Dick Janes started taking his drum lessons from Dr. Warren Shelley who was a long time member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers. He joined the Catonsville Scarlet Raiders (also known as the Odd Fellows) in 1956 as a snare drummer. It was not until many years later that he learned that when he joined that organization he was the only drummer who could perform The Downfall of Paris and Connecticut Halftime. Over the next 10 years he wrote and instructed drill. In 1963, he joined the Yankee Rebels of Baltimore, Maryland. At that time they had a full line of drummers so he volunteered to play the corps’ first contra bass and also taught the low bass under the musical direction of Skip Groff. In 1967, there was a tenor drum opening and he finally got his chance to become part of the drum line. In 1968, he pioneered their first triples: three bass drums bolted together. The carrier was constructed by Nick Biscotti. Shortly thereafter, he put together their first timpani section and began writing all of the tonal percussion music until his civilian job changed and he was forced to devote much more time to that most important obligation. In 1990, he returned to the corps to teach all of the tonal parts to the drum arrangements for John Flowers, then drum instructor and arranger. The corps made some changes in 1993 that afforded him the position of drum instructor and arranger. He has been blessed with learning many musical skills by attending the Peabody Conservatory of Music, a world famous musical arts education school that has graduated some outstanding musicians, composers, and conductors. He has learned to play, arrange and conduct several musical instruments as a result, including all brass instruments, clarinet, piano and keyboard, organ and full percussion instruments, all obtained in his pursuit to be awarded his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Music. He is certainly a credit to his profession and to himself. In addition, he has arranged music for and instructed the Hamilton White Knights, the Blue Coats of Canton, Ohio, the Schuylkill Haven Belvederes, Fredrick High School, Annapolis High School, South Carroll High School, Woodlawnettes and the Toppers. He is the music director for the American Originals Fife and Drum Corps, Washington, DC. He is a member of the Maryland Drum and Bugle Corps Hall of Fame.
