Salute to Bobby Thompson

[@chrisallen8392]

Wow. I was fortunate to get a week's worth of Jim Hurley's guidance in 1977 while marching snare in the Phantom Regiment (and a year's worth from his brother Marty). A few years later encountered Bobby Thompson at a northeast muster while playing snare in the U.S. Army's Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. Bobby strolled over and introduced himself, and everything else around me faded away as I concentrated out of pure respect on what he said and did. During the conversation he made an observation about my left-hand grip and how he thought it could improve with a minor modification. He didn't make a big deal about it or about me getting advice from the great Bobby Thompson - it was just an observation with a follow-up suggestion. Well, I started practicing that change immediately and as soon as it became natural - shocker of shockers - he was right. Bobby was one of those people who moved the state of the art forward. And his "progeny" - those he taught who became major players and instructors themselves - moved it the next step, setting the stage for the physical and rhythmic sophistication we take for granted today. We've witnessed an enormous amount of marching-percussion progress in relatively little time, and when you travel backwards on the family tree most of these improvements stem from one person: Bobby Thompson. p.s. Jimmy Hurley ain't too bad either, eh? Watching him play, the word that kept coming to mind was "clean, clean, clean". And his brother Marty could lay down a tap or two also! Just kidding, they were and are both monsters.

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

Boy, that opening Blessed Sacrament performance is pretty darn great!!!

[@tommcconville4270]

To Danny Raymond Jr.: that is a superb drum solo performance, kudos to you. I was a baritone in Sacred Heart Crusaders of Manville NJ, and your father Danny was our drum instructor and an excellent one. A world class drummer with St. Vincent's Cadets and the Caballeros, a great man, may he rest in peace. And to Marty and Jimmy Hurley: along with Bobby Craig, and Charley Poole of the Boston Crusaders, you're 4 of the best snare drummers all time. Blessed Sacrament with Bobby Thompson as the legendary drum instructor, and the Hurley brothers and Bobby Craig all time great drummers, best regards to all of you. And my appreciation to Larry McCormick for presenting this great clip, many thanks.

[@mikeconklin1567]

BSGK 1970 Drum Line was amazing. Bobby Craig, Tony on Rudimental drums, with Tom Brown.

[@cwmk84]

Nice interview. I lived in Wildwood in those days. Saw all those corps at state VFW and American Legion contests. Was a member of the little rinky-dink Wildwood Shamrocks. thanks again.

[@47heritage]

Hi Larry. I should have looked closer to see where I was sending it. Thanks for the response. It was sure a special time back then. I never got the chance to meet Mitch Markovitch who was just ahead of me. I believe he aged out the same year as Rick Nardelli. He was a superb drummer as was Rick. That's why playing snare in the same line as Rick was so special to me. Thanks for the great videos. I really enjoy them!

[@malakingdude]

Great vid, Jim thanks. I remember well when you guys came to BS and of course the great line players you all developed into. Although I was a horn player I knew Bobby and to this day still think of him alot. He was a most remarkable gentle man. in fact I mentioned him just last night to my wife. Hmmm. now recalling a video from many years ago where Billy Joel drummer mentioned being taught by Bobby in Bridgeport P.A.L. stating all great traps drummers must know the rudiments.

[@larrymccormickvideos]

Hi Bob, I know you sent the comment about Bobby to Jimmy Hurley, but it came to me as I was the.person who created the video. Bobby was a good friend and competitor with my Cavaliers drum line back in the 60s. Glad to see that people are still looking at the various videos from my drumminghistory.com website.

[@47heritage]

I just discovered this!! Nice interview Jim. I think all of us were in awe not only of Mr. Thompson but of the talented drummers he helped become first rate snare drummers. I still consider it an honor to have been coached by Mr. Thompson and to have had the chance to spend a season playing with Bill Lundy and the late Rick Nardelli. Really miss those days!

[@americanspirit8932]

I agree, you three by far was the best snare drum section in the country in my opinion. Bobby Thompson, may he rest in peace, at that time he was the absolute best. I played snare drum in 1960 and 1961 with the Floyd Bennett golden eagles from Brooklyn New York. And I tried to emulate everything Bobby Thompson was teaching, the golden knights, and the Saint Albans queen's men . I knew Rick nardelli spoke with him several times, may he rest in peace. Great memories the golden knights with a Kings for sure. Unfortunately, today there are no longer Real Drum and bugle Corp, with drumlines playing the rudiments, that we played back in the day. Thank you for this post brings back great memories. Today is June 11th 2022.

[@johndixon4446]

Great interview Jim, I remember my audition with Mr Thompson, was accepted and played tenor in the 65' season. Was the greatest time in my drum corp career.... I'm next to Don Internado on the cover shot from Drum Corp Digest.

[@kats4590]

I knew Bobby Thompson and Les Parks (and their families) back in the 1950's and 60's. My father was a bass drummer in the Sons of Liberty and may be the third drummer in the photo of them in this video. That's Nick Attanasio on the left, his son George in the middle, and probably my father, Ed Sturgis, on the right.

[@larrymccormickvideos]

Great men and a privilege to know them both. Amazing what a small world where drumming is involved. Thanks for your comment.

[@georgemarch3933]

just ran into this,,Great job Jim,,,BSGK Forever...

[@user-lo1wf9nk4v]

Raymond is a monster!!!!!

[@DV-mq5fv]

wonderful!

[@mikeconklin1567]

I marched with BSGK from 1970-1972, (until we disbanded). Biggest thrill was 1970 VFW Nationals in Miami. We placed fourth. Casper Troopers placed first. What a let down.

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

Neptune ?? "On the starting line The Neptune Shoreliners ." I'll mention them for you

[@tommcconville4270]

Neptune Shoreliners was a nice little Jersey Shore drum corps from the town of Neptune NJ Old Time. And Marty and Jimmy Hurley were in that corps before going to Blessed Sacrament and becoming 2 of the best drum corps snare drummers all time. We saw them playing in Sac's line when I was in junior corps in Jersey, mostly at AL and VFW Jersey state championships. 2 of the all time great snare drummers, along with fellow Sac snare drummer Bobby Craig, and Charley Poole of the Boston Crusaders.

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

@@tommcconville4270 Actually I do remember the Neptune Shoreliners. Its just my best friend and contra for Sky... Bronx Kingsmen 66/67Mexican version ...Selden , Felton ( Sonny) Owens heard them announced after the starting gun was fired and ever since that time Sonny would proclaim, " Pow .. the Neptune Shoreliners !!" it was how he said it , we found it hilarious , just young jocularity with no insult implied . I think they had white, red and black as their colors and in Penn Jersey circuit . May Sonny Rest in Peace. I miss him

[@tommcconville4270]

@@oldtimedrumcorps Nice story about Shoreliners you posted Old Time. The Jersey Shore had another pretty good corps from the town of Eatontown called the Royales. We competed in a winter standstill in 1969 they gave when I was in Sacred Heart Crusaders Manville NJ.

[@tommcconville4270]

@@oldtimedrumcorps Nice story about Shoreliners you posted Old Time. The Jersey Shore had another pretty good corps from the town of Eatontown called the Royales. We competed in a winter standstill in 1969 they gave when I was in Sacred Heart Crusaders Manville NJ.