The Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps based in Hawthorne, New Jersey, sponsored by American Legion Post No. 199. The corps is a member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and Drum Corps International (DCI), competing in the All-Age World Class division.Bishop, P. (2025). 264–269, Hawthorne Caballeros (pp. 264–269). DCX: Drum Corps Xperience. https://www.dcxmuseum.org/assets/264-269,%20Hawthorne%20Caballeros.pdf
The Caballeros have won the DCA World Championship ten times, the American Legion National Title sixteen times, the National Dream Contest seventeen times, and the New Jersey State American Legion Title forty-three times. They have completed five undefeated seasons, including consecutive undefeated seasons in 1984 and 1985, and have placed in the top three at the DCA World Championship thirty-six times in fifty-six appearances.
The corps has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They have appeared for several professional sports organizations, including the New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders. The Caballeros have also performed at the 1953 inaugural parade of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and have performed for Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, the corps has traveled to Havana, Cuba as guests of the United States Department of State and marched in the city’s Mardi Gras parade.
The corps is credited for being the first senior drum corps to establish weekend camps and win a season undefeated.
History
Origins (1930–1945) The origins of the Hawthorne Caballeros date back to the 1930s with the St. George Cadets, a junior corps based in Paterson, New Jersey.
James J. Costello Jr., later the founder of the Caballeros, joined the St. George Cadets as a drummer at age eleven and remained with the corps until joining the United States Navy 1942. Following the end of World War II in 1945, Costello and many other returning servicemen resumed civilian life. Several veterans and former cadets were motivated to continue their involvement in senior drum corps activities.
Founding (1946) James J. Costello Jr., Bob Costello, George Hayek, Joe Scarber, and John McAuliffe—many of whom were former St. George Cadets members and military veterans—founded the organization that would become the Hawthorne Caballeros. The corps was officially established on March 20, 1946, initially under the name Hawthorne Drum and Bugle Corps.
In April 1946, the corps secured sponsorship from American Legion Post No. 199 in Hawthorne, New Jersey, which provided an initial loan of $1,000 to purchase instruments and equipment.
The corps made its first public appearance at a Memorial Day parade in 1946, performing in military-style uniforms.
The American Legion National Championships (1947–1980)
Late 1940s
1947 Early in its development, the organization sought to move away from traditional cadet-style uniforms and music. Following a suggestion from James Costello Sr., the corps adopted a style inspired by the San Gabriel Dons of American Legion Post No. 442. The Dons, who won the American Legion National Championships in 1935 and 1937, were known for their Spanish-style uniforms featuring white satin blouses, red satin sashes, black bell-bottom trousers with red side pleats, and black sombreros. The Hawthorne corps modeled its uniform on this design and adopted the name “Caballeros.”
The Caballeros debuted their trademark uniform in May, 1947. They competed in their first field competition in Trenton, New Jersey on July 20, 1947. Their first appearance at the American Legion National Championships took place on August 29, 1947, at Randalls Island Stadium in New York, where they tied for eighth place.
1948 While the Caballeros placed first at the Legion State Championship at Wildwood, New Jersey, the Caballeros tied for fifth in the Miami American Legion National Championships.
1949 At the 1949 American Legion National Championships in Philadelphia, the Caballeros were eliminated after placing 11th in the preliminary contest. The result was a significant setback for the corps and led to serious consideration of disbanding.
The 1950s
1950 The corps did not attend the American Legion National Championship.
1951 - American Legion National Title In 1951, the Caballeros won their first American Legion National Championship. While attending the event in Miami, the corps was offered an opportunity by the United States Department of State to travel to Havana for a performance, but prior commitments prevented them from accepting the invitation. The corps also made its first appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1952 The Caballeros placed second at the American Legion National Championship and again appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1953 - American Legion National Title In 1953, the corps won their second American Legion National Championship. In addition to performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, they were invited to march in the inaugural parade of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in January.
1954 - American Legion National Title The Caballeros won their third American Legion National Championship in 1954 and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1955 - National Dream Contest Winners In 1955, the corps won the National Dream Contest in Jersey City, New Jersey. The corps’ final standing at the American Legion National Championship is not available.
1956 The Caballeros placed second in the National Dream Contest. The corps’ final standing at the American Legion National Championship is not available.
1957 In 1957, the corps introduced an off-the-line and final fanfare arrangement of "España Cañí," commonly known as "the rumps" by the drum corps community. A version of this fanfare has been included in every Caballeros performance since its introduction in 1957. They placed fourth at the American Legion National Championship and appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1958 - American Legion National Title The Caballeros won their fourth American Legion National Championship at Soldier Field in 1958. Following the championship, they accepted an invitation from the United States Department of State to tour Havana, Cuba.
During this period, Richard Blake’s Fleetwood Records in Revere, Massachusetts featured the Caballeros on multiple albums. Their 1958 album "Off the Line", which prominently featured the corps, became Fleetwood’s best-selling record. The corps also performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1959 - American Legion National Title In 1959, the corps won their fifth American Legion National Championship. The senior corps traveled to Cuba again as guests of the United States Department of State, touring Havana, Cuba and participating in the city’s Mardi Gras parade.
That year, they also established the Hawthorne Muchachos Drum and Bugle Corps: the Hawthorne Caballeros junior corps under the leadership of Caballeros drum major Ralph Silverbrand.
The Early-Mid 1960s
1960 - American Legion National Title In 1960, the corps won their sixth American Legion National Title.Drum Corps Associates (1965–1969). Drum Corps Associates championship history – the 60s. DiceMan Radio. http://dicemanradio.com/SrCorps/dca1960.htm
This year, the Caballeros also became the first senior drum corps to establish weekend training camps, holding intense pre-season sessions at locations such as Fort Dix, New Jersey and West Point, New York.
1961 - American Legion National Title In 1961, the Caballeros won their seventh American Legion National Championship and became the first senior corps to complete a season undefeated. They also resumed appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1962-1964 - 3x American Legion National Title Between 1962 and 1964, the Caballeros won their eighth, ninth, and tenth American Legion National Championships. They appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade each year, including a notable performance of "Johnny One Note" in Herald Square in 1964.
1965 The corps’ final standing at the American Legion National Championship is not available.
Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Class & The American Legion National Championships (1966-1980)
The Late 1960s
1966 - American Legion National Title The Caballeros won their eleventh American Legion National Championship and joined Drum Corps Associates (DCA). They placed fifth in their first DCA Championship Finals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The corps also performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and performed an arrangement of Strangers in the Night in Herald Square.
1967–1969 In 1967, the corps placed second at both the American Legion National Championship and the DCA Championship.
In 1968, the Caballeros finished eighth at the DCA Championship Finals, their lowest placement in the competition’s history. The corps’ final standing at the American Legion National Championship is not available. During this period, the corps faced significant declines in membership and maintained a policy of admitting only male members, despite broader changes in the drum corps community regarding gender inclusion. In 1969, the corps placed seventh in the DCA Championships and second at the American Legion Nationals in Atlanta. Membership levels continued to decline during this period.
The 1970s
1970 - DCA World Championship Title & National Dream Contest Winner In the pre-season winter of the 1970 championships, the Caballeros implemented several significant organizational changes, including the hiring of Larry Kerchner— a Berklee College of Music graduate and former Blue Rock junior corps member— as music arranger and instructor, and the appointment of Jim Russo as permanent drum major. Kerchner introduced a new musical approach while preserving the powerful “wall of sound” long associated with the corps.
In 1970, the Caballeros won the National Dream Contest at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. Later that year, on Labor Day weekend, they captured their first DCA World Championship Title in Rochester, New York.Drum Corps Associates (1970–1979). Drum Corps Associates championship history – the 70s. DiceMan Radio. http://dicemanradio.com/SrCorps/dca1970.htm
Placement at the American Legion National Championship for this year is not recorded.
1971 The Caballeros placed second in the DCA Championships. Placement at the American Legion National Championship is not known.
1972-1974 - 3x DCA World Championship Title In 1972, the corps won their second DCA Championship. They also performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, performing "Everybody’s Everything" in Herald Square. Their American Legion Championship placement is not recorded.
In 1973, the Caballeros completed an undefeated season and won their third DCA Championship. Their American Legion Championship placement is not known.
In 1974, the corps won their fourth DCA Championship. The American Legion Championship placement for this year is not recorded.
1975 In 1975, the Caballeros placed third at the DCA Championships. Although their American Legion Championship placement is not known, this was the final year the corps competed in the Legion Championships until 1980.
1976 - DCA World Championship Title In 1976, the Caballeros won their fifth DCA Championship and became the first corps to receive awards in all competitive captions.
In July 1976, they performed for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the United States for the Bicentennial celebrations.