From a Blue Stars press release: John Wasson has joined the Blue Stars leadership team as the brass arranger/composer. He will be an active participant in the design of the Blue Stars' 2004 program. Wasson is a composer, producer and performer with a wide range of musical experiences spanning many genres. He has composed and produced music for such groups and ensembles as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force "Airmen of Note," the Texas Boys Choir and the Dallas Brass. Other clients of Wasson's include the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, Electronic Data Systems, Radio Shack, the Salvation Army, Southern Methodist University and Walt Disney World. As an instrumentalist, John has been a bass trombone performer with the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton Orchestras, the Dallas Brass, the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Opera Orchestras. He has worked with such notable artists as Michael Bolton, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, Cab Calloway, Reba McIntyre, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Richard Stolzman and Joe Williams. "Having John Wasson on out design team is simply fantastic," said Blue Stars Executive Director Greg Struve. "We're thrilled to have someone with John's talent and background working on our 2004 program. His professional experience will be invaluable to the Blue Stars, as we strive to design a program that is enjoyable and challenging for our members to perform and entertaining and appealing to the audience and judges." "I also think it speaks volumes that John is an alumnus of the corps and is returning to help the Blue Stars continue the momentum created over the past three seasons. The Blue Stars are considered a family, and whether you marched in the corps in the '60s, the '80s or today, you always have a home in La Crosse." Wasson was a baritone player for the Blue Stars during the 1974, 1975 and 1976 seasons, and is excited to work with the organization that helped him get his start in music. "I am so grateful for the opportunities the Blue Stars offered me," said Wasson. "Even while marching with the corps in the '70s, I often dreamed of one day writing for a drum corps -- maybe even my own! Now that I have enjoyed so many fascinating musical opportunities, I can think of no better way of saying thank you than to come back and contribute to an organization that played such a pivotal role in my own music education. I am excited at the prospect of giving everything I can to help the members, the program, and the reputation of the Blue Stars reach the highest levels possible. I am looking forward to a great season in 2004!"