Marty's Goldenaires to Play at Lambeau

BESSEMER, MI - Thursday, December 2, 2010 - Marty's Goldenaires All Male Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, familar to many who attend local festivals and parades and call the UP home, will be parading their stuff for the Packers at half-time in their December 5th game against the 49ers.

In what the Packers are calling their "Throwback Game" where they will be wearing Blue & Gold jerseys from the '20's and other specials, Kandi Goltz, Game & Fan Development Manager, Green Bay Packers said: "I was thinking to have some upbeat, swing or big band music with some current favorites mixed in. Is that something you can arrange – or I’m sure you have some ideas on your own. I’m pretty much open to them as long as they are high energy and entertaining for our 72,000 fans."

The details that led to the invitation are such. Bob & Chris (Fiori) McDermott, now living in Green Bay are both Bessemer folks. Chris' father Sars Fiori was a cymbal player in the original Marty's Goldenaires in 1950. McDermott was in the 1976 Bicentennial Corps and played cymbals along with his father-in-law. Growing up in Yale, Bob remembers Marty's being part of summer and recalled the feeling he got going around the city hall and marching down Sophie Street. He thought that it would be something if they were to do something like that at Lambeau Field. He got that idea years ago and kept telling his friends, (in the Packer organization) about Marty's and kept it up for over 10 years until there was a change in the person who makes the choices. That was Kandi. She looked at the DVD that Bob dropped off and liked what she saw.

"I am looking at the December 5th game to have your group perform at halftime for a 6 minute show. It is our Throwbacks game, meaning we are wearing our uniforms from 1929" (the blue and gold jerseys). That's when Bob put her in direct contact with The Corps. There was more in the letter, but that many people in one place warmed the collective "blood" of the members to a sort of pre 4th of July excitement. And that was the start. All forms of communication were ablaze. Status' changes on Facebook, instant messages and I think there was even a phone call.

Dan Pitrone, long time Musical Director started planning. Pitrone, a graduate of NMU, was familiar with the half-time program at Lambeau Field from the Wildcat Marching Band. His wife Marjean told me "it was like when he was just out of college, marching around the house singing and counting." He's put together a routine that timed in at 6 min. 03 seconds. The Guys have been honing it down over the last couple of weeks, with the exception of hunting season. We will have a video of the show available in the future.

Among the many events this past summer some were in the UP with Bridgefest in Houghton/Hancock and on the Forth of July, 3 parades in Gogebic County and a concert at Massie Field in Bessemer prior to the fireworks, Bessemer Blast and what, up to now what's been the largest crowd ever. Menominee, Michigans' Waterfront to Northern Minnesota for Harborfest in Two Harbors where the Goldenaires hold the Key to the City and Hayward in Northern Wisconsin for the Famous Muskeyfest. In all the corps had 29 outings.

This past season was highlighted by the American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee and few years ago Marty's traveled to Nashville for the Legion. For next summer these "local" festivals are probable and a trip to the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis.

Membership is open to men 16 and older with rehearsals starting in March.

For info contact Scott 906-932-0796 http://www.martysgoldenaires.org/.