Mighty Liberators Drum and Bugles Corps

The Mighty Liberators on the Steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC with U.S. Congressman Frank Horton in 1976.

The Mighty Liberators Drum and Bugle Corps drum and bugle corps burst onto the "Class A" (one step below the most elite "Open Class") scene of the late 70s.

Based in Rochester, New York, the group rose from the remnants of a local parade team of bugles and drums called Scott's Sabers, which was founded and led for decades by Lewis A Scott ("Scotty"). When the Scott's Sabers disbanded due to lack of funding, the late Mr. Emmett Porter stepped forward. Emmett had always credited the Sabers with turning his life around. When he grew into a successful adult, Emmett had become a leader in a federally-funded anti-poverty program called Action for a Better Community (CLICK HERE to read the 2004 annual report, including a timeline of Liberators accomplishments. The Mighty Liberators was born in 1972 as a youth program within ABC to keep kids off the streets and prepare them for a successful adult life.

Starting with little, the Mighty Liberators grew with support from parents, families, and organizations all over the Rochester area. The corps acquired new bugles (soprano, baritone, bass, and flugel), percussion, tailor-made uniforms, luxury touring buses, and eventually a building of its own to practice in. Some of the best instructors in the Rochester area wrote music scores, created choreography, and taught instrumental skills.

Unfortunately, in 1982, the corps disbanded due to ABC program cutbacks.

REBIRTH: In 2006, a group of Liberators alumni gathered together and started new. Beginning with a color guard, the Mighty Liberators have begun their second generation. See the following article for more information.

The Mighty Liberators on summer tour in 1975.

The Mighty Liberators competing at the World Open during 1977 summer tour.

Competitive shows

Soon after forming, the Liberators began touring the northeast during the summer vacation season to perform in shows, performance competitions, exhibitions, and parades. In June 1977, the Liberators won the Rochester Tournament of Drums competition, beating other prestigious corps. By the time of the summer tour of 1977, the Liberators had become proficient enough that during their annual summer tour they traveled to the far west to compete in places like Ohio, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The summer culminated with a spot in the Drum Corps International (DCI) competition held in Boulder, Colorado.

The Mighty Liberators competing at the World Open during 1977 summer tour.

On a hot summer night of August 17, 1977, high in the Rocky Mountains, the Mighty Liberators defied the odds by placing 6th in the finals. By reaching the finals, this group of kids had already beaten nearly every other corps in their class.

Click here to listen to recording of Liberators 1977 DCI performance

Dallas Lee and the corps in a night time performance.

1977 DCI Finals Scores Class A

1. Bengal Lancers 74.20
2. Renaissance 71.05
3. Sky Ryders 66.35
4. Imperial Regiment 65.40
5. Northern Aurora 63.55
6. Mighty Liberators 59.65
7. Black Watch 54.40

DCI Championships Repertoire

1. "Firebird / Journey to the Center of the Earth"
2. "Chico and the Man"
3. "Land of Make Believe", Chuck Mangione
4. "African Symphony"
5. "You are the Sunshine of my Life", Stevie Wonder

Alumni Roll Call

Staff and volunteers

Administrative Staff

• Director
  • Emmett Porter, RIP (2010)
• Assistant Director
  • David (Corky)Singleton
• Emeritus Director of the Scott's Sabres (precursor to the Mighty Liberators)
  • Lewis ("Scotty")Scott
• Artistic Director
  • Peter L. Bibby
• Secretary
  • Shirley Taggart
• Equipment Managers
  • Roy Jones
  • Ed Washington
  • Lewis Scott, RIP
  • Charles (Slim)Hamer

Instructors and Staff

• M&M and Field Designer
• TIFFANY SHAUNA AND TAMINKA
  • Fred Gebhardt
• M&M and Color Guard
  • Mike Linton
  • Willie Roberts
• Color Guard
  • Willie Moss
  • Michael Williams
• Musical Arrangers
  • David Martin
  • Ed Cosolino
• Horns
  • David Martin
  • Bruce Lee
  • John McFadden
  • Nate Rawls
  • Dick Bargy
  • Donny Allen
• Percussion Arrangers
  • Thomas Conti
  • Bill McGrath
  • J.W. Walton
  • Michael Powell
  • Dick O'Conner
  • Michael Williams
  • Rick Rogers
• Volunteers:
• Bus Drivers
  • Lewis Scott
  • John Van Horn
  • Richard Byrd, RIP
  • Fred Nash
  • Eddie Flowers
  • Chester Latrell
• Chaperones
  • Mrs. Jackie Holmes, RIP
  • Ms. Ina B. Brown
  • Ms. Martha Lewis
  • Ms. King
  • Mrs. Fannie Washington
  • Mr. Ollin W. Brown
  • Ms. Gertrude Talley
  • Mr. Sam

Drum majors

• Johnathon Scott
• Murray King

Horns

Soprano

• Pat Lathrop
• Kirk Holmes
• Teddy Thomas
• Harvey Sullivan
• Edgar Rutledge
• David Johnson
• Mike Hoffman
• Kevin Zwetch
• Audie Laurie
• James Johnson
• Ronnie Banks
• Davetta Green

Baritone

• Stacy Holmes
• Ed Washington, III ("Number III"), RIP
• Pete Love
• Jimmy Deuhart
• Donnell
• Terrance Kelso

Robert Santiago

Contrabass

• Orlando Roberson
• Randy Byrd
• Ruie Hannah

Other Horns

• Cynthia Whipple, French Horn
• Nancy Cox, Mellophone, first Soprano (Detroit, Michigan)
• Rorie Trammel, Mellophone
• Dennis Jackson, French Horn
• Tammie
• Crystal
• Yvonne Allen (Mellophone)
• Dorothea Brown (Mellophone)

Drums

Snare

• Michael Holmes
• D. Scott Hampton
• Curtis Kendrick
• Brian Elmdorf
• Doug Young
• David Young
• Alfred Cox
• Peter Lewis
• Eric Jackson

Tri-tom's

• Arthur King
• Dennis McCummings
• Ronnie
• Franklin Lee

Bass Drum

• Anthony Roberson
• Cordell coleman
• Dennis Jackson

Other Percussion

• Dallas Lee, Xylophone
• Christine Flowers
• Ronnie King
• Veronica Wilson, congas, xylophone

Color Guard

CADET -

• Nadine McNeil
• Sheila Hatcher

A GUARD -

• Janice Ivery
• Yvonne Allen
• Harriet Lee
• Janet Ivery
• Nadine Madison
• Michelle Bradford
• Charlene
• Natalene Davis
• Gloria Johnson

Rifles

• Harriet Lee
• Sandra Lathrop
• Ernest Wilson
• Tianna Johnson
• Antonio Cole
• Charles Henry
• Erol Simpson
• Morris Ducette
• Cynt Hill
• Cedric Gaston