Saratoga Springs Man Inducted Into the Bugler’s Hall of Fame
George “Jeff” Perkins Jr. and Chuck Mangione in Saratoga Springs in 2019. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —George F. Perkins Jr. of Saratoga Springs was inducted into the Buglers Hall of Fame at a ceremonial banquet held at Batavia Downs Raceway and Casino.
A lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, Perkins born in 1942 and began his drum & bugle corps experience in 1953 on the 3rd floor of City Hall when he joined the Saratoga Jr. Cadet Corps. In 1964, he helped re-form the disbanded Saratoga Sr. Cadet corps to perform once again in the1964 Saratoga Bi-Centennial Celebration Parade.
Perkins’ marching career spans 32 years and has included the Saratoga Junior Cadet Corps and Ambassadors, Fort Edward Vagabonds, Gloversville Fusiliers, Troy-Pittsfield Interstatesmen, Springfield MA Marksmen, and the Syracuse Brigadiers as a soprano bugler.
In 1975, he became the founding Director of Saratoga’s Avant Garde, and led them to a world-renowned status in the drum & bugle corps activity. The corps represented the city of Saratoga Springs wherever they performed, logging over 10,000 miles annually.
Avant Garde disbanded after the 1985 season and many former members have become professional instrumentalists. They reunited in 2018 for a performance in the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Flag Day Parade, and again in 2019 when Chuck Mangione visited Saratoga to attend a special celebration concert held in his honor at the Lake Avenue Elementary School.
Perkins is currently a singing member of Saratoga’s Racing City Barbershop Chorus.