Snare	1974 - 1981 , 1983

I joined Sun in '74 with Jim Lagudi (The Burger Meister) and Dave Eisenhardt at 16 years old. We joined on a Friday night and on Saturday night we were the new tymp line faking tympani parts on stage at the "Evening with the Corps". I moved to snare and played there from 74 to 83 with 82 off after tying the not.

Even after 20 years since I marched, I still experience the memories and camaraderie of those special years I had with Sun. Most of the friends I grew up with were in Sun. I'm sure everyone who marched in Sun has special memories. Here are some of mine.

I consider it a privilege and honor that I marched from 74 (a very rough year.... think we had a 59 in finals) into the "Sun Dynasty years" of 76 through 83. There was nothing like being there the first time Sun won the DCA Championships in 1977! The tension, the accomplishments, the hard work, the sweat, the fun, the camaraderie......... then the words "The 1977 DCA World Champions..... The Sunrisers!

I was privileged to hear those same words in 1978 and 1983. Most of all, I give best wishes and honor to my friends in the DCA Percussion Championship Lines from 77,78,79,81,82,83. What a dynasty! What fun! What blood, sweat and tears! What a drum solo in 1983.... roto toms and all! No snare ticks in my last show at 83 Championships. What great fun warming up just before a show with the drums all tuned up, sticks freshly taped. Fans jaws dropped as they walked by and couldn't believe how tight we were! I remember the goose bumps as we started our entrance street beat at the Barnum Festival with 10 snares in 1981! We were so in tune people had to hold their ears! I remember the judge's comments when he said our performance was one of the best he ever experienced junior or senior! I remember the core 6 or 7 snare drummers that stayed together for many years, Larry Visconti, John Hudson, Mike DeLorenzo, Dave China, Roger Donna and others. I remember those awesome North triples and the Bassoprofundo line! I remember one of our competitor corps listening to our percussion line in the winter prior to 1983 saying we sounded August clean in January! I remember the DCA Championship parties at my former home in Allentown, PA.

Thanks for the memories Sun! To you Sun "youngsters", I welcome you to the Sun tradition and class and wish you well. If you have never experienced the excitement like I have, ask some of us "old-timers" to share our memories. I hope you get to share some of the successes that I have and especially the Sun sense of family!

Tina and I have been married 22 years now and have 3 kids. Angela is 15, Michael is 13 and Gabrielle is 6. Since growing up in Long Island when I first joined Sun, I have lived in Merrick, Long Island, Allentown, PA, Pensacola, FL, Baton Rouge, LA, Paducah, KY, Houston, TX and now Daphne, AL (near Mobile). Tina and I love the South needless to say!

I am now a Plant Manager for a chemical company called CYTEC Industries in Mobile, AL. My current hobbies, after my only hobby being drum corps for MANY years are church work and sports cars. Here are a couple photos of my recent hobbies.

Thanks for the memories!!!!!!!!!! Please email and say hello!

    ... Joe Boroden