George Washington Carver Gay Blades

The George Washington Carver Gay Blades drum and bugle corps was an African American unit originally formed in 1949 as the Masonics out of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple  in Newark.

After performing locally and regionally in parades and exhibitions, the corps converted to a competitive drum corps in 1957 as the George Washington Carver Gay Blades, sponsored by the Washington Carver Chapter, Order of Pythagorean, P.H.A. of Newark. The original 27 brass and 7 percussionists won their very first field contest that year, sporting their Civil war replica of the Buffalo Soldiers of the 1880’s, the corps became members of the Yankee circuit, placing 2^nd in 1958 & winning the 1959 title with an undefeated season.

The corps was also member of the Northeastern circuit, winning the both the 1959 & 1960 championships, finishing with a 2^nd place finish in 1963, 3^rd position in 1961 & two 4^th place rankings in 1962 & 1964. In 1965, the Newark group went inactive and reactivated the following year, remaining a parade and exhibition unit until 1968. The Gay Blades gained the love, respect and admiration of both the Newark and drum corps communities. And boy, could they swing and they were rocking the timbales, with a harness, long before others caught on to the concept.

Some of the key management & instructional staff over the years included Joseph Tucker (Business Manager), Victor Casella, Dominic DelRa, Hugo Evarelli, Frank Luke (percussion) and William Carrig (Visual).

In 1969, they merged with the Avengers of Dover to form the Garden Statesmen, the first and perhaps only merger between an all African American and all white corps.

Sly Randolph; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (2)