A glimpse into my past...

My goodness...where do I start. Well...first off. HELLO!! Been awhile. It's been a crazy 2 weeks...but what fun. I had the chance to put my self-titled self to work as "The Voice of Southern California" and announce for the Kingsmen Alumni Corps at the NAMM Show a few weeks ago. This was a bigger deal than I thought it was going to be. I haven't been to the NAMM Show ever, but man oh man. It's HUGE. They basically take over the Convention Center and all the hotels down in the Anaheim Harbor Blvd South of Disney Kingdom. ANYWAY...the KAC performed to an incoming crowd of what I estimated to be about 500-700 people. WILD applause. WILD enthusiasm. It was cool. And then had a nice sound system set up for me which was good...because I thought I'd have to yell into a stupid Long Ranger. They actually had a real honest to goodness sound system. Got to "coordinate" things with my old trombone teacher/former hornline instructor Dr. Greg Woll. Always very cool to be in his presence--he had a big impact on my life but doubt he really understands that. Oh well...but nevertheless...FUN STUFF. Why...here's a pic of the yours truly doing what I do best apparently--babbling on a microphone...
Cool...

Now on to some more important issues.

I know a lot of people read this blog that may not understand this next part very well, but let me fill you in on the drama. I was involved with a nationally known and competitve drum and bugle corps out of Anaheim, California back in 1985, 1986, and 1987. They were called the Velvet Knights--a strange name but an organization with a vary unique and storied history. If I could provide a link to that history I would, but for now, just take my word for it. In any event, the Velvet Knights were regarded within the world of drum corps (which for all intents and purposes is just a sand pepple-sized activity compared to the rest of normal life) as one of THE most popular and entertaining and at times, FUNNY, drum and bugle corps out there. As you may guess, the activity of drum and bugle corps (or as we call it "in the biz", drum corps) has a military heritage and style, as most corps have that to some extent. We were the anti-thesis to that, at least in our style. We worked our asses off to perfect our shows and to be the best we could be and to learn about what it was to make goals and all that...in any event...VK (as we called ourselves and as the world of drum corps referred to us) was the "IT" corps. We were hip. We had people laughing, dancing, asking for our autographs after competitions (I swear...I'm not making that up)...it was life on the road of a 128-member rock band. Sort of.

ANYWAY...this organization, based out of a dingy, beat up, run down, nasty-ass bingo hall at the intersection of Knott and Ball, was sort of central to the life of Ryan H. Turner. I think a lot of my identity as a human being was sort of formed and molded during my three years as a performer with them. I certainly look back to some milestone moments in my life and some of them were during my tenure with VK. There is a very real and tangible connection between my success with VK and my deep multi-tiered involvement with the pageantry world of southern California (which I take actually sort of seriously believe it or not). In other words, I owe a lot to my time in VK. And I know I'm not alone. There are many of us in the world that can look back to our time in VK and drum corps in general and chart some real benefits that we enjoy today as adults. It's not that unusual. And others can point back to their experiences in the Boys Scouts, or their Little League team, or at their church group...whatever. But the drum corps experience...a very unique thing. It engenders a bond between people that can exist for decades. I know it does for me personally. I'm still very close friends and work with the guy that was in the duet with me in 1985 during VK's closer, "Catchin' the Sun". So--yes...a deeply bonding activity this thing drum corps is.

ANYWAY...I do have a point. The point is this organization, through many missteps and bad decisions, completely "folded" and ceased operations after the 1996 tour (which typically ends in mid August). The corps, both financially AND creatively, was at the end of the line. There was a glimmer of hope as there was some GREAT show programming ideas being bantered around by the then-newly hired David Weinberg, who was going to be the Program Coordinator and Drill Designer (another person who in my life, is CENTRAL to where I am now--which is really nowhere in the grand scheme of things, but still...I remember my roots better than most). VK folded, and it was a dark day in my book. Not only did I get the story as to why they folded, I was convinced that the WHY was completely avoidable. COMPLETELY.

ANYWAY...in 1999, that guy I referenced earlier that I'm still good friends with? His name is Ron Zeilinger, and he started, along with a small group of former VK alumni, a new drum corps called Impulse. When I first heard about this concept, of somehow continuing the "tradition" of the Velvet Knights, I was admantly against it. VK was DEAD...why try to call it something else and put a new name to it. I was confused. Angry. Dead set against it. And I had forum to voice my opinion. It was a discussion newsgroup called Recreation Arts--Drum Corps (RAMD), part of the old newsgroups that I'm quite honestly not even sure still exists. I also had this other forum called World of Pageantry. And I was, believe it or not, pretty anti-Impulse. Mainly based on a really immature, emotional, knee-jerk reaction to it. I can be that way at times, although after 40 years on the planet, I AM getting better at trying to get the whole story before turning into the Taurus that I am.

ANYWAY...my anger and frustration was picked up online by a man named Charlie Groh. Charlie, who for all intents and purposes, has been in the drum corps activity since the mid 60's and is considered one of the country's leading "visual experts" when it comes to marching technique and teaching drill. I was surprised out of my anger one day when he tracked me down and called me at home. He spent the next hour on the phone with me, trying to get a better idea of what was making me so angry about Impulse and so resistent to allowing Impulse to take the field and spread its wings. I came to understand a few years later that it was in fact Charlie who came up with the name Impulse (a story of legendary importance actually), and so, he was intimately involved in the genesis of this organization. I appreciated his patience and fervor and ability to explain things to me, and was able to use a very effective and persuasive argument to at the very least to get me to shut the hell up on line about Impulse.

ANYWAY...Impulse made an impact on the drum corps community. They were a fledgling corps, and did their best to set their style as their own, yet, they could not help but be compared to VK. But that was OK with the powers that be of Impulse. They had a multi-pronged approach to their organization. One of their goals was to "carry on the tradition of the Velvet Knights and the Bridgemen" (who VK was actually emulating to some extent--so much so that the famous Bobby Hoffman who CREATED the freakin' Bridgemen joined us in 1987 and helped propel us to 7th place in the world!!!!). But another interesting goal of Impulse which, quite honestly, I missed, was something they called "to aid in the proliferation of drum corps in Southern California". Well...now that's odd. Why would Impulse want to PROLIFERATE the southern California region with drum corps? In a nutshell, and I'm only guessing, but Charlie Groh, one of Impulse's founders, was also one of Velvet Knights ORIGINAL members back in the mid 60's...and back then, before and right after I was born, Southern California was a HOT BED of drum corps activity. It wasn't the activity it is today, but the similarities were enough that me, a person that marched in the mid 80's, could embrace Charlie, who is nearing 60 years of age, as my "brother" in the activity. Goes back to that BOND I spoke of earlier. So, Impulse, albeit in a way that was "unique", was wanting to somehow, either by example or by other means, to get the activity jump started back out here in southern Cal after a mid 1990's slump and we had only 2 active corps (Pacific Crest and Westcoast Sound).

ANYWAY--I'm getting to my point...soon...anyway, fast forward to today. It was announced several months ago that the Velvet Knights were starting again. Interesting. However, it started as simply "VK", and there was a large amount of ambiguity about if this was a group wanting to be "sort of" like the old Velvet Knights or what. It was confusing to an extent, as I believed up to the point that this new organization was started, that there was never going to be another Velvet Knights. WHY? Because part of the reason why VK folded in 1996 was because of some IRS issues with a HEFTY back tax and fine levied on the organization. I assumed because of what I had been told that the name "VELVET KNIGHTS" was owned to a certain extent and attached to that name was this IRS "problem", so hence, no more Velvet Knights. Fast forward back to today--and here comes the VKYAO, or the VK Youth Arts Organization. Sort of splitting hairs because I think THEY were trying to stay away from legal issues until they were absolutely positive they actually COULD say they were in fact "THE VELVET KNIGHTS".

ANYWAY--Now...take this for what it is, but I have a "BULLSHIT RADAR" that gets pinged when I see new groups starting or whatever. I can sniff it from a mile away. I was quite well known for haraunging "SHOCKWAVE", a supposed corps starting up north several years ago, as well as something else on World of Pageantry a few years ago. I have NO FEAR of asking questions of groups that may ping my radar. Strangely, with this new "VK", there was only ONE thing that was pinging my bullshit radar, and it was this---WHO WERE THEY!?!?!? I thought it was strange that the issue was being skirted somehow, but I also realized in my 40 years of wisdom, that I wasn't on the "inside" of this organization and perhaps something was on the horizon. In reality and in all honesty, I had several nice online chats with the VK secretary Mayra (last name is hard...I'll get to it later). She was VERY gracious, answered my questions and concerns, and I didn't have any real "reason" to doubt the veracity or legitimacy of this start up. I was however, as a former VK member, a tad confused. I didn't even really understand my own confusion--but I was in a wait and see mode.

ANYWAY--things really got, how should I say, up and running when my previously mentioned friend, Ron Zeilinger, very publicly and quite frankly rather angrily started to question this group, and for his reasons, was not happy at all about what was going on. At first, reading his reasons, I actually could empathize with what he was saying. It felt weird to me as well--but to him, it was an insult. And as always in this wacky world of drum corps, there were hurt feelings and a lot of verbal judo. We have gotten to the point where now I believe Ron is accepting the creation of the Velvet Knights, however, he's still not happy. He doesn't HAVE to be. That's his right. But I think he's thought about the old "proliferation of drum corps" in southern California clause of why Impulse was started, and in all honesty, VK (Part Deux) is living up to this ULTIMATE goal, which is providing yet another entertainment venue for kids to participate in. It's just...well...weird. And I have to be honest...as long as this organization plays by the rules, puts the kids first, communicates honestly with them (especially in regards to whether they'll actually be approved by DCI in the first place), then...fine. I can't NOT say "good luck".
If you've read this far--then look at these wacky pics of me in VK back in the day. I just found these on a VK Alumni Yahoo Discussion Group. Pretty interesting...because I never have seen these.
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This is me...on the right...nice face Turner...anyway, the guy in yellow is Brian Neilsen, who was my co-drum major in 1986. I don't know where this picture was taken, but apparently it was in a gym. DUH. The guy in the back...that's Mike. I can't remember his last name. But he was a baritone player--I think we called him Brain Dead--he had some issues. But he was basically a GREAT guy underneath the issues. GILMORE!!! That's it. Just hit me just then. Mike Gilmore. Anyway--he cleaned himself up after VK and went on and joined the Army. I actually exchanged some emails with him several years ago, and he was living with his girl back in Arkansas I think--and doing well. Sent a pic of himself and he looked great. He grew up. And became a bad ass. And Brian--jeezo. I saw him 2 years ago at a drum corps show--he looked exactly the same, with a 13 year old trumpet playing son. I think he's a doctor or something. Boy was I in "like" with his sister for a time. Damn that Ron Dettman...DAMN HIM!!! (Note to Ron in case you learned how to use a computer--I KID!! I love you man!!!)

This next pic is of me and Dave Brunken, a lead soprano for VK in 1985 and 1986. Dave was a great guy. He was THE clown prince of the corps that was referred to as the clown princes of drum corps. Absolutely fall down funny guy. And complete with the strangest phobia ever--he hated going over bridges while we traveled across the country. FUNNY!!! He and I were never "close" per se, but he was part of the Bountiful, Utah Graverobbers Club in 1986. This pic of me and him was taken in the parking lot of Mt. Sac College. I have a very very vague recollection of this. I think this was at the Tournament of Champions band show in December of 1986. I actually think that's Arcadia's drum major standing behind us to the left!!! HAHAHAHA...uhhh
I was pretty dang skinny. I apologize for the glasses. That was back when Clark Kent glasses were in...and of course...I AM Clark Kent.

Last pic--that's me in 1987 at a show acting like an idiot. Don't know where that is, but I'm THINKING it's at the Sevierville Show in Tennessee...but I'm really not sure. Memory seems to get crappy after 20 years. That's Malcom Arnold, the contra...and the big scary guy to the left is Bob--and I can't remember his last name. He barely said two words all summer long, but he LOVED VK.

Well...that's for now.

I have LOTS more to talk about but there's only so many miles my fingers can walk in one day. Besides, I don't want anymore messages from a certain band director from the base of the majestic snow capped evervescent San Gabriel Mountains calling me and asking--"How DO you have THAT MUCH to talk about????" (I love you Tom!! And I'm NOT proud to say that...he gets the joke).