If Frank Diliberto had followed the advice of his High School dance band teacher and focused his attention on the trumpet he probably would have spent his days on tour with Buddy Rich or jamming with Maynard Ferguson or maybe even picked up a steady gig with Doc and the “Tonight Show” orchestra. But John Sasso and Joe Hanneman rescued him from fame and fortune by introducing him to the Sunrisers.

John Sasso remembers it this way: “The first time Joe and I brought Frank down to a rehearsal he was blown away by the brass.” “Many Professionally trained brass players lack the physical capabilities needed to perform the type of repertoire typical of bugle lines of that era (all those high range selections). This was even more demanding when coupled with the M&M requirements. In that context, Frank was an exception. He adapted real well, so much so that he became our lead soprano soloist.” “Frank was a natural leader. Although his drum corps experience was short, once Sun began to have success recruiting experienced junior corps personnel, he earned their respect, and was a key factor in the early 60’s as Sun developed and progressed competitively. Hell, he even read music!” “Frank was one of those Sunrisers that would always put the corps’ interests ahead of his own. He regularly drove out of his way to fill up his car with members that had no other form of transportation to rehearsals and contests. The management of the corps could always count on him to help in any number of ways.” “Frank was a talented, hardworking, competitive, unselfish, reliable member throughout his tenure with the Sunrisers.”

Billy Hightower’s recollections are much the same.
In addition he remembers Frank as “a good guy with a sense of humor, a very hard worker, conservative, diligent, and loyal.

The guys from the high side of the horn line saw “The Original FD” a little differently. When playing his horn he was fearless and supremely confident . There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t try and very little that he couldn’t master. He was the guy that we all played “in” to and the guy that handled all the bitchy solos that the rest of us couldn’t hack. He was a musical swashbuckler and although, looking at him during a break, you might have mistaken him for Murray, the bookkeeper, when the horns came up everyone knew that he was the King of the Soprano Line. He was (though none of us would admit it at the time) a guy that we all looked up to. And Frank’s generosity wasn’t limited to giving rides to rehearsal. As more and more of Sun’s 1960s show music featured soprano solos, Frank stepped back and gave Sun’s emerging crop of soloists their own moment in the spotlight. A spotlight that he could have, rightly, claimed for himself.

Frank also holds the modern record for “most corps nicknames.” They are, in no particular order of importance, “Cheech,” which he brought with him and is emblazoned on his custom made mouthpiece. “Dribble,” which must be a play on his last name. “Pig pen,” When he first joined the corps, Frank had a job in construction and rather than be late for rehearsal, he often came directly to practice without changing his clothes. “Leper lip,” “Tone, what tone?”

Frank worked the soprano line, played the big solos, managed a family business and a new wife, and never missed a rehearsal, exhibition, parade, or contest. And with due respect to all who made extraordinary contributions to the Sunrisers during the dynamic 60s, when you look for the member that exemplified the Sunriser spirit of “Wail baby, Wail!”, you would find Frank Diliberto. In fact, if such an award existed, Frank Diliberto would have to be named the “Sunriser of the Decade.”

And that’s why he belongs in the Sunrisers Hall of Fame.

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