On the evening of March 6, 1967, citing differences of opinion in the artistic direction of the Sparks Drum & Bugle Corps, its parents support group voted to return the corps to its former activity as a drum and bell corps with majorettes. After the vote, three dissident adults took the corps' members aside and asked them if they preferred to continue as a drum and bugle corps or to become a drum and bell corps. After the members declared for drum and bugle, their parents immediately started a new booster club to support the new corps. Gail Royer, a local elementary school music teacher and a judge for American Legion music competitions, who had been the Sparks' music instructor, was named as the director for the new corps. The new corps waited until its members met for rehearsal the following week to select a name. After discussing and rejecting several possible names, the corps chose: Santa Clara Vanguard.