2002 - 2003

• Unusual Request of the year: Jackson Jaguar Band to perform in a "horror film" in Philadelphia

• Largest Band in Jackson's History: 153 members

• Performed at the NFL Championship Game for Jets vs. the Colts...Jets won 41-0

• Do you know our band wore tuxedos for the Bond show? and Mr. McCormick picked some overcoats at Englishtown auction to wear in the rain?

• Do you know the Jackson Band performed in 4 Marching Band circuits: USSBA, Cavalcade of Bands, EMBA, and TOB and were asked to participate in 2 others?

• Did you know that the Warm-up the Band played for the Bond show was: Austin Powers - Goldmember which was a spoof of all the James Bond movies

• Did you know, that our equipment crew used 3 vehicles to haul all the equipment onto the field, and that we are now taking 2 equipment buses wherever we go.

• Did you know, that our arrangements of this years show From Jackson with Love, were based upon the Cincinnati Orchestra arrangements which can be found on a CD called Bond and Beyond?

• Do you know the last time our Jaguar Band marched 3 drum majors? The year was 1983?

• Did you know we made a shape of a James Bond pistol in the show, as well as a 007 at the conclusion?

• Did you know that our band this year has been contacted by a Education Film company from Valley Forge that wanted us to appear in a film about the History of the Liberty Bell?

• Did you know our band has sent a CD to the David Letterman show as per their request?

• Did you know that this years trip to Williamsburg will mark the bands 3rd appearance 19 years to this festival? Both times the Band has come home - 1st place

• Drum Major Rich Risden and Guard Captain Stephanie Roberts tied the knot this year. This marks band couple #4 that have married. Congratulations

• At the Spring Concert 2003, Alumnus Leigh Auer 1999, Alumnus Jenn Weiss-2000 and Alumnus Beth Vaughn-1995 all came back and joined our senior class piccolos on the stage for "Stars and Stripes Forever"

• First Time at a Concert that the Band featured a: Jaw Harp, Wooden Flute, Kazoo and a pair of drum sticks in a quartet. Featured members: Joe Yanis, Sean Favre, Dominic Davino and Russell Garner.

2001-2002

• Biggest improvement in Jackson History 2001-02 68.60 to 95.10. ( 25.50 Point increase)

• Unusual Request: Grand Opening of Shoprite.

• Largest band in Jackson's History.  120 members.

• Performed at Brookdale College WWII Studies Program 2001-02

• Do you know that our Tuba section is using real parachutes to start our show?

• Did you know that our Percussion ensemble was just awarded the Grand Sweepstakes award for a perfect score in competition?

• Did you know that the Jacob Javits Center called us to see if we could perform for the Opening of Fashion Week in NYC?

• Did you know our band is wearing authentic Army uniforms and gear for this years show, including Army helmets?

• Did you know our trumpet section carried official ARMY Canteen Holders to hold their mutes for the Opener of the Show?

• Did you know that during our air raid section of the Fall of Saigon, our pit section performed on real army gas cans that had all different pitches?

• Did you know that we had at least 10 parents behind all the "Dougies" at all time, to prevent them from blowing over?

• Did you know, that the band scored 90 or higher, 6 times this year?

• Did you know, that this year, our band scored their highest scores ever in 3 different marching band circuits?

• Did you know, that the band was asked to perform for the American League playoffs and World Series, but could not due to this years tragic events? This is the 2nd time that we DID NOT attend, and each time we did NOT, the Yankees lost the series.

• Did you know, that the percussion and color guard sections wore real Vietnamese costumes, that were purchased in Chinatown NYC just prior to September 11th?

• Did you know, that our masks in "Morning of the Dragon" were called "Dragon Masks" and the equipment that the color guard used in this tune were actually called, "Dragon Tails."
  

2000-2001

• The NJ Devils contacted the Band. If they had won the Stanley Cup, the Band was requested to perform in Lincoln Park, City of Newark for a short parade and award ceremony. They also requested for the band to learn: "Running with the Devil" by Van Halen

• The front office of the Giants Football Team called our band up specifically to tell us "DON'T PLAY ROCKY" at the playoff game vs Philadelphia Eagles .

• Band marched with 5 Tubas (one could even do the Russian Dance with the Tuba on his shoulder)

• Tri-M Music Honor Society was established. Annemieke Rice is our 1st President

• We had a Drum major that when she got mad used to yell: "Stop Noodling!"

• Our Percussion Ensemble played their piece: Da Ga Boom Boom on Garbage Pails and Buckets.

• Do you know that our Band was asked to perform Opening Night of 42nd Street? They also asked for tap dancers. This ought to be a real experience.

• Do you know that our Band will be performing at Jacobs Field in Cleveland in May? A few of our Alumni will be meeting us at the game who now live in Ohio.

• Do you know our Band won the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC over basically 200 bands? How many football seasons would that take to beat that many teams? WOW!

• After the Korean War Memorial Dedication this was the first time our Band has ever had lunched supplied to us by a casino (Bally's treated the entire Band for lunch)

• Do you know our band was asked to perform in a Jaguar Car Commercial?

• Did you know our band was asked by the IBM Corporation to perform for them at Radio City Music Hall this year?

• Did you know almost ALL of the Jackson Jaguar Band staff are alumni of the Band?

• Did you know our band had a Jackson Jaguar Band week this year, proclaimed by the Jackson Township Committee for excellence?

• Did you know that this is the 3rd TICKER TAPE Parade that our Jackson Jaguar Band has performed in?

• Do you know that our Band uses 2 complete sets of drums at Football Games? One set for the halftime show and one set to bang on during  the game.

• Did you know that that our band had split sessions this year and freshmen and sophomores had to go to school from 12-5:30 then band form 6-9pm (What dedication!)

• Do you know that Brian Majoros is a snare drummer for the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps?

• Did you know our Band was 1 of 2 bands considered to represent the State of New Jersey in this years Presidential Inaugural Parade

1999-2000

Previous Years

• 1998 Band marches 117 members, our most ever. In 2000 we marched 114.

• In 1997, 1998, 1999, & 2000 we have had students in All-Shore Band...Prior to 1997 Ocean County Bands were not eligible in High School, only Jr. HS....7 students made the ALL-SHORE BAND in 1997.

• ...up till last year's Giants and World Series Games, our BAND was a good luck charm to the Yankees, Jets Phillies, and Giants. In a 17 year history, we had NEVER lost a game. (Giants lost to the Bills after we left at halftime and got stuck in the parking lot for 2 hours, and the Braves scalped the Yankees.)

• We had a guitar player in the Band in 1983 who went on to perform as lead guitar player for Ozzy Osbourne for about 6-7 years. His name is Zakk Wylde...In school he played the Star Spangled Banner with his teeth. Zakk was a member of the Concert Band, Jazz Band and Music Theory Class and won Best Senior Musician. (Mr. Bud still remembers going to the Ozzy concert in Philadelphia to see Zakk and Megadeth...Zakk sent Mr. Bud and his wife back stage passes)

• In 1988, we had a Color Guard drive for more members. We marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC with 34 flags, (our largest guard ever). They all wore sweatpants and sweatshirts. It was also the year we went to Hawaii. The following year our guard shrunk to 16 members...Hmnnnnn...

• Governor Christie Todd Whitman sent the Jackson Band a proclamation on March 10, 1994 for Commendation and Recognition.

• We had a Captain of the football team, starting running back, who would leave right from the games and march with his trumpet at competitions. He later played football at Rutgers. Julius was better at Football then on his trumpet.

• We had an equipment cart in 1987 called the "Tweety Mobile" that was nicknamed after our bass drum player #3 who made it...It was 3 stories high made out of PVC pipe. Tweety is now a police officer for the Jackson Police Dept.

• The old band room was in the weight room by the memorial cafeteria. We had our concerts in the Memorial Cafeteria.

• At a show in Rising Sun, Maryland, our Band who usually comes down the 50 yard line to line up, came down the 40. We had to move the entire Band over 10 yards to the right, after warm up. We had a bus accident with a car on the same day. WHAT A DAY! That was the last time we went to Maryland...

• Our Band used to play Brick Memorial in Tackle football and JACKSON ALWAYS WON...

• At a jazz Band Concert, the entire band walked off the stage as the drummer was playing. The drummer continued by himself for 5-10 minutes with no one else on stage. That drummer was BRIAN MAJOROS.

• We had a bus accident on the way home from the Yankee game 2 years ago. The car pulled into the side of the bus, wrecked his car terribly, and drove off. Talk about a HIT and RUN from the Yankee Game.

• We had a male in the marching band color guard. He played a soldier in the "Miss Saigon" show, as well as an instrument to resemble 100's of soldiers marching. Dan is now a teacher at the High School.

• In 1990 at the Chapter X Championships, our Color Guard won their first Best Color Championships. Our Guard scored higher than approximately 12-13 in competition. The work was designed by Krista Lombardi.

• Did you know that Tom Brown, one of our past drum instructors, played on the USC Football Team when they won the National College Football title. He played with players such as Marcus Allen and Ronnie Lott.

• Mr. McCormick is in the Drum Corps Encyclopedia for being the first person in the history of Drum and Bugle Corps to win a DCI and DCA title. He won the DCI in 1974 with Santa Clara Vanguard and in 1980 with the Reading Buccaneers.

• We had a student whose pants fell off during the Middletown North Football Game Pregame and the same thing happened to a student 6 years earlier at a home game. Poor Kirk and Tonia.

• The guard going out to breakfast before the homecoming game was started in 1984 by Pricella Lyons who was the Color Guard Instructor in 1984.

• Our concert band has competed in 2 concert competitions, both at Red Bank Regional and has won Best Overall Band both times.

• We had a student who caught the mace with his teeth. The trumpet player decided to grab the Drum Major's mace in 1989 at the Williams show in south Jersey, and throw it in the air. Unfortunately, he never caught it with his hands and had his teeth knocked out prior to going on the field. Poor Vinnie.

• We had a drum major carried around on the field by the percussion section in our Russian music Show. The drum line was dressed up as Monks and carried Melissa Hamilton around the field. It really created a suspense filled number...

• We have had at least 1 set of twins in the band in the past 16 years. YEAR 2000...NO TWINS

• Tyler is one of the only people to ever march 5 years in the Band...During the clown show, he made and appearance.

• The original Jackson Jaguar Band uniform had hats made of straw and suit jackets and ties. Mr. McCormick changed to the Santa Clara look his first year here in 1983.

• Our Band is presently being shown on TV for the Levitz furniture commercials. The Band was filmed during a NY Yankee Ticker Tape Parade.

• Last year, our Band was asked to appear in a Mercedes Benz commercial in New York.

• Our Band played inside the lobby of Radio City Music Hall for Dolly Parton.

• In 1988, our Jackson Band made the Washington Redskins get off of the Giants Stadium field so we could practice...Joe Gibbs the coach was so impressed when he heard us that he came over and told us...

• The Band played at the halftime show in the National Televised Hula Bowl...Our Band was asked and we rehearsed all day trying to build an American Flag on the 50 yard line of Aloha Stadium, at the right moment we all picked up these red, white, & blue cards, and presto change-o... Jackson went from red & black to RED, WHITE, & BLUE of the American flag.

• Did you know that the Band went to Normandy, France to play at the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. The Band and Woodwind Choir played at a Horse Show for all the dignitaries of France. ew-lala!

• Did you know the Band couple #2 that go married?  Anthony Caporaso and Sarah Parker

• Did you know the original Jackson Band Uniform had hats made of straw and suit jackets and ties...Mr. McCormick changed to the Santa Clara look his first year here in 1983

• Did you know Mrs. Shirley Schwartz and Mr. Joe Gabrielski used to be Color Guard Advisors for the Band. Mr. Gabe also used to write the drills.

• Did you know that our first Guard Advisor and Instructor for the Band in the very early 80's were:  Mrs. Margeret Velardo and Mrs. Shirley Schwartz.

• Did you know the Band has had a live band at a Band Party two times...The first time was in 1986 at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Chris Stefan, AJ and Ken Perry and company performed at a full house dance while we were at Band Camp. (Band Camp at East Stroudsburg? Yes, the students used to pay $158.00 to go to Band Camp)

• Do you know we have had an ex-Band Parent President win the Million Dollar Lottery? Mrs. Nepsha (one of the first presidents) won, I think in 1989.

• Did you know our first equipment bus was painted by students. (Brushes)

• Did you know our first equipment bus we used it as a podium as well as a grinder at camp...I can still hear Mr. Smerillo grinding into all 5 gears on our 4-speed bus.

• Did you know that Mr. Zimmerman actually shot a real cannon with real gunpowder and shells during the Battle Scene in the Civil War Show. You talk about a loud effect...

• Did you know that when we performed our Clown Show, we hired an actual clown to come to school and show us how to put on clown makeup.

• Did you know that our band performed at the re-opening of the Freehold Racetrack. We performed in front of the stands adjacent to the track. We were then invited upstairs inside for refreshments. We all were able to watch the races...very educational experience.

• Did you know when we performed "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1992 our Drum Major started a selection - "To Life" by counting 1, 2, 3 in Hebrew. We also completed the show with everyone in the band and guard starting the bottle dance, buy with the guard finishing it across the entire front side of the field.

• Did you know that Mr. Smerillo competed directly against all 3 or his children. Chris was the Drum Major of the Brick Band, Ryan was a trombone soloist, and Meghan was a percussionist.

• Did you know that Mr. McCormick arranged "Sabbath Prayer" for Nazareth HS, Pennsylvania. They happened to come in 2nd and beat us that year. Another year East Stroudsburg HS of Group 4 Open Class contacted him to write their show of the "Blues Brothers" but he turned it down. He spent his time on "West Side Story" for our Band instead.

• Do you know that Mr. Bud judges Concert Bands, Jazz Bands and Choirs in the months of April and May on weekends for "Music Showcases" out at Great Adventure...You will generally see him passing out trophies on the bandstand at 6pm in the evenings.

• Here are some staff members that have marched in Drum and Bugle Corps: Mr. McCormick - Santa Clara Vanguard & Reading Buccaneers, Mr. Majoros - Crossmen & Caballeros, Tom Brown - Blessed Sacrament & Santa Clara Vanguard, Travis Estler - Caballeros also marched in The Cadets of Bergen County for 2 years ('98-99) and has been writing work for them since , and Dana Barbour - Caballeros, and Mike Durborow - Muchachos & Caballeros.. Stephanie Hrank was on guard staff (2000-01 and 2004-05 seasons) for Jackson and she marched The Cadets in '99 and 2000.  

• Remember when we rode the Tweety Mobile (our equipment cart) like a surfboard down the hills at our East Stroudsburg Band Camp and crashed it into the wall?(1985)

• Did you know that Rennie and Rachel Tidwell are getting married? (both clarinet players)

• Do you remember the constant "El Guapo" graffitti all over the band room (1987-88..Frank Adams, Glen Greenlow, Josh Newman, Sal Lena, Brian Leff)

• Or when Jay Oyler and Vicki Isacksen had to hula dance on stage at the Hawaiin luau?(1989)

• Band Members Sharon Salerno and Donald West got married...

• Courtney Hrank was captain of Jackson's guard in 1999 and 2000, but began marched with the Cadets from 1998 to 2003. She was captain of the Cadets in 2003 and she was a dance soloist at Cadets in 2000 (at only age 17!). In the year 2000, there were 5 Jackson alums who were a part of the Cadet organization: Travis Estler (choreographer), Angela Boettcher, Anthony Tanasy, Stephanie Hrank, Courtney Hrank (colorguard members). They referred to themselves as the "Jackson 5." Angela Boettcher and Anthony Tanasy have both also taught Jackson colorguards - and they've both marched in Caballeros.

• A Jaguar Band member -- yes, from the days of the straw hats and red coats -- has sung the National Anthem himself at five different stadiums at a large number of major league baseball games. That would be Bob Sutton, Class of 1969. That's the same Bob Sutton who wrote the Jackson alma mater in 1968.

BAND RECORDS

• First person to break a nose at the softball game:  Jack Arney

• Biggest Improvement of the Jackson Band History:  15.85 points better

• First male to march in guard:  Anthony Tanasy - Triton Game

• First student to receive pie in face:  Chuck Weber from Bob Helle

• First teacher to receive pie in face:  Mr. Smerillo from Anna Davis

• Best Knockout Award:  Jeremy Holroyd to Teresa Smiles in the annual Band softball game

• Muddiest Performance:  1988 Allentown, Pennsylvania at the ACC's. Who could tell our white pants on the guard after the performance

• Wettest Performance:  Wall Township "Clown Show". Ask Al Birch how slippery it was

• Coldest Performance:  St. Patrick's Day Parade in Belmar. Wind Chills reached 20 below zero

• Hottest Performance:  Memorial Day 1990. This performance changed our look permanently to shorts & t-shirts...102 degrees 7-8 students passed out

• Fastest Performance:  1984 Middletown South AWAY...After performing our "Parada De Sol - Opener" as we ended in the company front - a LOUD crack of LIGHTNING STRUCK...The Band without hesitation ran off the field and right up into the busses...in 10 seconds

• Loudest Mistake:  2 Way Tie:  Robert Liedtka on Baritone "Slaughter on 10th Ave" Show...Rachel Snyder on Cymbals "Gettysburg" at the Piscataway Regional Show

• Farthest the Band has gone for a Competition:  School Busses - Rising Sun - Maryland 1986  *  Charter Busses - Scranton, PA - 1990 & 2000

UNUSUAL SPECIAL REQUESTS

• A Sweet 16 Birthday Party for a girl we did not know, and for parents we did not know. They also wanted 3 selections, including "When You're 16 Going on 17". The special request came 1 week prior to our Spring Concert

• Did you know we had a girl in the band that was married prior to our trip to the Hula Bowl. Do you know she asked Mr. Bygott (our Principal) if she could bring her husband on the trip, and let them sleep together, as if it was to be their honeymoon? The School decided at that point, only blood relatives could take band trips with students.

• To Perform at the Ocean County College Graduation Ceremonies in place of their band

• To Learn "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" for the Oprah Winfrey Show

• To Perform at the 25th Class Reunion of Princeton University - 2000/2001

• To Perform at a Turkish Church in NYC (during a ceremony) - 2000/2001

• To Perform at Ellis Island for Opening Ceremonies

• To Perform at the Santa Claus Parade in a town - 2 hours north of here

• To Perform with a Scottish Bag pipe Band in Red Bank

• To Perform at the World Cup Soccer Tournament in Giants Stadium.. (carry flags from All-Countries, but not see any of the game)

• The Band actually did this one...In 1987 the band was asked to perform at Great Adventure to open the new and exciting ride: "The Space Shuttle" Drum Major Melissa Hamilton and Mr. McCormick were actually the very first people to ride this new and exciting ride...As soon as the ribbon was cut, the Ride swung into action...and the band played on...

• Web Craft company of North Brunswick invited us to perform at their company picnic - 2000/2001

• Fort Monmouth invited us perform at the Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of the Bulge - 2000/2001

• The Bergenfield Elks Club has asked us to perform in the Month of July at the Elks Convention-Philadelphia, PA

• To Perform at a Beer Blast - Lacey Township Block Party - 2000/2001

• To Perform the National Anthem for Girls Softball Game - under the lights - 2000/2001

• Got invited to perform at a Wedding - 2000/2001

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

• Performed at Normandy, France *50th Anniversary of D-Day Invasion - 1994-95

• Performed at Honolulu, Hawaii *Pre-game & Halftime - Hula Bowl Game - 1989-90

• Performed at Washington DC *500th Discovery of America Celebration - 1992-93

• Performed at Opening Day - Philadelphia Phillies - 1987-88

• Performed at Virginia Band Festival - Espirit De Corps Award - 1990-91

• Performed at NYC Ticker Tape Parade *(3 times)

• Performed at Radio City Music Hall *Dolly Parton Welcome to NYC - 1993-94

• Performed at Neil Simon Theatre *Opening of "Music Man" on Broadway - 1999-2000

• Performed at World Series Baseball Games *(3 times)

• Performed at American League Championship Games *(4 times) - 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01

• Performed at Opening Day - NY Yankees *(4 times) - 1986-87, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97

• Performed at Jets vs Giants preseason Game - 1999-00

• Performed at Jets vs Buffalo Bills - Halftime and pre-game

• Performed at Jets vs Seattle Seahawks - Halftime and pre-game - 1987-88

• Performed at Giants Monday Night Football Game of the Week vs Redskins - 1988-89

• Performed at St. Patrick's Day Parade - NYC *(twice) - 1988-89, 2000-01

• Performed at NJMEA - All State Honor Band Participant *(5 times selected)

• Performed in Toronto, Canada - Niagra Falls Band Festival (Superior Rankings) - 1998-99

• Performed in Williamsburg, Virginia (Superior Rankings) - 1997-98

• Honored by Christine Todd Whitman and State senate for achieving excellence

• Performed at Giants vs Eagles Division Championship - Halftime and pre-game - 2000-01

• Performed at Ford Theatre *Opening of "42nd Street" on Broadway - 2000-01

• Performed in Sandusky, Ohio - Music Showcase Festival (Superior Rankings) - 2000-01