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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 corps 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 U.S. Navy Veteran and noteworthy band director and graduate of Oshkosh and Northland colleges by the name of 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 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 18 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." With the death of Marty in 1968 the Corps disbanded. I t was during the time of our country's bicentennial in 1976 that Veterans such as Bill Maki, Bernie Michelli, and Dave Bracket and some new musicians including Daniel "Dan" Pitrone and Myron Re (son of Nick Re) succeeded in inspiring enough past members and a few local recruits to practice and play in the Bessemer 4th of July. After a few years of some practicing and small gigs it was in 1980 that Marty's started it's current consecutive streak of 30+ years of seasonal and regional parade and concert 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 a lead soprano. Dan is a 1974 Northern Michigan University graduate with postgraduate studies in musical education. He is known for his methods and knack of throwing a variety of styles at the crowd. Over the years Dan has arranged numerous songs and styles from military and patriotic, to theatrical and classical, to swing, rock, blues, and jazz. 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. Marty's Goldenaires has a sense of family character. Through the years there has been several father-son, brothers, fathers and brothers, grandfather-grandson, uncle-nephew, and cousin combinations. And aside from blood, members feel a type of fraternal brotherhood. From 2006-2011 season membership between 55-60 is the largest in the entire Corps history. Strong commitment, musical potency, and stimulating choreography have shaped the Goldenaires into a popular public figure. They are often voted the top musical unit in many of the region's parades. Marty's has performed as far as Nashville, TN for the 2004 National American Legion Convention. In December in 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. In 2010 the Goldenaires were invited to the National American Legion Convention in Milwaukee, WI and marched in their grand parade. Also in Milwaukee, they performed their entire concert for the Michigan Legion banquet. Most of the audience never heard their tasteful and poignant music and the attendee's response was magnificent. They are scheduled for the 2011 National Convention in Minneapolis, MN. 2010 was a unique year as the Corps was invited to perform the half time show of the Green Bay Packers-San Francisco 49ers game on December 5th at the historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. Not only were they the half time entertainment but the Corps marched/played around the stadium concourse, Atrium, and outside the stadium in the Fan Tundra Zone tent. They were well received and it's an experience that is second to none and a memory that members will carry for years to come.
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