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The corps had a record 39 performances in 1976 including Marching Bands of America Grand Nationals in Whitewater, Wisconsin in June and Drum Corps InternationalChampionships in Philadelphia in August. The corps first played at Greenfield Village in September 1976.

In 1977, the 50 member corps performed 2nd in the annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Detroit and emphasized precision marching techniques. Whitney Prince was named Director.

In 1978, the corps decided the minimum age for members must be 12 years old. The drum truck, a 1971 vintage, was getting very old and rusting beyond repair. The corps functioned without a music director but a former member and fife instructor, Allison Reilley, took over temporarily. The corps was in bad financial shape almost forcing the Board of Trustees to dissolve the corps.

In 1979, a new President, Neil Winters, took over the Board of Directors and turned the financial status of the corps around by initiating major fundraising activities. The Plymouth Rotary helped finance the purchase of a new drum truck that was outfitted for the corps. Recruitment efforts were high and Len Goren was named Director.

In 1980, decreasing numbers required the corps to combine into one again. At this time, the corps members all wore the standard LifeGuard uniform. The corps also used this year to reestablish themselves in terms of recruitment, fundraising and performances.

In 1981, the corps purchased new uniforms, new tricorn hats, new drums, a new banner, a new mace and a new hangar. The new uniforms modeled the late 18th century military fife and drum corps uniforms, consisting of buff knee britches, black tricorn hats and black shoes with white knee socks.

In 1982, the maximum age requirement changed to 18 years old or until graduation from high school.

In 1983, the corps performed both the Star Spangled Banner and the Canadian National Anthem at the Toronto Blue Jays game in Toronto.

During the middle 1980's, the corps again escalated in popularity, booking more performances, while going out east on tour every year.

In 1987, Ed Stutzman was named Director. The corps switched from polyester to new wool regimental uniforms replica of George Washington's personal lifeguard or foot soldiers. These uniforms had no zippers and had buttons made of real pewter. The uniforms consisted of white wool knee britches, white cotton shirt, leather neck stock, blue wool continental coat with red trim and a black bicorn hat. These uniforms were replica of the era 1776-1783 and weighed 10 pounds. The corps performed at the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution parade in Philadelphia.

In 1988, the corps traveled to the Deep River Muster in Connecticut.

In 1989, the instructional staff created a "mini corps" to perform during the off season as well as at performances not needing the entire corps.

During the 1990's, the corps performs 40-60 performances a year throughout the state of Michigan and travels out east in a weeklong tour. On these tours, the corps performs at various forts, musters and historical places. The corps now focuses on strong discipline, music excellence and marching precision.

The performance season runs from April through October. New recruits are invited to join at the end of the season in October and are trained through January when the veteran members return for the new season.

The fifes play 2 piece, B flat, 10 hole McDonagh fifes made out of grenadilla wood. The drums are rope tension snare and bass drums. The music spans the 17th to 20th centuries with an emphasis on traditional fife and drum melodies from the Revolutionary War. Unique to the corps are medleys containing three and four part harmonies and traditional tunes presented in contemporary settings.

The color guard has consisted of two Brown Bess muskets, two British hangars (swords), Commander-in Chief's flag, Michigan flag, Canadian flag, 50 star American Flag, Betsy Ross flag, Grand Union flag, Bennington flag, Don't Tread on Me (Gadsden)flag, Bunker Hill flag, Ft. Moultiere flag, 1 halberd and 1 espontoon.

In 1990, the corps produced its first professional recording on tape.

In 1991, Jim Predhomme was named Director. On tour, the corps performed at the Statue of Liberty. The corps celebrated its' 20th anniversary season by holding a reunion.

In 1993, the corps reached the highest membership total at 57 members and performed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery while on their Washington DC tour.

In 1994, the corps hosted their first muster in which attended five Michigan state corps-Plymouth Fife and Drum, Great Lakes Field Music, Tittabawassee Valley Fife and Drum, Midnight Riders Fife and Drum and 1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps. This is the only time that all five Michigan corps have performed together in the same place. The corps traveled to Deep River on tour. The Board of Directors decided because of the size of the corps that they would not recruit new members for the next season.

In 1995, the corps recorded its' second professional recording on CD. The corps purchased a new espontoon.

In 1996, the corps celebrated its' 25th anniversary season. The corps held a 4th of July alumni picnic and organized the alumni to march in the Plymouth 4th of July parade as a separate unit. The corps traveled to Washington DC and Colonial Williamsburg on tour performing for both Old Guard and the Colonial Williamsburg corps. The corps received a standing ovation from Old Guard, a very proud moment in the corps' history. They also performed at the Vietnam Wall and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The "mini corps" was dissolved this year due to a lack of performances.

In 1997, Melissa Dyer, a nine-year veteran of the corps, was selected for the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Early in the performance season, Chris Williams, past President and long time supporter of the corps, passed away unexpectedly and the season was dedicated in his honor. The corps purchased a new banner and a new truck. The Board purchased practice 10 hole fifes for the new recruits to use having used 6 hole fifes in the past and then converting to 10 hole fifes. Jim Predhomme, Director, celebrated his 20th year with the corps. The corps traveled to the Statue of Liberty on tour, performed at the Fife and Drum museum and at the Nathan Hale muster. Nine experienced veterans graduated out of the corps.

In 1998, the corps traveled to Philadelphia and Niagara Falls on tour and performed at Independence Hall, Valley Forge and in the Hall of Fame parade in Canton, Ohio. There were 47 performances throughout the season. The corps introduced a one-person banner and continued to raise money for the Chris Williams Drum Fund. The corps began plans to auction off the old drums and the order for the new drums was placed. Concerns over how long the uniforms would hold out were discussed.

In 1999, the corps purchased new snare drums and dedicated an old snare drum to the Company of Fifers and Drummers in honor of Chris Williams as part of their Boston tour. The corps played in a memorial parade in Capac for the release of a refugee in Kosovo to start the performance season. The corps played at Greenfield Village as part of the second time only that the five major Michigan corps have played together. The Colonial Life Festival at Greenfield Village was then cancelled in the latter part of the season. The corps ordered new one piece, 10 hole fifes from Cooperman as the old fifes were cracking and falling apart too much. The Board produced a new recruiting video to increase the recruiting efforts. A new Board position was added, Public Relations, in order to maintain the corps web page. There were no graduating corps members this year; a result of not recruiting in 1994. The corps played new music written by the instructional staff and Chris Gale (Booher) celebrated her 10th year with the corps.

In 2000, the corps began playing on new one piece, 10 hole Cooperman fifes. This helped minimize tuning difficulties and fifes falling apart. The corps traveled to Washington DC on tour and performed at the Vietnam Wall, Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Vernon and in Virginia. The corps performed for Old Guard, received a standing ovation from the members and served as VIP guests of Old Guard in their weekly tattoo. The corps totaled 45 members and performed in 45 performances, including the opening of the Patriot, a movie about the Revolutionary War.

In 2001 the corps performed at Fort York, Bennington Monument, Washington's Headquarters, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and (finally) at the Statue of Liberty.

2002 included a rare visit to the Deep River Ancient Fife & Drum Muster in Deep River, CT. The corps was chosen as one of the feature corps for the Friday evening performance.

Early in 2005, the PFDC assisted the host corps, the D3 Fife & Drum Corps, in the annual Freezer Jam. The Plymouth Corps planned and executed the meals for the event.

For the 2005 tour, plans were made to visit the National Muster at Ft. Ticonderoga, NY. Plymouth was one of over 35 corps that attended this great event. During the annual tour, the corps also performed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Washington's Crossing State Park, Princeton Battlefields State Park, Dorney Amusement park in Allentown, PA, Ft. Ligonier in Lingonier, PA, and Valley Forge National Park.

During the 2005 season, Lindsay Natiw (right), a senior fifer was accepted into the United States Army's Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. Lindsay did her basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in late 2005 and is now stationed at Ft. Myer, VA with Melissa Dyer (left), a 1998 graduate of the PFDC.

In 2006, the corps celebrated its 35th season by hosting a reunion event in July. Many past members joined in with the current corps for jam sessions, food and fellowship. During the 2006 season the corps was, again, re-united with Lindsay and Melissa when they visited the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps at Ft. Myer, VA. Other stops included Arlington National Cemetery, the Jefferson Memorial and many other venues.

Tour 2007 found the Corps back at the Deep River Ancient Muster. Tour 2007 began with a performance at the Bennington National Monumet in Bennington Vt. Next up on the schedule were performances at Lexington Green and on the Old North Bridge in Concord Ma. After a well attended performance in downtown Bston at Faniel Hall, the Corps hopped on the ferry across the harbor to the USS Constitution. Waiting out the rain in the Constitution museum, it looked bad for the feature performance of tour. Just in time, the clouds gave way and the Corps gave a moving performance on the dock in front of Old Ironsides. Afterwards, a new Betsy Ross flag was raised and lowered on board. This has become the Corps primary U.S. Flag used in all parades and performances. Following free day in Boston, the Corps headed south to Deep River Connecticut. Following the parade through town, PFDC performed a standing ovation worth performance on stand at the ball park. The Corps finished up the trip with a morning performance and tour of theFife and Drum Museum Ivoryton Ct.

Of the more memorable performances of 2007 include: Detroit International Fireworks on the Riverfront, th 1st annual River Raisin International Muster and parade, a super Walmart grand opening, and the Dream Cruise in Ferndale.


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