Minnesota Brass
Inducted 2022
Minnesota Brass, Inc. is perhaps the most-awarded musical organization in Minnesota music history. MBI, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, is an independent, all-age drum & bugle corps that has entertained audiences throughout the United States since 1946. The Corps is one of the premier drum corps in The United States. Like all drum corps, The MBI ensemble is comprised of three distinct sections: the Hornline (trumpets, mellophones, baritones, euphoniums and tubas), the Percussion (snares, tenors, basses, cymbals and the frontline ensemble of keyboard and auxiliary percussion), and the Color Guard (dancers, flags, rifles and sabres). Together these three sections create an entertaining show of music and motion performed at competitions, exhibitions, and parades throughout the Summer. Like many drum and bugle corps, Minnesota Brass Inc. began during the boom of military-based units following WWII. Unlike most corps that started during that period, MBI is today experiencing its greatest success and proficiency in its many-year history. The corps started as The Cecil Kyle American Legion Post Drum and Bugle Corps in Minneapolis. The group was a small, all-male corps that competed in state American Legion Class B competitions. In 1948, it merged with and became The William Laidlaw American Legion Post Drum and Bugle Corps. Laidlaw improved quickly, and switched to Class A competition in 1949, where it competed for many years. Laidlaw was stable through the mid-1950s; playing bugle calls on single piston, small, and large-bore horns. For the 1956 season, the Laidlaw Corps took a dramatic step by actually playing modern music, which included songs “Dear One” and “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise”, popularized by Les Paul and Mary Ford. That year, the Corps traveled to Duluth and placed fourth in State American Legion competition. Old photos show the Laidlaw Corps marching in black uniforms and wearing white cummerbunds, a break from military tradition, giving the members a much more showy appearance. In 1957, the Corps changed its name to The Laidlaw Toreadors and adopted a Spanish uniform, style, and music. The new uniform had red and white tops, and flared, gaucho-style black pants. Drum Major Glenn Kuss wore a matador’s uniform, complete with a red cape. Although Laidlaw often wore boleros that complemented the Spanish theme, they wore the more politically-correct “envelope” for Legion functions. The 1960 edition of the corps placed first at the state American Legion competition, beating rivals The Schmidt Indians and The St. Peter Govenaires. Much later, the 2003 version of Minnesota Brass would return to these roots, performing an all Latin-flavored show entitled Dreams and Fantasies. Looking for new sponsorship in 1965, the Corps joined forces with the Grain Belt Brewery to create The Grain Belt Diamonds Drum and Bugle Corps. Going for a totally different look, corps members wore tuxedos- which turned out to be an unpopular idea with fans. The black dinner jackets and homburg hats elicited comments from judges and audiences that the corps looked like funeral directors! Throughout this period, funding was being cut by sponsoring organizations, which affected the Laidlaw-sponsored drum and Bugle Corps. Post Commander Mike Caligiuri became an ally of the Laidlaw Drum & Bugle Corps, helping to provide sponsorship through Laidlaw, as well as The American Legion Fifth District. Because of his efforts, Minnesota Brass presents The Mike Caligiuri Award each year to a long-standing marching member who shows dedication, commitment, and a positive attitude. After several different identities and transformations, Men of Laidlaw was adopted as the Corps’s new name. This version wore blue windbreakers, shakos, and black pants. The blue windbreaker came from then Corps Director Frank Lozar, who showed up at practice wearing an attractive, reasonably priced jacket. Since they were looking for a replacement for the ill-fated funeral director uniform, the new look was embraced and adopted. A continual presence with Minnesota Brass since the early 1950s, Lozar marched soprano bugle for more than 50 years. In his mid-seventies, Lozar continued to participate on the field, and was as much a part of the Midwest’s premier Senior Corps in every aspect. The late-1960s saw long-time St. Paul Scout member and musical director Corky Whitlock taking over the musical aspect of the Corps. Corky’s creative arrangements and enthusiasm for the activity brought new life to the Laidlaw Legion-based group. During an historic trip to Lowell, Indiana in 1969, Whitlock and fellow soprano player Terry Bremer came up with “Twin Cities Amalgamated Brassworks, Incorporated” as the new name for the Corps. The name was shortened when an announcer called out “take it away, Brass,” and the name Brass Inc. was born. The 1970s started with growth and change. This was the last year of direct sponsorship from The Laidlaw American Legion Post. At The American Legion Nationals in Portland, Oregon, Brass Inc. placed second to The Yankee Rebels in a not-too-hotly contested championship. 1973 was historic in that Geni Cavitt became not only Brass Inc.’s but Senior Corps’ first female Drum Major. Geni went on to be an on-air television reporter for KGTV, San Diego, California’s CBS affiliate. During the early-to-mid 1970s, Brass Inc. played such upbeat numbers as “Latina”, ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky”, “I Feel the Earth Move”, and “Lullaby of Birdland”. Brass Inc. was becoming a crowd favorite in the Midwest, as its brass and general effect scores attested to this. The late 1970s brought stronger and renewed competition among Midwest Senior Corps. Brass Inc. benefitted from the competition of rival corps such as The Spirit of ’76, Chicago Connection, The Govenaires, and Jesse James’ Gang. In the late 1970s, The Midstates Senior Championships was born, with Brass Inc. winning in 1978. The Corps also performed in the Red Carpet Association and resumed competition at Drum Corps Associates (DCA), where it was an associate member, placing 11th or I2th from 1977 through 1979. The early 1980s saw the corps adding “Minnesota” to the Brass Inc. name, and also became a smaller, more regionally based organization. During this period, membership fluctuated between 50 to 70 members. It was in 1981 when MBI competed in and won its first Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Senior Championship (The Corps won its 20th DCM Senior Title in 2002). After two years of competition in The International Corps Association (ICA), Minnesota Brass Inc. returned to DCA and in 1986 became a member by placing ninth. MBI became a consistent finalist at DCA, placing in the top-10 as a Member Corps every year since 1991. Theme shows started becoming popular for Minnesota Brass Inc. in the early and mid-1990s. Crime Fighters Parts l and 2 featured music from Hollywood films Dragnet, Dick Tracy, and The Naked Gun. The Memphis Belle Show in 1994 featured WWIl-era music, including musical numbers “Vicki and Mr. Valves” and “Amazing Grace”. The Vacation Show in 1995 took audiences on a Caribbean tour with “El Cumbanchero” in St. Thomas and ending up back in the States with “A New York State of Mind”. In 1995, the Corps Director was Gavin Burnham, who held that post for seven years and as Executive Director. Gavin was practically raised in drum corps, as his father Jeff Burnham, was Corps Director for several years in the early 1970s. In 1996, Minnesota Brass Inc. celebrated its 50th Anniversary with many activities to commemorate this event. Fueled with many alumni who rejoined for the occasion, the Corps marched 114 members, the largest to date. The show, entitled Minnesota Jazz- Past and Present, included ‘Thanks for the Memories”- arranged by 20+ year member/instructor/arranger Rick Rueckert. It included nostalgic snippets of 21 MBI favorites, including “Lady of Spain”, “Sesame Street”, and ‘On Broadway”. The Reunion Banquet included speakers and presentations from over the decades, and ended with the singing of “For All We Know”, a popular song with members which eventually became the official MBI Corps song in 2001. The year after the 50th, 1997 had a unique concept, some bittersweet moments, and concluded in style. MBI played “The Poet and Peasant Overture” by Franz Von Suppe’, which combined 19th-Century classical music with jazz. For the first time since 1983, MBI was defeated at Drum Corps Midwest, as The Racine Kitties made up a 6.7 deficit to claim their first DCM Senior Champion title. Minnesota Brass Inc. bounced back with an 86.5 at DCA to beat its Wisconsin rivals for eighth place. The last few years have been the most successful in Corps’ history. Once again, the thematic approach provided cohesive show formats that have continued Minnesota Brass’s tradition of entertaining fans and with quality performances. In 1998, MBI began the first of a series of three years where MBI performed thematic shows based on “brass-rock band” groups, starting with Tower of Power. The San Francisco-based band’s music has been and continues to be very popular with MBI members. Minnesota Brass Inc. rallied around the soul-funk music, and songs like “You’re Still A Young Man”, “Squib Cakes”, and “What is Hip?” helped Minnesota Brass Inc. to a fifth-place finish at DCA, the corps’ highest at that time. This was followed in 1999 with an Earth, Wind, and Fire show, which garnered fourth place at DCA, and showcased “In the Stone”, “Got to Get You Into My Life”, and “Fantasy”. The horn-band trilogy was completed in 2000 with a show based on the music of popular pop-rock group Chicago, featuring “Make Me Smile”, “Saturday in the Park”, and “Free”, and earning MBI a fifth-place finish. In all of these seasons, the Corps once again successfully defended its DCM Senior Title. The 2001 season featured a continued thematic approach, this time featuring music from the James Bond motion picture series. MBI marched its largest corps ever in 2002 with the hugely popular and successful Black to Blue 2002 presentation. Featuring music that progressed from dark to light — “A Night in Tunisia”, “‘Round Midnight”, and “Blue Skies” — helped MBI to its highest score ever at DCM Finals, a fourth-place DCA finish, and arguably its most successful season in their long history. In 2011, Minnesota Brass won its first World Championship. In 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Corps was the DCA Silver medalist. The Corps has won several Caption (or Section) Awards including: DCA Horn Champions in 2010, 2011, and 2015, DCA Percussion Champions in 2003, 2004, 2010, and 2013, DCA Frontline Champions in 2001, 2004, and 2005, and DCA Color Guard Champions in 2011. Many of MBI’s present and past members have recently been inducted into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame, which recognizes individual achievement and commitment to the activity. These members include: Gavin Burnham- Marching Member 1985-86, Corps Director, Business Manager, Executive Director, 1988-present. Jeff Burnham- Marching Member originally joined in the 1960s, Corps Director, 1972- 75, Recruiting Coordinator 1997-2002. Frank Lozar- Marching Member, 1951-present, Corps Director. Roger Grupp- Board of Directors, Soloist, Member 1971-present. Scott Wild- Corps Director 1992-94, Show Coordinator, Drum Beauty Minnesota Organizer, 1987- present. Dick Maki- Marching Member, 1958-81, 1995-present; Corps Director, 1962-63. Tina Cavitt- Marching Member, Soloist, 1973-present, Board of Directors 1980-81. John “Corky” Whitlock- Brass Instructor and Arranger, Musical Director, Consultant, Marching Member, Soloist, 1968-1993. Mike Palmquist- Corps Director 1976-1979, Marching Member 1970-79, 1981, 1991, 1995-97, DCA Representative. Paul Chaffee- Corps Director 1989-91, Marching Member 1978, DCA Representative.
As of the mid-2020s, Minnesota Brass Inc. has had more alumni members visit our museum at The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm than any other inducted musical organization.
