Blue Devils (Drum and Bugle Corps)

The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps  is a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Concord, California. The corps was founded in 1970 and is a member corps of Drum Corps International. The Blue Devils (also known as "BD") is the most successful corps of the DCI era with a total of thirteen world championship titles over the nearly four decades of DCI's existence. At the corp's first DCI finals appearance in 1973, the Blue Devils placed 24th. The next year they finished ninth and followed up with a third place finish in 1975. In 1976 they won their first DCI title beginning a streak of top-five finishes that continues to this day, the only corps to lay claim to this amazing streak. The Blue Devils have also won more brass, drum, guard, and marching titles than any other drum corps.

The Blue Devils have been crowned DCI Champions 19 times: 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019. In addition, they have placed second in finals nine times 1981, 1983, 1984, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2013; and third eight times 1975, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2006.

The Devils have been known as "the jazz corps" playing many big band and Latin jazz charts. Some of the Blue Devils "greatest hits" include Buddy Rich's Channel One Suite (at the time of its performance in 1976, the longest single piece ever performed in DCI), Chuck Mangione's Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor and Chick Corea's Spanish Fantasy. In recent years, however, the corps has explored non-jazz pieces including Summertime from Porgy and Bess and selections from the motion picture The Godfather.

The Blue Devils percussion is also one of the best in the activity and has recently been highlighted with the creation of BD Entertainment, a professional percussion ensemble performing at sports venues, such as Levi Stadium for the San Francisco 49ers NFL team.

The Blue Devils International Corps will travel to the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Switzerland from June 24 - July 26, 2015. The final stop will be at the world's second largest (and one of the most spectacular) open-air tattoos: the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland.

A new feature for the corps that debuted in January, 2006 is the BlueView video podcast. The corps uses BlueView to highlight off-season rehearsals as well documenting the competitive season tour. Of further interest, the Blue Devils have a section of their website devoted to the sights and sounds of the corps through the years. This is known as Mediabox and it is a subscription-based service.