Founded in 1966 by Andrew Yaracs, Alexander Shott and other local parents and business people, the Vagabonds at first was an all-male corps. The corps formed after Yaracs and these other founders decided to provide an opportunity for local boys to participate in the drum corps activity having left the Lyndora Girls corps from the same small town right outside Butler, PA.

 

The founders conducted a contest on the local radio stations WBUT and WLER to name the group. The result produced the name General Richard Butler Vagabonds. Over the years the name has been used in many variations including the Vagabonds, Butler and GBV among them.

The corps lasted as an all-male organization until 1971 and has been co-ed since that time. The corps rehearsed in the early days at the Butler Fairgrounds and even had a rehearsal hall on the property at one point.

 

The corps won the U.S. Open Class A Championship in Marion, Ohio, in 1969, 1971, and 1972. This vaulted the organization into the upper tiers of the elite Class A corps of the era.

The 1970s were the corps' heyday, when it scored well in Drum Corps International competition and became an Associate member of DCI in 1975. Many outstanding players and teachers marched in the 1970s era Vagabonds.

 

This era also saw Pat Cavanaugh and Ed Lewis win DCI Individuals on French Horn and Soprano, respectively at Denver DCI 1975 and 1976 Philadelphia at the Drum Corps International Championships. Several other very notable personalities from the local and national drum corps activity spent time instructing and designing for the corps. A few of the more well know names include: George Zingali, Bruno Zucalla, Scott Koter, Pepe Notaro, Larry McCormick, Gary Chipinski, Pete Spadaro, Michael Kumer, Frank Miller, and of course Mr. Yaracs son and former Butler High School Band Director, Andrew Yaracs Jr.

 

The corps became well known for its large, talented brass lines taught by the late Pete Spadaro. The 1975 offering gained notoriety by beating nearly every other line in head to head competition. Powered by longtime members Ed Lewis, Curt Hawkins, Pat Cavanaugh, and Ken Fennell, the corps presented the first of its hallmark "Big Band" shows featuring American Patrol and the Harry James Medley.

 

In addition, the Vagabonds were the host corps for the long-running classic drum corps show the American International Open. In its heyday during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the AIO was a two- or three-day event with national corps hoping to capture the lucrative purse.

 

By 1981, however, the Vagabonds could field only 18 horns and were not as competitive as in earlier years. Many consider this to be the end of the best era of the corps. Newer members disagree, but either way the corps continued to soldier on.

 

The Corps went inactive in DCI competition in 1982. In that year, the corps marched in parades and rebuilt with heavy recruitment from Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In 1983, the Vagabonds would return with a large class A corps in 1983 featuring 32 brass, 22 color guard and 25 percussion.

 

When the 1983 Vagabonds stepped onto the field at Allentown to open the competitive season, it was almost an entirely new corps. Less than five members had prior DCI experience. This version of the Vagabonds, with a few seasoned members, emphasized crowd entertainment. Musical Director and drum corps legend Robert "Pepe" Notaro chose a traditional show of Drum Corps traditional favorites. Scores were relatively low in 1983 as the young battery struggled.

 

By 1984, the Vagabond percussion section had begun to markedly improve under the instruction of Andrew Yaracs Jr., Tom Milchick, and Dave Campbell. Meanwhile, a new musical director, Ron Crusan, updated the corps' show with contemporary pop tunes. In 1984, the Vagabonds were very competitive with corps of their size and made the finals of several national shows.

 

Nevertheless, the Vagabond's show design remained behind the times in conceptualization. In 1983, the Garfield Cadets had changed the competitive nature of Drum Corps with their fast moving and expansive drill. The Vagabonds, like many other smaller corps remained behind the times in that regard.

 

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