About The Connecticut Hurricanes

Who are the Hurricanes?

The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps is an All-Age Drum Corps performance organization based in Seymour, CT. The Corps prides itself in being the only World Class All-Age Drum Corps in New England, and draws its members from throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, as well as New York State and the New York City metro area.

Founded in Derby, Connecticut in 1932 as the John H. Collins American Legion Post Fife Drum & Bugle Corps, the Hurricanes transformed to the competitive arena in 1955 as a drum & bugle corps and became a charter member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) in 1963. They reign as the oldest, continually active organization in the DCA.

The Hurricanes have won every major championship title in All-Age drum corps storied history, including three DCA World Championship titles. The Corps prides itself in being one of the most cutting-edge and entertaining groups in our activity. Year after year, the Corps performs with excellence and precision that consistently keep us in the forefront and upper echelon of the Drum Corps activity.

Identity

There are several features of the Connecticut Hurricane’s identity that have evolved over their many years in existence. The most prominent identity feature being, of course, the name itself. The name was derived in the wake of two powerful Hurricanes that struck Connecticut within a period of six days. In August of 1955, Hurricanes Connie & Diane devastated the eastern seaboard as well as Connecticut’s lower Naugatuck Valley, home to the Corps. The Corps, known as the John H Collins Post Drum & Bugle Corps, was inspired to change their name in the wake of these storms and did so soon after. 

 A new logo was developed to compliment the new name, as well as the uniform from time to time. The logo is simple….a white shield, outlined in black with Hurricane Warning flags prominent in the field of white, diagonally crossed by a green lightning bolt. Interestingly, the Hurricane warning flags have always been mistakenly been called “Storm Warning flags”. To be clear, a Storm Warning flag is a single red banner with a black square in the middle, however, the Hurricane Warning consists of two of these banners. Which ever, the saying that “The Storm Warning flags are flying in Connecticut” is one phrase that makes every fan of the Hurricanes smile!  

The original logo remains as the official logo of the Corps, however, beginning in 2012 a fresh new logo was designed and adopted to compliment the modern look of the Corps! The design is crisp, as it incorporates several aspects of the traditional identity and is meant to reflect the contemporary and progressive path of the modern day Hurricanes!    

The by-laws of the Corps mandate but four markers that must be maintained. The first is that a lightning bolt will always be present as part of the formal uniform. The second defines the Corps colors as green, black, and white. A specific shade of green is not defined, and in fact, the Corps has worn several different greens ranging from Lime green, to Hunter, and Kelly, to the currant Vivid green which has graced the uniform beginning in 2007. Number three mandates that the theme from the Magnificent Seven will always be maintained, be it for parades, retreat, or as part of the show. “Mag 7,” as it is known, was first played by the Corps in 1963 and has since become the signature tune of the Hurricanes. The fourth feature decrees that either “Downfall of Paris” or the beat that’s come to be known as the “Horsewalk” will be the marching beats employed by the Corps. “Downfall of Paris” dates to colonial times and was first arranged for the Corps in the late sixties by Hurc HoF’er John Bodnar as a street beat. The “Horsewalk” beat was originally part of the 1969 show, used as the percussion lead into the haunting theme, “Hang em’ High.”

The final physical characteristic of the Hurricanes would be the hat. One hat associated with the Hurricanes is a black military/police style hat, crowned with a custom made medallion shaped in the likeness of the icon used to depict the tracking of Hurricanes and tropical storms on meteorological maps. The Corps has worn this hat for approximately half of the time, opting instead, periodically, for the look of the Shako. Beginning in 2012 the Hurricanes will once again wear a Shako to complete their current uniform.  

On a historic note, the Hurricanes of the 50’s & 60’s relied on weather related tunes to highlight their identity in conjunction with the name, lightning bolt, flags, etc. Such songs included; Rain, Blue Skies, Stormy Weather, Foggy Day in London Town, They Call the Wind Mariah, Don’t Rain on My Parade, and of course Tropical Heat Wave, among others. Mariah is the song chosen as the melody for the Hurricanes Corps song!

The Hurricanes are highly recognizable throughout the world of drum corps by their unique identity as well as by their accomplishments over a storied career. Locally, there are few people from Connecticut who have not heard of or seen the Hurricanes. They have been introduced as “Connecticut’s Own”, the “Thunder from the Valley”, and as the “Pride of Connecticut.” It’s not unusual at parades in Connecticut, when the flags are spotted in the distance, or a flash of green can be made out, or the strains of “Mag 7” resonate in the air, that the crowds stir with restless anticipation, alerting each other with a smile…Here come the Hurricanes!...here come the Hurricanes!

The Quick Hits: