Sal SalasSal came to the Madison Scouts in 1975. He previously was a percussionist with the DCI Finalist Stockton Commodores where he picked up his rifle skills by watching and interacting with the Commodores spectacular rifle line. Sal has been the only person to join the Scouts as a marching member and be instantly promoted to instructor as a marching member. The Scouts finished with an undefeated season in 1975 as DCI Champions.
Sal built a rifle dynasty with the Scouts. Most notable was the 1977 production of West Side Story, where the rifles were prominently featured on the PBS telecast during New York, New York, and Officer Krupke.
In 1978, Sal made his mark in the color guard world, where traditional uniforms and military bearing were the norm. Sal had a vision; he took the men from the Madison Scouts and the women from the Capitalaires to create a spectacle the color guard world was unprepared for. White painter paints, rainbow suspenders, striped socks, and t-shirts bearing the name of Madison’s most famous street - he brought us the disco storm of State Street Review. Sal brought the choreography from indoor to outdoor in the summer of 1978 with the Scouts. In the spring of 1978, Sal married LuAnn Russell and instantly had a family of rifle members from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania living with them for the summer. Sal and LouAnn continued to open their home for members throughout the coming years.
This was the disco era of Saturday Night Fever. The rifles brought hip-swinging body moves and a flirtatious swagger toward the crowd; this propelled them to instant celebrity status. Innovation, creativity, and excellence became a Salas standard. The vision of State Street Review in Madison became a magnet for all color guard Scout members to showcase their talent during the winter months which created a revolving door for keeping members in Madison. The rest is history.
Sal was known to reward strong work ethic that resulted in powerful performances. A secret that is now being revealed is that during rehearsals of long days on tour - as long as the rifles were doing their job, there was a periodic sneak-away during sectionals for some ice cream, an occasional ice pop, or a local bakery treat. This helped create a familial bond between Sal and the rifle members.
Sal has run the gambit of the trifecta in Madison Scout history - 1. Being a member. 2. Being an instructor. 3. Being a director. Sal is in high demand all over the country as a coordinator, consultant, clinician, and judge of all the marching arts.
A current member of the DCI and WGI Hall of Fames, as well as Spirit of Atlanta, Midwest Color Guard Circuit, and the Winter Guard Association of Southern California Hall of Fames