Valdosta High School Marchin' Cats Band - St Pete Show 1974

[mellowilly]

I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. B when I was in the Vidalia high school marching band. He took us farther than anyone could have. We played for the president! (George Bush sr.) We also played a half time show at the Georgia dome for the atlanta falcons. Thank you for the memories, Mr. B!

[36pickup]

Mr. B was the "BEST"! The credit for this fine percussion section goes to Al Turner! He created each beat for every drum!!! Usually, by ear and on the spur of the moment! We got 1st Place pecussion section everytime! Even beat out Sisaro (sp?) New York, at a competition in Miami, whom they said was the best drumline in the nation! Thanks Mr. B and Al! That was the best time of my life!

[freemaneques]

Thanks for posting this Jay. I enjoyed listening to it again. Remembe me, I got your spot on the trumpet line as a freshman because the Junior High band director got mad a you for some reason I don't remember what. Terri Wetherington Freeman 1974-1978

[djc1012]

What great memories! I cried listening to this. It was the best time of my life! I wish someone had some videos. Debbie :)

[bitterballoffrogs]

Does anyone still have the video of the Marchin' Cats from Virgina Beach in 82' or any of the years that Joe David was the director?

[WoodridgeBB]

Hi All - Debbi Y. here, played Flute from '72-'76 Jay thanks for posting this...could not help but cry a little remembering all the great times we had. I still have my vinyl too just nothing to play it on!

Thanks for the memories! Mr. B - YOU are the Best!!!

[nashdavid]

My name is David Martin and I was a Marchin' Cat clarinetist 1973 -1977. Loved every minute. The trips, the football games, the shows, the exhibitions, the parades, even band camp at Douglas: the whole grand experience! Thanks Mr. B! He left the year I graduated in 1977. You can't imagine how wonderful this time was for me and I imagine all the other members. If anyone can ever can find some 8mm film or videotape of one of our shows, I know we would all love to see it posted on YouTube.

[cbutenschon]

I can't wait to show this to Dad. He will appreciate all your kind words. FYI... He's back in the bandroom. Couldn't stay away. He's recruiting and teaching 6th graders at Cook County GA.

[thadley2011]

I am a current Marchin' Cat and I remember when Mr. Butenschon came to talk to us last year. He is such an inspiration. Our band director has us looking at him as the man who started it all. He really is though

[PigLover34565]

That's great. Dad says your director is a good guy and will do good with the band. I can't remember your director's name but he has been to my parent's house for dinner a few times. He calls my mom his "white mama"! Sounds like a pretty fun guy.

[thadley2011]

His name is Mike Thomas. And yes, he is wonderful!! But haha, thats funny about your mom.

[morematurethanu]

is this chris? was your dad band director in guntersville in the 80s? i was his flag captain 82-83 Karla

[rmbb10]

Nice;

[KathleenOflute74]

I didn't post the audio, I found it thanks to a current Marchin'Cats parent I went to college with! I don't know how it was uploaded to YouTube, so sorry. I still have my band vinyl records and would love to upload those as well! Hope all are well!!!

[KathleenOflute74]

Kathleen O'Neal Bearden, Flute, Class of 74! I'm playing piccolo in the audio. Section leader. Boots is still "The Man." It isn't everyone who can teach a true work ethic to a bunch of teenagers and making them miss it after they graduate. My medals are in a shadow box at my parents house, a source of pride still. As for greatness, it's out there for any one and any program that wants to get hot,dirty,& exhausted working for it like we did. Class of 74, sound off!Earl the Pearl,Godwin,Mills

[blazincatvike]

I believe my sister marched with you, also on flute & piccolo.

[MrRom92]

this is cool... anyway i can obtain this recording? it sounds very well made

[jaycordova]

It's digitized from well kept vinyl. The stereo high quality mp3 file sounds a lot better than this youtube posting (poor quality mono). Send me a message and maybe I can email it to you or post it or something.

[dareallybigdog]

Ah! The REAL Marchin' Cats! Anybody video from the 70s or 80s?

[blazincatvike]

Now this is what I'm talking about--satin blouses, white shoes, high mark time--CLASSIC Marchin' Cats!!

[muziq07]

This is awesome. I personally know Frank Butenschon I met him this past spring at a LGPE(large group performace evaluation) He is a great guy!! & I wonder if Valdosta High band will ever be this good again because I've been in valdosta for 4 years @ VSU and It seems that in 4 years a significant change would've occurred (referring to quality of the program).. None Yet! but Im sure Mr. Thomas is working on it. :-/

[thadley2011]

We're almost there. Its an honor being a part of our band. Especially knowing the history! Mr. Thomas has us one step away. Mr. Butenschon is the best also.

[jusprazem]

my band director came from valdosta high school.

[jaycordova]

What is your band director's name? Just curious if I might know him/her.

[jusprazem]

was that picture taken at a gym at a high school i didnt know those type of stands were around in the 70's.

[rieracitano]

Yes, in the Valdosta High School basketball gym.

[tigonian02]

I agree. The level of talent at VHS has gone down soo much now....its quite sad

[rapidtransit9]

Compared to the present day VHS band this is amazing. Its a shame the band is not as good as it was then. I'm not talking about numbers wise. Sure the band was bigger back then but there is also more of qaulity factor.

[jasondb08]

you have to remember this was the Butenschon days of VHS or the glory days. his bands won national championships, something only north georgia schools (lassiter) can come close to. even though the numbers arent what they used to be they are coming back up and mr thomas has turned the program into one of the best in south georgia: the marchin cats won a grand championship, the wind symphony played level 6 music (the highest in georgia)and the jazz band is phenomenal also

[jusprazem]

where is Butenschon at now

[jasondb08]

he's living in valdosta as far as i know. he still judges competitions and has even come out to a couple of marchin cat practices to talk to us before competitions

[jusprazem]

i believe i met him. he actually came and directed some of the practices at my school

[jusprazem]

i heard that dci is coming to valdosta high school stadium on july the 11th. as a former drummer i am looking forward to it.

[jasondb08]

yep 6 corps will be performing. its going to be really cool

[jusprazem]

what type of corps will be performing will it be the ones on espn.like the phantom regiment or cadets etc bluedevils not tift county LOL which ones will be performing

[jasondb08]

yeh theres going to be some smaller ones like teal sound and capitol sound but there will also be a couple of bigger ones like the carolina crown and the boston crusaders. its gonna be awesome regardless

[jusprazem]

man i missed it how was it. was there a lot of people there.

[jasondb08]

aw man it was awesome. the carolina crown blew us away and the boston crusaders were really impressive too. carolina came in first with a 85.0 then it was boston, blue stars, the colts, spirit, and teal sound was the only open class corp. the crowd couldve been better but there was decent turnout. all in all it was an awesome show

[jusprazem]

were they loud and did the drumlines do some tricky stuff?

[jasondb08]

oh yeh it got loud. carolina had by far the best brass of the night. in their opener they hold a perfect chord as loud as possible for about 7 seconds. im not a percussion guy but one of the corps drumlines had a feature were they turned around at weird angles while playing some tricky rythmns which was pretty cool.

[jusprazem]

my belly is boiling with anguish that i missed it. i have back and hip problems so i had to stay in. couldnt do a lot of walking. i just went to youtube and watched some drumlines and to solace my mind.