Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps

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Bluecoats

Pre-2007 logo:

Location	North Canton, Ohio
Division	World Class
Founded	1972
Director	David Glasgow
Finals Appearances	Nineteen
Highest Placement	Fourth (2006)
Corps Uniform	New for 2007: Shades of blue jacket: French cuffs on neck and sleeves with a black rectangle folded down on center chest area and silver reflective stripes on sleeves and outline of jacket, black pants with a tuxedo stripe, Black helmet with glitter, black patten leather shoes, and black gloves

The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class (formerly Division I) drum and bugle corps based in Canton, Ohio, and founded in 1972; The Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International. The corps name stems from the origins of the organization, based out of the Canton Police Boys' Club, in honor of the police officers associated with that club. Greeted by fans with a distinctive crowd cheer of "Blooooooo", the Bluecoats are currently the top corps from Ohio by placement in finals and were the first Ohio corps to make finals when they did so in 1987.

[edit] Traditions

For many years the Bluecoats have been welcomed to the field and praised for their performance by long shouts of “Blooooooo,” perhaps the most recognizable act of audience participation in the drum corps activity. The stock statement of “They’re not booing; they’re blooing” is often used to explain it to confused spectators.

The signature "Blooo" began during Finals Week in 1987, when the corps was vying for its first-ever Top 12 appearance at the Drum Corps International World Championships. The corps' signature song of Autumn Leaves was the middle song of the repertoire in 1987 and included an expanded snare line. Featuring the original snare line plus the quad line and several pit ensemble members, the line's drum-to-drum stickwork at the end of the "drum break" led to a frenzied and fortissimo ending of the song that drove the crowd to their feet. The resulting "Blooo" and applause lasted a full 30-seconds before the corps was able to continue it's finale. As such, the tradition was born. In 1988 the corps featured a record 20-snare drum-to-drum section in a reprisal of Autumn Leaves.

Like most drum corps, the Bluecoats hold an annual “home show” near their hometown. The Bluecoats’ home show is a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame festival, a series of events leading up to enshrinement ceremonies; the Hall of Fame is also located in Canton, Ohio.

The corps song of the Bluecoats is Autumn Leaves. The corps first performed the ballad in 1987, also the same year the Bluecoats broke into DCI’s elite top twelve. The song has remained a part of the corps’ repertoire since then, even reappearing as part of their 1988 and 1998 shows. It can often be heard being performed during impromptu parking lot concerts following competitions.