Ernie Chevalier

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Raye "Ernie" Chevalier was a snare drummer who

performed with the following Drum Corps' :

St. Kevin's Emerald Knights (Dorchester Mass.)

St. Joseph's Islanders (Green Island, N.Y.)

The Interstatesmen (Troy, N.Y.)

The Killmen (Wynantskill, N.Y.)

He was also one of the founding members

of The Excelsior Drum Corps (Albany, N.Y./Pittsfield, Mass.)

My first memory of Ernie goes back to 1967 or 1968 when he

showed up at a Killmen Rehearsal. He was older and a more experienced

performer than the other people in the corps at that time. He brought with

him a high level of performance and the latest technology in that he had the

first Premier Snare Drum that I ever had seen. People in the corps looked up

to Earnie because he exhibited all of the qualities that they aspired to acquire.

In 2004 I had the opportunity to re meet Earnie when "Excelsior" formed .

I enjoyed talking with him about the days of Ron Ghetti and Artie Nelson and also

sharing stories of that time. When "Excelsior" needed a place to practice, drum equipment,

and a percussion instructor it was Ernie who stepped up to the plate to provide all

of those things for the new corps to support the activity that he loved.

Earnie's last drum corps project - founding of Excelsior

Jay McBride (Friend)

From Jeff Perkins :

I feel very saddened losing Ernie. Although I only knew him briefly, I did know that he came through the drum corps school that we were all involved with in our younger life. Once bitten by that "bug", it stays with each of us for the rest of our lives. Maybe we all can meet again in the hereafter and play in that big corps in Heaven. Please pass on my condolences and prayers to his family.

Jeff

To All Drum Corps People:

Ernie started his Drum Corps Career in the 1960's with St. Joseph's Islanders from Green Island, N.Y. as a Snare Drummer. He remembers his first show in Pittsfield Mass. The contest was sponsored by The Sky Hawks Drum Corps from Pittsfield.
The Islanders took First Place at that show and Ernie says that this is one of his best memories.
Artie Nelson was not only his first instructor but also a friend whose influence has given Ernie the motivation to pursue
performance in other Drum Corps Venues.Ernie has played with St. Kevin's Emerald Knights (Dorchester, Mass.),
The New York Skyliners (N.Y. N.Y.) and The Interstatesmen (Troy N.Y. and Pittsfield Mass.)
As a member of The Interstatesmen Ernie recalls going to Canada with Artie, Bill Travis, Magoo, and the Rest of the Gang
to purchase The "Premier" Drums (with 2 sets of Snares) which were one of the innovations created by The I-Men.
When it was announced that there was going to be a "NEW CORPS" in the area in 2005 (Excelsior) Ernie was the first
guy to step up to the plate and offered the use of his Drum Equipment as well as his Percussion Studio for the new organization. Ernie had hoped to march with Excelsior , but his health made that endeavor not possible. There are other stories and facts that are just to numerous to mention.

DEAR FRIEND,

IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WRITE THIS TO YOU. RAY PAST FROM THIS LIFE THIS AFTERNOON WITH FAMILY AT HIS SIDE. THIS IS THE WAY HE WISHED TO LEAVE US ALL. I ASK FOR PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AS THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. HE WAS TAKEN ALL TO SOON FOR ALL OF US.

HE NOW JOINS THE OTHERS FROM DRUM AND BUGLE CORP THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE HIM, AND IF I KNOW RAY, HE IS PLAYING WITH BILL TRAVIS, ARTIE, AND SOME OF THE KIDS HE ONCE MARCHED WITH.

MAY HIS JOURNEY BE A GREAT ONE, AND WE HAVE THE PLEASURE TO HAVE KNOWN HIM.

RAYCHEL SHEPLER