Caballaros

The Caballaros drum and bugle corps was originally formed in 1958 as a majorette and drum unit. They later added a dozen trumpets. They were sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 2300 of Willoughby and the Cleveland Halle American Legion Post 624.

By 1962, the corps had risen to second place in the United States Twirling Association's National Contest held in Grand Rapids. Collectively, corps members, including baton twirlers, held over 800 trophies and medals and 49 Grand Championships. In the fall of 1963, they were bitten by the drum corps bug while marching in the Wine & Grape Festival parade in St. Catharines. 1n 1964, the Caballaros expanded into a full-fledged drum and bugle corps.

Their black and red Spanish-Style uniforms, Latin rhythms and distinctive marching precision were familiar to parade lovers throughout northeastern Ohio. After a season of parades and exhibitions, the corps entered the field of competition in 1965, their first field contest in Port Clinton and competed at the Legion state convention, placing 5^th. That year, their instructional staff included James Wedge, musical director, Jerry Bachman on brass, John Tudhope and Bob Collins on percussion, Delores Torrado and Kal Roe on guard and Bill Bush on visual.

The next four years, the corps competed within the region, participating in state competition improving from 4^th in 1966, 3^rd in 1967 and crowned as the 1968 Legion state champions. In 1968, the corps also entered in the first of many US Open championships, placing 20^th in the “Open Class” preliminaries. After a 2^nd place finish at the 1969 state convention, they improved to an 18^th place position in the prelims. In 1970, the corps had lost several members but did manage to field competitively but went inactive the following year. The Caballaros returned to the field regionally in 1972, placing 5^th at the state championships in what would be the first year of their rebuild.

From 1973 to 1975, they were a perennial participant at the US Open “Class A” championships in preliminary action, placing 30^th in 1973, missing out by one position of qualifying for the finals in 1974 with a 10^th place finish and 16^th in 1975. They also competed in the American International Open in 1975, placing 12th in the “Class A” prelims. Along the way, the corps also participated in state competition, placing as high as 3^rd in 1974. The corps also sponsored an annual competition, “Drum Corps Fiesta” starting in 1973.

In 1976, the group merged with their local rival, the Buckeyes to form the “Buckeye State Caballaros”.

The organization managed the Caballaros Trust Fund, established in 1989 to honor the name and perpetuate the values of the Caballaros drum and bugle corps that existed for many years in Cleveland and to assist other struggling, small, community-based units.

GrewvyG2@aol.com 11/6/09; DCW, 4/93, p.14; Paul Legault (DCX)   

Members (10)