I marched snare that year. Memphis was a very emotional show for the entire corps. An empty feeling but very emotional. This was a wash day for us, so we walked to a local laundromat to wash our clothes. I still remember putting on my uniform and my drum in the parking lot and all of the people in the stands in silence as we walked into the stadium. They weren't silent very long. The horn line was louder than usual, and that was a feat in itself. Memories. R.I.P. Jim Ott and Tom Float. Two of the very best ever to grace D.C.I. with their talents.

I was a staff writer and photographer for Drum Corps News in 1980, and Jim and I were both around 30 years old when he lost his life. I remember what a shock his passing was to the entire drum corps fraternity. One day he was leading what was arguably the most exciting brass line of that era, and the next day he was gone. His arrangement of "Let It Be Me" remains the most iconic closer in the history of drum corps as far as I am concerned. I played the soaring mello parts of that arrangement years later in an alumni corps and still get emotional thinking about the experience. RIP.

What I remember most about that year was the backfield stands in Birmingham. People spent the week spelling out various things with the folding seats in the six sections, until someone spelled JIM OTT and no one touched it the rest of the week.

I marched Cavaliers that year. We were at this show, we were sitting on the sidelines for this performance ( you can see us jumping up at the end). This was and still is the LOUDEST horn line performance I have ever witnessed.

I marched with Spirit this year (baritone) - and I still clearly remember this show. It was a difficult night for all of us.

This was a defining moment in my life. I will never forget the events of that day, it changed all of us forever. The lesson I carry with me is to try and follow my passion in life, as Jim did, and to appreciate the moments we have now because we don't know when our time is up. I relished being in Spirits' hornline, Jim was a great friend and teacher to all of us.

This corps put on a show, under the most difficult circumstances with the showmanship, dignity, reverence and loving respect for Jim that made every member of EVERY drum corps across the nation, both junior and senior, extremely proud and in awe of the members of Spirit of Atlanta. I'm 76, (still playing in alumni corps) and I still get emotional every time I play this video. God bless Jim's memory. He's right up there with Crawford, Genaro and Drietzer.💜

Oh the glorious sound of G horns being played musically and in-tune.

That ending is so good. DCI back then had such a good unique sound and produced a sound that DCI today can not. Jim Ott's hornlines will never be matched.

I have seen this several times and I am convinced that with so much emotion coming through those horns that if that were Finals Night they would have no doubt won a championship that night. Goes to prove that you can always sense true emotion in music.

Wow, was there that night on the sideline with Cavaliers... still can feel the emotion of that night. Thanks Roy.

That night I could hardly play during the warmup. I was sobbing so much. The corp flew Mark and I to Stockton for Jim's funeral. For that I am eternally grateful. I wanted to Return to Stockton playing for jim in a Spirit uniform. I was in a Spirit uniform in Stockton not playing for Jim but watching them take him away.

I have watched this 15 times and have cried every time !!! I had aged out of drum corps by this time but had always enjoyed Jim Otts horn lines and music !!! I cannot imagine the amount of FOCUS it took these kids to do thie exhibiton just 8 hours after Jim's death. It is a tribute to Jim's teaching that they were able to do this show. As an ALUM of drum corps THIS HAS TO BE GREATEST SHOW COURAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN !!! My hat goes of to you SPIRIT of ATLANTA !!!

I was in the audience that night. This was at old Crump Stadium near downtown Memphis. It was hot as blue blazes that night. We had see The Crossmen and The Cadets among others. But when Spirit came with no hats wearing arm bands and set up in concert formation the sound was deafening. What a great horn line. We did not know that they had set up in the opening set for their closer. What an emotional performance when they stepped off on Let It Be Me. Thrilling tribute to Jim Ott

I saw them that year. I've watched this many times and it has to be the most moving drum corps performance I've ever witnessed. Start to finish is great, but the company front to the end, there are just no words. It always chokes me up and puts a tear in my eye. Incredible sound. Simply the best!

WOW! As a member of Sprit that year, I have often told others of this event, and the day that proceeded it. To see it, and to relive it, is so bittersweet. Heartbreaking because we, a group of young men and women, unwillingly became intertwined with a terrible event in DCI history, but also personally glorious as I was so blessed to be a part of something as wonderful as "Spirit of Atlanta".

First of all...I'd like to say I'm glad that such an amazing performance that has been passed down via word of mouth for years and is legendary folklore almost......was actually RECORDED. I echo other posters that wish the events leading up to it had never happened, but in 1980, not many people had their own video recording devices. This is wonderful history to have. I did notice there was an ambulance that entered the stadium during the middle of the show and exited prior to the closer....

I have no idea how those kids could possibly pull that off. That was simply incredible. Tears. RIP Jim

Friends of mine are marching on that field. Jim's death struck us all. This recording is a blessing. For those persons speculating, there would have been no question for the horn players - OF COURSE you would go on and play for him. OF COURSE.

1980 was my one and only year in DCI. Very grateful for the opportunity, comraderie, travel and music from the year with Spirit. I learned a lot from Jim & Lloyd that didn't sink in until years later. Thank you all. ,

Ok, I was a mere 4 years old when these events took place. I knew nothing of this or Mr. Ott before today. I was simply blown away and in absolute tears. This must have been the most difficult thing to have done but also the easiest because you can see and hear the love and hearts of these performers even in black and white without seeing faces. My heart is broken for the family and his Corps family. This is a very fitting tribute. The last song they performed, Let It Be Me, is a song that we played and performed to as our closer in 1992 at Susquehanna Township High School from Harrisburg, PA. This has to be the single most incredible rendition of this song I have heard and probably ever will hear. Our director Bill Perbetsky arranged our version and it was paired with Georgia on My Mind as the opener and THE Blues In the Night as our centerpiece. I now understand why Mr. P chose the show music he did having been a marching member of various corps and being an astounding trumpet player. I hope that our performance of this show left Mr. Ott with a smile on his face from his place in Heaven. That was a simply beautiful tribute and those are some strong people to perform after such a devastating event. I never met the man but just hearing this music I feel great admiration for him and can tell that he meant a lot to these performers. Thank you for all involved in sharing this tribute. Drum corps is an amazing activity that does not build friends. It builds families and skills. I never marched in a corps but I do perform with a senior indoor guard. I wish I could have had the experience.

After seeing Jim with Spirit I wanted to be apart of that horn line. It had the sound I wanted the Commodores to have. I wanted to join Spirit for my last year and return to Stockton playing in that line for Jim. The fall of 79 I called Jim and asked to join He said he would hold a spot for me. I loaded my 66 mustang and drove across country. I loved playing for Jim I loved Spirit. I knew I was part of something special. That day in Memphis was horrible.

Carol...I was the member that passed out at the end of the show (front left)...actually suffered a heat stroke. Along with the emotions that all of us were coping with it was oppressively hot and humid and those heavy uniforms that we wore...just too much. It was DEFINITELY not the way I wanted it to end. I'll never forget...being called into the gymnasium area, sitting in the bleachers and Ralph came in with this incredible shocked look and relayed the news to us. It still hurts today...

In the fall of 1974 I wanted to join the Commodores. There were 7 horns on the stage that night along with Jim Ott. That year [75] we marched a small corp only on the west coast. The next year [76] we were much bigger and better. Jim worked with us those two years In 1977 the Commodores folded. Jim Moved to Atlanta. The summer of 1979Jim was in Stockton with the Spirit of Atlanta I was blown away. That horn line was amazingly loud.

I never marched drum corps, but it has always touched my life thru various friends and family. I lived in Jacksonville for years and heard many a Spirit story. This absolutely floored me. What emotion, what a performance!

I will never forget the performance that Spirit of Atlanta did that night !

This is my "carry to the desert island" drum corps video. I remember getting the arm band. It meant something.

Much has been said about the long ovation that Suncoast Sound received after "Requiem" in 1984 at DCI finals, but the ovation that Spirit of Atlanta received after "Sweet Georgia Brown" in this video lasted well over a minute and was interrupted by the entrance to "Let it Be Me!" This may just be the longest ovation in DCI history.

Spirit was ahead of it's time with Jim. Fantastic arrangements of well-chosen books. The wall of sound was unforgettable. To this day I crank it up to see if I hear anything new or if I'm making it up in my head. I AM NOT! Thanks Jim, you really made a difference

What a solid sound!

Thank you Rob. I have no idea how I ever got through that show... much less can't believe how good it sounds... I was in such a daze... just numb.... one of the hardest days and things I've ever done. I cannot bring myself to watch it without grieving. Even after all these years.

I remember. What a great loss. Jim was a once in a lifetime talent. I was with GPM then. But it hit the whole DCI community.

I wish i was there. I saw them later at a regional show and they blew the house down then... This night was a release like no other releases and it must have been magic!..

I played soprano for memphis blues that year, I remember that night too well, it affected us all. It was 100 degrees that night

Wow..... Have heard this story for years, but to actually see and hear the corps and the crowd. Amazing strength those kids showed that night and the rest of that season for as well. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.

To dcimonkey & Luke Norris, The University Methodist Medical Center is one block North of Crump Stadium. Their Emergency room is on the South side and we are facing the North. I was there and it caught me off guard until I remembered where we were in DownTown Memphis,TN. But that Corp on that night could have drowned out anything. So much emotion coming through those folks. It was unreal.

I auditioned for Spirit in fall of 1979 and was chosen to be a part of the soprano line. One of my greatest regrets is that I did not get to march that summer due to changes in the practice schedule leading up to summer. But I was in the crowd in B’ham cheering Spirit on.

I can't tell you what that ambulance did to me... it was like an electric shock going up through my body when I saw it and then heard the siren... true performers we were that night... and only by God's grace could any of us make it through...

Wow. I was there. I cant believe this video exists. I remember every note. sureal

I was 18 that year, 2 years new to DCI, just graduated from HS that June - and was SO touched by this tragedy. THANK YOU for sharing this tribute with us all.

Wow! What an incredibly moving performance. I was 14 years old and on tour in California with the Seattle Imperials Drum and Bugle Corps on the night of this performance by Spirit of Atlanta in Memphis. It’s my first time seeing this video and experiencing the goosebumps that I am sure a lot of people have experienced while watching it. Wow, again. Just . . . wow!

Listen to the open non-muffled bass drum texture. Tonal bass drums were a great addition when tuned to this texture.

Wow. Words fail me. Thank you for sharing this, and thank you to Roy Perez for bringing this gem to digital form so that it could be shared. What an extraordinary achievement ... in so many ways. How remarkable that the corps was able to pull itself together to give us this emotional tribute to Jim Ott. Thank you to all involved!

Remember Back-Field, Warm-Ups?? I actually kind of miss seeing them, to a certain degree. Not marching anymore; aged-out at the end of the 1987 summer season, but as a horn player, I used to enjoy them as a performer as well, as they helped to get, and keep my emotional performance/competition juices flowing. For me those juices would change the moment, we did that back-field turn to face our Horn Sargent to conduct us for it, in the rear stands.

Wow!! Just found this recording! I became a drum corps fan because of Spirit. First time I saw them was at DCI East that same year. That unbelievable " wailing wall of sound" absolutely blew me away!! I'd never heard anything like it before and I was hooked for life! A tremendous tribute, under very difficult circumstances to the best arranger in DCI history! Thank you for sharing!

Simply Amazing!!!

Seeing this makes me wonder how things cold have turned out with Spirit in later years had Jim Ott lived and, consequently, Tom Float had stayed.

One of the saddest nights ever in the history of the drum and bugle corps activity.

Thanks Carol. Hope that persons was OK. Spirit suffered enough emotional loss that year as it was...

I remember when it happened he was my band directors good friend Freddy martin they came in the bandroom and told us he also wrote music for us

Goosebumps...

I often "blame" Freddy for my career so far (of course he denies responsibility), because of this very drum corps, this very year. From the first notes of Joel playing"Georgia on My Mind", I blown away, but when that attack happened immediately after when the rest of the brass came in, which was clear enough and intense enough to be physically felt in my chest from halfway up the stands in a college football stadium, I KNEW what I was going to do "when I grew up". Don Taylor

Thank you for sharing this performance. What an emotional night it must have been for all the staff, members, parents, and others involved. My heart goes out to you all, and I'm sure you are all stronger people today.

Incredible footage!

Roy--thanx so much for posting these vids ! i too was there, and it was an emotional night that will never be forgotten.

Speechless.

Thanks for this one.

So sad I did not march that year. Yet glad in some way. RIP Jim.

Thank you for creating and posting this. Absolutely incredible.

Thanks for posting this. Rocks in my throat right now. Jimmy, 1979 SOA Contra.

I know they were trying to make Jim hear them...the amount of body English on the last chord is incredible.

Wow. This is great. Thanks for the vid.

No words...

That ambulance wasn't anything to do with Spirit, was it? Thanks again for putting this tribute up on YT for us! Literally, tears in my eyes at that closing push and ovation - what a heroic effort put-forthby that corps! WOW!

Kelly - My brother was marching with the Blue Stars when it happened. Everyone was crushed, throughout the drum corps community. As I recall what my brother said back then, Jim had missed his interstate exit and was backing up along the shoulder of the road when someone came along and hit him from behind. I don't know how accurate that is but that's what was being circulated at the time. Regardless it was awful and a huge loss all around.

The two solists were Homer Humble from Alabama and Bo Edwards from Columbia, South Carolina.

See my comment below... that ambulance had just loaded one of our members who had passed out and it drove away on the back track. The siren you hear is the ambulance transporting the member to the hospital.

this horrible day was early in the season. They had not yet added Georgia in the beginning, or cut out the middle piece, called The Heat is On

Dear mapexmac, My name is Carol and I was a member of 1980 Spirit hornline. The answer to your question is Yes, that ambulance had pulled up because one of the members had gone down (passed out). The ambulance crew loaded him into the ambulance and drove away on the back track. The siren you hear is the ambulance transporting the member to the hospital.

I believe that Bo and "Nappy" were the soprano soloists in 1980.

Scott, were you in this?

Hi Linda. How are you doing?

....what was that about? Can anybody shed some light on what was going on during the middle of the performace that necessitated an ambulance?

What is the tune after the percussion feature? That is some smokin jazz right there.

Bo Edwards

is it kinda weird that a ambulance drives by at the end of the show?

Do you know what was the cause of the accident? Fatigue, problem with the van, speed, fault of another car? Maybe, knowing the cause it can prevent an another accident. Long life to Drum Corps and safety to all members on the road.

please No offence to rchess9513...but this did happen on July 8th 1980 ....

One was named "Homer Humble" from Demopolis Alabama. I am sorry I do not remember the other.

Did Chan Hall and Tony Smart "Tit Mouse" march that season. Either one could have played the solos. Both were great players.