Musketeers Plan June 1 R.I. Show

Letters To The Editor
By Norman S. Peckham
DCN May 22, 1963

On Saturday evening, June 1, the Rhode Island Musketeers, in conjunction with the American Legion will host "Cavalcade of Music" at Pierce Memorial Stadium, East Providence. Six Corps from the Northeastern Circuit, the Sunrisers of Mineola, L.I., the Vagabonds of Torrington, Conn., the Connecticut Yankees of Stratford, Conn., the Whalers from New Bedford, Mass., the Marksmen of Springfield, Mass., plus one other corps , will compete. An exhibition will be given by the Musketeers. This will be the finest competition ever held in Rhode Island.

In March of 1959, the Vaqueros of Pawtucket and the Tri-Town Cavaliers of Bristol merged to form the "Rhode Island Musketeers," the finest drum and bugle corps to come out of the state of Rhode Island.

In the summer of 1962, the Musketeers won every parade competition they entered in southern New England. They only lost one field competition and that by only eleven hundredths of a point.

In 1963, the Musketeers will field a thirty-man horn line, a nine man drum line, and a twelve-man color guard. Their uniforms consist of white gaucho shirts with red ascot and sash, black pants with red kick pleats, and black hats with white plumes.

Their music is from Broadway hit shows and films, including such songs as "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Maria," "Quo Vadis," "El Cid" and "Adventures in Paradise." Responsible for the corps' great music is Robert Grushey, with Henry Black on Drums, both of Boston. The drill is under the capable direction of William Sweet, who is also drum major.