduate with postgraduate studies in music education. He is known for his knack of throwing a variety of styles at the crowd. Over the years Pitrone has arranged numerous songs from patriotic, to theatrical and classical, to swing and rock. In late 2006 he composed a piece titled " Go Go Marty's March" and audiences first had the opportunity to hear it during the 2007 summer season. The songs music structure carries the form of a traditional march with a majestic descant bugle part. The lyrics provide a nostalgic and symbolic feeling of the Corps and it's prolonged history . Marty's has a sense of familial character, through the years there has been several father-son, brothers, father and brothers, uncle-nephew, and grandfather-grandson combinations. During 2006-2007 season membership at 56 is believed to be the largest in the Corps history. However, the 2008 membership is projected to be over 60. Strong commitment, musical potency, and stimulating choreography has shaped Marty's into a popular public figure. They are often voted the top musical group in many of the region's parades. Marty's has performed as far as Nashville, TN for the 2004 National Legion Convention. In December (2006) they made a surprise appearance in Lansing, MI and performed on the Capital floor in honor of their long-time Drum Major Richard Brown who was at the end of his term as State Representative.
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