It is with profound sadness that the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame announces the passing of Mike DelVecchio.

Mike DelVecchio was a respected and beloved figure whose life was deeply intertwined with the history, tradition, and spirit of drum corps. His contributions extended well beyond his years as a performer, touching generations of members, alumni, friends, and fellow enthusiasts of the activity.

Mike was a second-generation Caballero, carrying forward a family connection to the Hawthorne Caballeros that began with his father, Joe DelVecchio, who marched with the corps as a snare drummer in the early 1950s. Mike’s own journey in drum corps included the Dover Cadets and the Hawthorne Caballeros. He was an instructor for a number of corps, helping guide the lives of hundreds of young men and women. He also served as assistant director, lyricist and spokesperson for the Caballeros’ Alumni Chorus. He adjudicated for both the Eastern States Judges Association and the National Judges Association.
Michael was recently inducted into the inaugural Caballeros Hall of Fame and was honored with induction into the New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Buglers Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mike was much more than a participant in drum corps history—he became one of its storytellers and custodians. Through his writings and recollections, including his “In the Beginning” series documenting the early history of the Hawthorne Caballeros, Mike helped preserve stories, traditions, and memories for generations who would follow.

Through his contributions to the Caballeros Alumni Association newsletter, including his series of historical recollections, Mike shared firsthand stories and memories of the corps’ early years, helping keep those experiences alive for generations of alumni and members.

His commitment to drum corps continued through his involvement with the Caballeros alumni organizations and events, where he remained a familiar and respected presence well into his later years. Mike was a well respected marching member of the Caballeros alumni corps, proud of still playing at the age of 93.

The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame extends its deepest condolences to Mike’s family, loved ones, lifelong friends, fellow Caballeros, and to the many members of the drum corps community whose lives he touched.

Mike DelVecchio leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond any single corps. His contributions to the drum corps community, his commitment to preserving its history, and the friendships he formed throughout a lifetime will long be remembered.

Rest in peace, Mike.

Your music may have fallen silent, but your legacy will continue to march on.

From: the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame Selection Committee

To: WDCHOF Members, Associates, friends, and all members of the Drum Corps and Pageantry communities

The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame announces its 

50TH ANNIVERSARY 2026 INDUCTEES

The following outstanding individuals, all of them leaders and major influencers within the Drum Corps Community will be inducted into membership at the WDCHOF 50^th Anniversary Celebration and Banquet on December 5th in Valley Forge, PA:

Associates elevated to full membership:

Barry Bell –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/bell-barry/

Robert Dubinski –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/dubinski-robert/

Lorne Ferrazzutti – https://www.wdchof.org/members/ferrazzutti-lorne/

Brian Moul – https://www.wdchof.org/members/moul-brian/

Deb Warga –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/warga-debra/

New Associates:

Andy Grilk –  https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/grilk-andy/

Jay McMahon – https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/mcmahon-jay/

Chris Hartowicz – https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/hartowicz/

James Dugan, Sr – https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/dugan-jim-sr/

David Eddleman  – https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/eddleman-david/

Jeff Perkins – https://www.wdchof.org/associate_members/perkins-jeff/

Special Awards:

Kevin Boyce – President’s Award –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/boyce-kevin/

Joseph Dowling – President’s Award –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/dowling-joseph/

Steve Rondinaro- Distinguished Professional Achievement Award – https://www.wdchof.org/members/rondinaro-steve/

Member Inductees:

Jay Murphy –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/murphy-jay/

Rick Odello –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/odello-rick/

Dennis Argul –  https://www.wdchof.org/members/argul-dennis/

Larry McCormick – https://www.wdchof.org/members/mccormick-larry/

Marc Whitlock – https://www.wdchof.org/members/whitlock-marc/

JW Koester –   https://www.wdchof.org/members/koester-jw/

Bob Findlay’s obituary and memorial arrangements:

https://abriola.com/tribute/details/7411/Robert-Findley/obituary.html#tribute-start

Bob Findley, whose notable achievements included serving as instructor and field conductor for the Hurricanes, CT Yankees, Matadors, CT Alumni and Park City Pride, and former Vice President of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, has passed.

See his bio here: https://www.wdchof.org/members/findley-robert/

Services are pending.

Those in the know consider Pete Emmons the Leonardo da Vinci of Drum Corps, his opus unmatched. There simply isn’t a single step of drill or a visual concept on the field today that doesn’t carry some of his DNA. Considering his pedigree, this is no surprise. 

A Casper Troopers soprano, Drum Major when they won their first national title, instructor for DCI’s eventual first champion, the Anaheim Kingsmen, moving on to an upstart Santa Clara Vanguard as principal visual designer who produced a dynasty, creating iconic effects for them and others (the Bottle Dance, May Pole, Garfield’s controversial Peace Sign, asymmetrical drills wherein planets rotate, orbiting the sun while traveling across the field of vision, claiming the vertical dimention by pioneering the use of platforms with the Freelancers, …and on and on), he worked for more than five decades to upgrade the game of corps from the Long Island Kingsmen to North Star to the mighty Blue Devils. Pete spent several seasons as PBS broadcast host for DCI, sharing the booth with the likes of Gene Rayburn and Jim Peck. And that’s not the half of it.

But not even Drum Corps could corral this cowboy. 

He studied acting with Sanford Meisner at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, where James Caan, Steve McQueen, and Stiller & Meara took class. Pete appeared off-Broadway in “Goethe, Ein Fragment”, in the role of Mephistopheles, in the San Francisco production of “Feedlot”, and in episodes of TV’s “Nash Bridges”, alongside Don Johnson and Cheech Marin.

His creative urges and curiosity simply  could not be contained and it’s a wonder that one person could succeed at so many skills simultaneously within the confines of a single lifetime.

For a time he partnered in a sportswear enterprise, Wemley Designs, with Mike Moxley and Joan Witkoskie, producing promotional apparel for the Monterey, Playboy, and Russian River Jazz Festivals and other clients. 

Pete served as a guide at Yellowstone National Park and a docent at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. Still another of his passions was world travel to places like Moscow and Katmandu. There are so many stick pins in the map on his office wall they obscure the map itself.

Then there’s the stint as Jazz radio host on the island of St. Thomas, and building models of NASCAR racers.

All this, yet he had the deepest devotion to his family, students and friends.

Pete Emmons lived a remarkable and full life. Argentina need not cry for him.

Frank Dorritie 5/28/26

With the passing of Gil Silva, the Hall of Fame has lost one of its most highly honored and influential members.

As former President of Drum Corps Associates, Business Manager, Assistant Director and Visual Instructor of the legendary Rhode Island Matadors, and Chief Judge for the DCA, Gil served the Drum Corps community faithfully and with distinction for several decades.

As a young man he was a prodigy as a performer in the Holy Rosary Caballeros, excelling in both the percussion and brass sections over a 10-year period. It’s no surprise that he rode this multi-tasking ability through his entire career as a player,

instructor and administrator.

The Drum Corps community is deeply saddened by his loss but will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside this extraordinary man whose presence enriched our lives.

View the Banquet page to see the group photo from the most recent Induction Ceremony, as well as the full 2025 WDCHOF Yearbook, with photos and profiles of the Inductees and Scholarship Recipients and the banquet video.

The great John Simpson has passed. 

Perhaps the finest Baritone Bugle player of all time, John had performed with the Hutchinson Sky Ryders, The US Air Force D&B Corps and the NY Skyliners before establishing himself as a brilliant brass instructor for Hutch, the Bayonne Bridgemen, Star of Indiana and others. 

His signature solo rendering of excerpts from Rhapsody in Blue stands as the high-water mark of what is possible to achieve on a G/D slip-slide single piston Baritone. More recently he recorded, on that very horn, a full album of classic melodies, dedicating it to his daughter, Erin, herself an accomplished symphonic French Hornist. 

John Simpson’s mastery of his chosen instrument will likely never be equaled. He was the gold standard. 

The torch of his teaching wisdom is henceforth passed to his colleagues and countless fortunate students, and that legacy will last a long, long time. 

Come celebrate the induction of 15 new Hall of Famers on Dec. 6th. Check their bios by clicking on their photos and find Banquet, hotel reservation and Yearbook ad details here:  https://www.wdchof.org/induction-ceremony-and-banquet/

Be a part of honoring those who make Drum Corps history by conversing with them in person and in real time at the social event of the year. It’s the real deal.

DIRECT LINK:  https://www.tapspace.com/books-education/sticks-on-fire

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