Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps

Origins (1930–1945) The origins of the Hawthorne Caballeros date back to the 1930s with the St. George Cadets, a junior corps based in Paterson, New Jersey. 1956 The Caballeros placed second in the National Dream Contest. The corps’ final standing at the American Legion National Championship is not available. During this period, Richard Blake’s Fleetwood Records in Revere, Massachusetts featured the Caballeros on multiple albums. Their 1958 album "Off the Line", which prominently featured the corps, became Fleetwood’s best-selling record. The corps also performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year, the Caballeros also became the first senior drum corps to establish weekend training camps, holding intense pre-season sessions at locations such as Fort Dix, New Jersey and West Point, New York. Placement at the American Legion National Championship for this year is not recorded. 1971 The Caballeros placed second in the DCA Championships. 1982 The corps placed fourth at the DCA Championships. In 1994, the corps placed second at the DCA Championships and established the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. 2003 - DCA World Championship Title In 2003, the Caballeros won the DCA World Championship, earning their ninth DCA title. 2004–2009 In 2004 and 2006, the corps placed fourth at the DCA Championships. They finished seventh in 2005 and second in 2007. The Caballeros did not field a competitive corps in 2008. In 2009, the corps returned to competition and placed fifth at the DCA Finals. The 2010s 2010–2014 In 2010 and 2011, the Caballeros placed fifth at the DCA Championships. They finished third in both 2012 and 2014, and earned a second-place finish in 2013. 2015 In 2015, the corps placed fourth at the DCA Championship Finals. This season also marked a historic visual change, as the Caballeros updated their traditional white satin shirts and kick-pleated pants to a new black, white, and red uniform—the first major uniform redesign in the corps’ history. 2016–2020 In 2016 and 2017, the Caballeros placed fourth at the DCA Championships. They finished sixth in 2018 and returned to a third-place finish in 2019. The 2020s 2021 - DCA World Championship Title In their 75th anniversary season, the Hawthorne Caballeros achieved an undefeated season and won their tenth DCA World Championship title. 2022–2023 In 2022 and 2023, the corps placed second at the DCA Championship Finals. Drum Corps International (DCI) All-Age World Class (2024-Present) 2024–2025 In 2024, following the newly formed partnership between Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA), the Hawthorne Caballeros joined the DCI All-Age Class. That year, the corps performed at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the first-ever DCI All-Age Championships, placing second with a score of 93.825. In 2025, the Caballeros again placed second at the DCI All-Age Championships, earning a score of 95.775. == Other corps ==

The Hawthorne Muchachos Drum and Bugle Corps (1959–1977) The Hawthorne Muchachos were formed in 1959 under the leadership of Caballeros drum major Ralph Silverbrand. The corps was created primarily to introduce younger performers from Hawthorne, New Jersey and the surrounding communities to drum corps activity, while also establishing a developmental pipeline for the senior Caballeros; members would “graduate” into the Caballeros after turning twenty-two and aging out of junior competition. The Muchachos wore uniforms closely modeled after those of the senior corps, with only minor trim variations, and shared instructional staff and rehearsal facilities with the Caballeros. In their first two competitive seasons, the Muchachos achieved undefeated records in local entry-level circuits. In 1961, they advanced into national competition, joining the junior circuit that would later become part of Drum Corps International (DCI). With a high score of fourth place in 1974, the corps competed in the DCI circuit until 1975, when the corps was disqualified from further competition within the DCI circuit for marching with overage members. The corps continued to be active until 1977 when the corps disbanded due to financial difficulties and declining membership. Years later, an alumni-led organization revived the Muchachos name with a smaller ensemble based in Manchester, New Hampshire. This group continued performing until announcing its “retirement” from DCI after the 2023 season. Beginning in 2024, the ensemble shifted its focus to legacy preservation and limited performances, with plans to explore a new direction for the future. The Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps (1994–present) The Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps was established in 1994 by a group of former members of the Hawthorne Caballeros. Designed as a non-competitive ensemble, the alumni corps performs exclusively in exhibitions, parades, and special events. The group marches in the original Hawthorne Caballeros uniform and performs on traditional G bugles. The musical program is arranged by Frank Pisillo, a former Caballeros member and horn instructor, who also leads the horn line with assistance from Jim D'Amico. The drum line is arranged and instructed by longtime snare drummers and adjudicators Bobby Peterson and Dan Raymond. The ensemble includes approximately one hundred performers representing multiple states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Delaware, Virginia, Florida, and California. Membership spans five decades of Caballeros history and has included four members of the original 1946 corps: Joe Scarber, George Hayek, Joe Doran, and founder of the Hawthorne Caballeros James J. Costello Jr. == Culture ==

Attitude Toward Women In 1968, the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps became the first Drum Corps Associates (DCA) corps to incorporate women into their ranks. Although initially seen as a notable departure from tradition, most other senior corps followed suit shortly thereafter. By the early 1970s, nearly all senior corps had adopted coeducational membership policies; however, the Hawthorne Caballeros and the New York Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps continued to admit only men, maintaining long-standing traditions within their organizations. Beginning in 2019, the corps began modifying their uniforms annually to reflect each show’s theme, aligning with contemporary trends in modern drum corps performance. == Show Summary (1951–present) ==

Source: • 1947-1980: American Legion National Championships (AL) • 1966-2023: Drum Corps Associates (DCA) • 2024-present: Drum Corps International (DCI) ==References==