FLORIDA WAVE...........The real story

[l***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/now Cadets
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

Funny story! I was touring with the Mello-Dears all girl corp back in 1982 when I first encountered Florida Wave. Several of us girls were watching from the stands when they made a grand enterance onto the field by tossing oranges with their name stamped on them, out to the crowd. I was lucky enough to get one. It is now 2016 and I still have that orange peel with florida Wave stamped on it. It turned hard as a rock but otherwise still orange and still intact. I keep it in my memory book in a plastic bag. The guy that tossed it to me was eye candy you don't soon forget and the topic of many nights of gossip and giggling on a bus filled with all girls. Good times!

[o***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/now Cadets
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[o***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/now Cadets
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[o***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/now Cadets
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[o***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/now Cadets
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[t***@gmail.com]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/Cadets brass 14 years/Boston Crusaders Now
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[steve wilder]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/Cadets brass 14 years/Boston Crusaders Now
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

[steve wilder]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/Cadets brass 14 years/Boston Crusaders Now
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

Quite the list of awesome talent. Gino must have posted this to include himself:))

[steve wilder]

There has been many stories about the history of
Florida Wave on the RAMD but this is the TRUE STORY..
The Wave was a name change from the Florida Vanguards.
In 1933 a corps was formed in Miami named the
Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps. It was
Sponsored by Miami and at one time had over 200
members. The corps adopted a nick name of the Vanguards (with a S)
in 1957. Yes, this is before SCV. The Miami Vanguards continued until 1973
and due to financial problems, they broke up. In 1976, an alumni
since 1958, Lee Shields, reorganized the corps and was director until 1979.
Assisting was other alum Jo Wessman and Gary Pflug, etc.
Subsequently, in 1981 the corps changed their name to the FL Wave. There has
been many great people with the corps.
Bill Hayes - Director of Blessed Sac in the 50's when they were winning
Dick Filkins - Archer Epler and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Bridges - New director, 1999 of Crossmen
Larry Shane - Brass Staff of Blue Knights
Gino Cipriano - joined the FL Vanguards 79 at the age of 14
- Blue Devils brass 9 years/Cadets brass 14 years/Boston Crusaders Now
John Campese - Future Corps/Magic percussion head/now Crusaders
Steve Rodinaro - Director 1981 to ?
The list goes on.....It was a great corps and I will always miss it.

Chuck Mangione was never our horn instructor in the Florida Vanguard. We were blessed to have the lead soprano for the Bridgeman and later the lead soprano from the Blue Devils. Both incredible horn players and soloists.