Blue Notes

The Blue Notes drum & bugle corps began in Ishpeming on Halloween night in 1957 as an all-boy junior corps. The corps was founded by two very dedicated young men, Joe Mayrand and Jim Medlyn and was sponsored by the Ishpeming American Legion (AL) Post 58.

The corps competed in the Badgerland Drum and Bugle Corps Association. Their colors were red, white and blue. They performed in local parades for the first time in the summer of 1958. In 1959, an all-girl color guard was added, under the direction of Marvin Blight, entering the field competitive arena, placing 3^rd at the Upper Peninsula AL championships. The following year, girls were accepted into the horn line as the corps finished 2^nd at the 1960 MI AL state championships.

Over the next few years, with the tremendous support of hard working parents and the community, money was raised to purchase new uniforms and instruments. In 1961, the corps finished once again in 3^rd position at the Upper Peninsula championships, improving to a 2^nd place in 1962, along with a 3^rd place finish at the AL state championships.

Awards included the Lake States Loggers Congress 1963 and '64 and the 1963-1964 Michigan American Legion and 1964 VFW championships. The corps participated in their first National championships with a 25^th place finish at the 1964 VFW Nationals in Cleveland, returning the following season in Chicago, finishing 29^th in the preliminary round. They were also crowned, for a third year in a row, the 1965 AL state champions.

From 1966 to 1971, the corps continued their strong showing within the Midwestern circuits by winning the 1967 MI state championships and the 1970 and 1971 Upper Peninsula titles. In 1972, the Blue Notes returned to the National scene, placing 23^rd in the prelims of the American Legion Nationals held in Chicago, and won three consecutive state championships between 1973 to 1975. They also captured a finalist spot at the 1975 American Legion Nationals, placing in 4^th position.

In 1976, their final season of competition, the corps competed in the US Open “Class A” finals, placing 8^th and topped the AL state championships one last time. The corps disbanded in 1977.

An alumni corps was formed in 1984, celebrating the corps’ 60^th anniversary in 2017.

Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; DCW, 4/02, p/23; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (4)