[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 107 (Friday, June 29, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE BLUE NOTES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a musical group from 
my district that, for the past 50 years, has traveled Michigan's Upper 
Peninsula, U.P., entertaining crowds with traditional drum and bugle 
corps music. The Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps began in Ishpeming, 
MI, on Halloween night in 1957 as an all-boy junior corps. Founded by 
two dedicated young men, Joe Mayrand and Jim Medlyn, the Blue Notes and 
Drum Bugle Corps performed in local parades for the first time in the 
summer of 1958.
  In 1959, the Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps was expanded and an all-
girl color guard was added, under the direction of Mary Blight. In 
1960, women were accepted into the Blue Notes horn line for the first 
time.
  Over the next few years, with strong support of hard working parents 
and the entire Ishpeming community, along with sponsorship by the 
American Legion Post 58, money was raised to purchase new uniforms and 
instruments. With a proud community behind them, the Blue Notes soon 
grew into a competitive drum and bugle corps, well known throughout the 
Midwest.
  During their 20-year existence as a competitive junior drum and bugle 
corps, the Blue Notes won numerous titles, including 9 State 
championships. The Corps participated in contests across the Midwest 
and Canada. Sadly, despite their successes, interest in the Corps 
dwindled and, in 1977, the junior corps disbanded. Drum and bugle corps 
music was absent from the Ishpeming area for the next 7 years.
  However, in 1984, a group of junior corps alumni, then in their 
twenties and thirties, came together to consider reviving the corps. 
After discussions and practice, the group gathered and marched through 
the July 4th parade in Ishpeming, to honor the high school's 100-year 
reunion celebration.
  The alumni corps' performance electrified the crowd. Having received 
such a tremendous reception, the alumni group decided to officially 
reunite and, since then, the revived Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps 
have been performing every year since.
  The revived Corps expanded its membership to include not only Blue 
Notes alumni, but other drum corps alumni and, any musicians interested 
in sharing their talents. Today, the Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps 
has members from across Michigan's western U.P., including the 
communities of Ishpeming, Negaunee, Marquette, Gladstone, Gwinn, 
Ontonagon, Kingsford, Iron Mountain, and even Hurley, WI.
  The Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps' membership level has fluctuated 
throughout the years. While having only 8 members in 1984, the Corps 
boasted 54 members in 1999. Due to these changes in membership, members 
of the Corps came to realize that the group's continued existence would 
require a strong recruiting drive. A committee was formed to 
concentrate on recruiting new members. They targeted younger musicians, 
those aged 18 to 21, in order to ensure the Corps would remain vibrant 
even after its older members leave the group.
  The recruiting committee's efforts successfully brought several 
younger members into the group. After seeing the enthusiasm these young 
people brought to the drum and bugle corps activity, the Blue Notes 
Drum and Bugle Corps extended membership to high school students.
  Today, the 2007 Blue Notes ``50th Anniversary Corps'' has members 
ranging in age from 14 to 60. They come from all walks of life, but are 
united by a passion for drum and bugle corps music. Marquette County's 
only drum and bugle corps, and one of two active drum and bugle corps 
in the Upper Peninsula, the Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps are the 
pride of Ishpeming. Every summer, they conduct 20 performances across 
Michigan's Upper Peninsula, participating in parades, playing at 
community celebrations and keeping the drum and bugle tradition alive 
throughout the U.P.
  Madam Speaker, the Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps' stalwart members, 
who revived the group after the junior corps disbanded in 1977 and 
their current members, should be commended for their dedication. This 
month, the Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps celebrates its 50 year 
anniversary. As the Ishpeming community and Michigan's U.P. honor the 
Blue Notes Drum and Bugle Corps I would ask that you, Madam Speaker, 
and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in saluting them, 
congratulating them on 50 musical years and wishing them many more 
years of spreading drum and bugle music throughout our Upper Peninsula.

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