Boston, MA United States
Founded: 1940
CORPS Photos
The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class junior field competition corps based in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Crusaders, originally named the Most Precious Blood Crusaders, was formed in 1940 by the Most Precious Blood Catholic parish of the Hyde Park section of Boston. An early triumph of the young corps was winning the preliminary competition in the 1954 VFW Nationals.
The corps became the Hyde Park Crusaders in 1956 when the church declared that corps membership would be limited to church parishioners. During this period, two ardent, if unofficial supporters of the corps were two of the Kennedy brothers, John F. and Edward M. "Ted". Although John is often credited, Ted was responsible for acquiring West Point uniforms that the Crusaders converted to their own colors of red, black and white after their old uniforms were kept by their former sponsoring parish. The Crusaders were honored by the newly-elected President Kennedy by being invited to be the first drum and bugle corps to march in a Presidential Inauguration Parade, but the corps' tight financial situation prevented their attendance in 1961. (Four yrars later, the corps would march in President Lyndon B. Johnson's Inauguration Parade.) Both brothers were formally made honorary members of the corps, JFK only 34 days before his assassination.
The corps' name had become the Boston Crusaders by 1959. Then and now often called simply "BAC" (for Boston Area Crusaders) , the corps was one of the powers in the East in the sixties. They won the first CYO National Championship in 1964, then again in 1966 and 1967. They also won the World Open in 1966 and '67. They took part in VFW Finals in 1969 and 1970. The corps would have won the American Legion National Championship in 1967--- except that the Legion decided to void the inspection scores, swinging the score lead to The Cavaliers. As it was, BAC won 29 contests that year.
A particularly strong soprano soloist in the late 1960s was Jim Centorino.
BAC also was known to mean "Bad Ass Crusaders." During some eras in some parts of the country, tough competitive corps on the field were equally tough off the field, to the point of physically intimidating other corps. These corps might almost have been characterized as musical gangs, as adept with fists as with bugles. The Crusaders were particularly effective competitors off the field. One memorable incident involved corps members chasing off a gang of local toughs just before marching DCI Prelims in the Orange Bowl in 1983. Even 21st century corps members know that BAC does not necessarily stand just for "Boston Area Crusaders." In July, 2015, it was formally declared by the corps' administration that "BAC" now stands for "Building A Champion"
Although a charter member of DCI, the corps opted not to take part in the first DCI Championships in 1972, choosing the CYO Nationals instead. They had lost much of their equipment in a fire in their corps hall that summer, forcing the corps off the road and out of competition. At one time BAC was down to 19 members. Taking 39th place in DCI prelims in 1973, they steadily climbed through the ranks during the 1970s. For many years, DCI also held a parade competition, and the Crusaders won that contest in 1981.
A historic visit to the United Kingdom in 1982 was another disastrous turning point in the corps' history. During that trip, money was embezzled from their funds, and the corps was stuck in the UK, dead broke. Although somehow making their way home, their trail of debts left the corps bankrupt and all of their assets were impounded. During that winter, in an effort to resurrect the corps, members actually stole the organization's truck, uniforms, and equipment, and appeared the following year under the shortened name "Boston." Debts were finally settled after many months, and "Boston" once again took back their rightful name. Interestingly, Boston's emergence from bankruptcy in 1986 coincides with the demise of neighboring rival 27th Lancers due to financial failure.
Even such a luminary as Burt Lancaster was inspired by the example of this corps that refused to die. In a 1991 Variety interview, he said, "Before he lost it, Peckinpah made me go see this drum and bugle corps from Boston, the Boston Crusaders. Sam thought I would only really understand the power beneath despair by watching these guys. Yeah, he was right. In '73 and '83, the corps went out with just handfuls of guys on the horns and, damnit, those man-gods could melt the gates of hell. Every single film I made after 'Valdez is Coming' is an allegory on the Boston Crusaders."
Their repertoires over the years were an eclectic mix, from Beethoven’s Ninth to “Mexicali Nose.” Yet, Conquest (from Captain From Castile) by Alfred Newman was performed every year from 1973 through 1990, thereafter being adapted as short quotes in numerous shows since,
BAC has historically been a pioneering innovator, actually being the first corps to use electronics in 1985, when the corps fielded a synthesizer and was penalized at every show for it. The corps also had the first double toms in 1967, were one of the first two corps with marching tympanis in 1968 (along with the Majestic Knights of nearby Charlestown), and were the first to make use of slides on their bugles to achieve a chromatic scale.
According to BAC's board president and CEO Jim Cronin, the corps' management structure was not well suited to greater corps development, regardless of the talent on the field. A reputation throughout DCI as toughs and troublemakers did not help the Crusaders' progress either, and BAC settled into the middle rank of DCI through the late 1980s and early 1990s. Therefore, a new philosophy stressing “professionalism, accountability, and responsibility” was introduced to instill in the members of the “new” Boston Crusaders that “how they act off the field is as important as how they perform on the field. Everything is about a positive attitude, the way they treat each other, peer respect.“
In 1999, the Boston Crusaders under Cronin as corps director (1996-2000) became the last active DCI charter member corps to break into the Top Twelve, a ninth place finish with a program of symphonic dances.
Cronin has made the point that a corps' presence on the Internet has become a helpful tool for reaching potential members in recent years. Whereas most of the Crusaders formerly came from the Boston area, the web has generated interest and membership from elsewhere--- overseas as well as around the United States. Only 20 members of the 1997 group hailed from Boston, solidifying the Crusaders as actually more of a New England corps, the last Division I corps in the region, and the 2000 version of the Crusaders in particular benefited from an influx of members from Florida.
The advent of legal amplication in 2004 allowed the Crusaders to electronically project voices as well as instruments when they added a brief exclamatory narration to their show 'The Composition of Color.'
Through 2017, the Boston Crusaders have remained one of DCI's top corps, with 19 consecutive Top 12 Finals appearances. BAC also saw its highest finish since 2000 of 6th place in 2017 with the wildly popular "Wicked Games" show and its spectacular ending.
In April 2015, the organization announced the purchase of a building in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, where the corps was founded in 1940. This building houses the corps' sponsoring Inspire Arts & Music offices and provides a retail location for its Great East Music Store
[Inspire Arts & Music; Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; Jesse Berman, rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, 8/8/1997 and 1/5/2000; Competitive Drum and Bugle Corps, Popp, 1978; Drum Corps World, (various issues); Terry Connolly, RAMD, 3/23/99; Raymond Dugan; Variety Magazine, 12/9/91, p. E7; Mike Dubil; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, Vol. 2; Steve Vickers, ed.; Drum Corps International]
Highest Score 88.650
Final show in DCX Archives January 1, 1953 VFW Nationals Milwaukee WI placed 3 with a score of 88.650
Highest Score 86.900
Final show in DCX Archives September 19, 1954 Boston MA
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives April 24, 1955 Newburyport MA
Highest Score 85.170
Final show in DCX Archives July 14, 1956 Braintree MA placed 4 with a score of 82.900
Highest Score 89.260
Final show in DCX Archives September 14, 1957 American Legion National Championships Atlantic City NJ placed 4 with a score of 88.540
Highest Score 86.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1958 VFW Nationals Prelims New York NY placed 7 with a score of 86.800
Highest Score 82.330
Final show in DCX Archives August 1, 1959 Worcester MA placed 6 with a score of 82.330
Highest Score 82.860
Final show in DCX Archives July 23, 1960 South Boston MA placed 8 with a score of 80.320
Highest Score 82.250
Final show in DCX Archives April 15, 1961 Drumfest Boston MA placed 6 with a score of 82.250
Highest Score 87.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 16, 1962 Eastern MA Circuit Championships Malden MA placed 2 with a score of 85.100
Highest Score 89.400
Final show in DCX Archives September 21, 1963 Serenade of Champions Danvers MA placed 1 with a score of 85.416
Highest Score 88.150
Final show in DCX Archives September 20, 1964 Eastern MA Circuit Championships Malden MA placed 1 with a score of 83.200
Highest Score 86.750
Final show in DCX Archives October 3, 1965 Eastern Massachusetts Circuit Championships Malden MA placed 1 with a score of 82.300
Highest Score 88.550
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 1966 Alleghany State Fair Pittsburg PA placed 3 with a score of 82.360
Highest Score 92.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 29, 1967 CYO Nationals Boston MA placed 1 with a score of 88.080
Highest Score 82.230
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1968 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 3 with a score of 79.380
Highest Score 87.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1969 VFW Nationals-Preliminary Round Philadelphia PA placed 5 with a score of 87.350
Highest Score 90.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 22, 1970 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 3 with a score of 79.100
Highest Score 88.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1971 VFW Nationals Dallas TX placed 8 with a score of 85.850
Highest Score 75.400
Final show in DCX Archives July 29, 1972 CYO Nationals Boston MA placed 9 with a score of 73.550
Highest Score 68.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1973 DCI World Championships - Prelims Whitewater WI placed 39 with a score of 51.850
Highest Score 70.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1974 Lowell MA placed 3 with a score of 69.700
Highest Score 67.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1975 DCI World Championships - Prelims Philadelphia PA placed 27 with a score of 67.200
Highest Score 75.200
Final show in DCX Archives September 11, 1976 Battle of Champions Malden MA placed 2 with a score of 74.450
Highest Score 85.800
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1977 Battle of Champions Malden MA placed 1 with a score of 83.050
Highest Score 82.050
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1978 Battle of Champions Malden MA placed 3 with a score of 82.050
Highest Score 78.700
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 1979 Malden MA placed 3 with a score of 78.700
Highest Score 70.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1980 DCI World Championships Prelims Birmingham AL placed 25 with a score of 63.900
Highest Score 69.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1981 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 25 with a score of 66.550
Highest Score 70.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1982 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 26 with a score of 65.300
Highest Score 66.150
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1983 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Miami FL placed 21 with a score of 63.750
Highest Score 78.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1984 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Atlanta GA placed 19 with a score of 76.200
Highest Score 77.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1985 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Madison WI placed 20 with a score of 74.700
Highest Score 81.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1986 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Madison WI placed 16 with a score of 79.900
Highest Score 82.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1987 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Madison WI placed 14 with a score of 82.800
Highest Score 81.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1988 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Kansas City MO placed 20 with a score of 77.600
Highest Score 83.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1989 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Kansas City MO placed 17 with a score of 78.800
Highest Score 84.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1990 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Buffalo NY placed 15 with a score of 84.050
Highest Score 82.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1991 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Dallas TX placed 16 with a score of 80.200
Highest Score 82.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1992 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Madison WI placed 14 with a score of 82.200
Highest Score 83.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1993 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Jackson MS placed 14 with a score of 82.400
Highest Score 83.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1994 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Foxboro MA placed 13 with a score of 82.600
Highest Score 77.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1995 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Buffalo NY placed 16 with a score of 74.400
Highest Score 77.100
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1996 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Orlando FL placed 16 with a score of 74.700
Highest Score 82.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1997 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Orlando FL placed 15 with a score of 80.500
Highest Score 81.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1998 DCI World Championships Semi Finals Orlando FL placed 15 with a score of 81.200
Highest Score 88.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1999 DCI World Championships Madison WI placed 9 with a score of 88.600
Highest Score 92.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2000 DCI World Championships College Park MD placed 5 with a score of 92.350
Highest Score 89.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2001 DCI Championships - DCI I Finals Buffalo NY placed 9 with a score of 88.800
Highest Score 92.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2002 World Championships Finals Madison WI placed 5 with a score of 92.400
Highest Score 92.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2003 DCI Championships - Div I Finals Orlando FL placed 6 with a score of 90.950
Highest Score 91.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 2004 DCI World Championships - Div I Finals Denver CO placed 9 with a score of 90.525
Highest Score 89.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2005 DCI World Championships - Div I Finals Foxboro MA placed 9 with a score of 88.400
Highest Score 89.325
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2006 DCI World Championships - Division I Finals Madison WI placed 10 with a score of 87.325
Highest Score 89.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2007 DCI World Championships Finals Pasadena CA placed 9 with a score of 89.100
Highest Score 88.975
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2008 World Class Finals Bloomington IN placed 10 with a score of 87.275
Highest Score 91.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2009 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 7 with a score of 90.700
Highest Score 90.950
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 2010 World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 9 with a score of 89.350
Highest Score 90.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2011 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 8 with a score of 90.650
Highest Score 89.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2012 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 7 with a score of 89.100
Highest Score 90.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2013 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 8 with a score of 90.400
Highest Score 89.125
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2014 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 10 with a score of 88.950
Highest Score 86.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2015 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 10 with a score of 86.800
Highest Score 85.800
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2016 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 12 with a score of 84.800
Highest Score 93.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2017 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 6 with a score of 92.963
Highest Score 94.588
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2018 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN United States placed 5 with a score of 94.313
Highest Score 94.488
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2019 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN United States placed 6 with a score of 94.488
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Adams, Craig | Mellophone | 2018 |
Agwu, Christopher | Soprano | 2003 |
Allen, David | Baritone | 1986 to 1989 |
Armstrong, Craig | Visual Tech | 2002 |
Aschenbeck, Kurt | contra | 2001 to 2002 |
Barrasso, Rick | Soprano Horn | 1965 to 1967 |
Bauer, Matthew | Front Ensemble | 2006 to 2007 |
Bell, Colin | Percussion/Snare Line | 2001 to 2003 |
Benz, Mike | Soprano, DM | 2000 to 2003 |
Bordonaro, Mike | soprano | 1965 to 1966 |
Bretl, Mark | Brass - Soprano | 1998 |
Broadbent, Dan | Baritone | 2002 |
Bruno, Javier | Contra | 2003 |
Buckley, Gordon | Percussion | 1955 to 1958 |
Burris, Jason | Snare | 2005 to 2009 |
Charles, Brittany | Baritone | 2004 to 2008 |
Clark, Mike | Bassline | 2000 to 2001 |
Clermont, Dan | Trumpet | 2006 |
Cochran, Courtlon | soprano (trumpet) | 1999 to 2002 |
Compton, Ron | Percussion | 1985 to 1986 |
Conant, Leah | Baritone | 1989 |
Cooper, George | Contra | 1975 to 1978 |
Cox, Kristian | contra | 2006 |
Curley, David | soprano | 1996 |
Dam, Patrick | Percussion Snare | 2005 to 2007 |
Damon, Steve | Baritone | 1991 |
Diaz, John-David | contra | 2004 to 2005 |
Diego, Jonathon | Baritone | 1998 to 2000; 2002 |
Diego, Jonathon | Baritones | 1998 to 2000; 2002 to 2003 |
Dorr, Erik | Percussion | 1979 to 1980 |
Dubil, Mike | Soprano | 1981 to 1982 |
Duca, Steve | BAC Soprano/soloist | 1959 to 1965 |
Dugan, Ray | Snare | 1987 |
Escobar, Oscar | Mellophone | 1998 to 2000 |
Evans, Jonathan | Percussion | 1982; 1984 |
Faison, Matt | Pit | 2005 |
Fallon, Ray | Brass Instructor/ Arranger | 1992 to 1996 |
Fallon, Tammy | Color Guard | 1992 to 2002 |
Fischer, Brian | Baritone | 2002 to 2005 |
Fitzsimmons, F. Roy | Color Guard | 1955 |
Gallagher, Tim | Admin Team | 2012 to 2013 |
Gehling, Roger | Soprano | 1990 to 1991 |
Gerke, Andrew | Horn Line | 2005 |
Gerlach, Dusty | Baritone | 1978 |
Glimenakis, Nick | Tenors | 2008 |
Glosson, Justin | Contrabass | 2002 |
Godin, Jason | Percussion | 1989 to 1990; 1994 to 1996; 2000 |
Gorecki, Thomas | Soprano | 2006 to 2007 |
Gramazio, John | Colorguard | 1999 |
Grassie, Nicole | pit/Bass Line | 2002 to 2003 |
Graves, Mark | Trumpet | 2007 |
Greer, Dan | Drumline | 1987 to 1990 |
Grelle, Frank | Instructor | 1995 |
Grondin, Kristen | Baritone | 1999 |
Grondin, Kristen | Baritone | 1999 |
Guzewicz, Paul | Baritone | 2003 |
Healion, Carol | Guard | 1987 to 1991 |
Hernandez, Gregorio | Baritone | 2001 |
Hill, Bob | Tympani - Part Year | 1973 |
Hogan, Lorna | Drumline | 1983 to 1986 |
Holodnak, Christy | Color Guard | 2002 |
Hopfgarten, Paul | Contra Bass, Baritone | 1976 to 1978 |
Hulbert, Jamie | Front Ensemble | 2000 to 2003 |
Jalm, Carl | Mellophone | 2008 |
Jennings, Dick | Drum Line | 1958 to 1960 |
Jezierski, Daryl | Cymbals | 1997 |
Jimenez, Matt | Trumpet | 2004 |
Kelly, Dan | Horn line/DM | 1963 to 1966 |
Kennedy, Robert | Baritone | 1973 to 1980 |
Kennedy, Robert | Soprano | 1973 |
Kennedy, Robert | Baritone | 1974 to 1980 |
Kohl, Adam | Contrabass | 2002 |
Lafond, David | Soprano, Flugel Horn | 1987 to 1990 |
Lapie, Alex | contra | 1975 |
Lapie, Alex | Contrabass | 1975 |
Lazaro, James | Euphonium/Contra | 1999 to 2003 |
Leahy, Jim | French Horn Line | 1967 to 1970 |
Lennox, Christopher | Bass Tech | 2010 to 2013 |
MacDonald, Steve | C.B.S. | 1989 to 1991 |
MacFadden, Oliver | Soprano | 2001 |
Marinilli, Joe | Soprano | 2013 |
Marion, Brandon | Front Ensemble | 1999 to 2006 |
Markel, Amanda | Baritone | 2001 to 2002 |
Marquis, Stephane | Baritone | 1989 |
Martinez, Adrian | Contrabass | 2002 to 2003 |
Miller, Michael | Trumpet | 2006 |
Miller, Michael | Drum Major | 2007 to 2008 |
Miller, Michael | Trumpet | 2006 |
Miller, Michael | Drum Major | 2007 to 2008 |
Mitchell, David | Percussion | 1987 to 1989 |
Morris, Jack | Soprano/Baritone | 1963 to 1966 |
Mroz, Jeff | Baritone | 2000 |
Mroz, Jeff | Contra | 2001 to 2003 |
Muter, Bill | Contrabass | 2001 to 2005 |
Nokutis, Jenny | Mellophone | 2005 |
O'Leary, Ryan | Soprano | 2002 |
O'Leary, Ryan | Soprano | 2002 to 2007 |
Oram, Leanne | Hornline | 1990 |
Oram, Leanne | Guard | 1991 to 1992 |
Pereda, Tiffany | colorguard | 2003 to 2005 |
Perez, Carlos | Color Guard | 2000 |
Proulx, Maxime | Bass line | 2005 |
Reed, Mike | Drumline | 1996 to 1998 |
Reppert, Shannon | Guard | 1998 |
Reyes, Tony | Baritone | 2003 to 2005 |
Reynolds, David | Hornline, Drum Major | 1989 to 1995 |
Richard, Kristen “KK” | Visual Staff | 2010 |
Richard, Kristen “KK” | Brass Staff | 2013 |
Romo, Angela | color guard | 2004; 2006 to 2007 |
Sargent, Richard | Contra | 2005 to 2008 |
Serrano, Thomas | Baritone | 1999 |
Sharpe, John | visual staff | 2006 |
Shumate, Rebecca | brass (baritone) | 1998 |
Sierra, Jason | SnareLine | 2000 to 2003 |
Slauson, Ryann | Front Ensemble | 2004 to 2005 |
Speeler, Christine | Mellophone | 1999 to 2000 |
Stevenson, Rob | Drumline-Snare | 1999 to 2000 |
Tibbitts, Virginia | Baritone | 2001 |
Torres, Josh | tuba | 2007 |
Tremblay, David | Front Ensemble / Pit | 1988 |
W, R | staff | 1998 |
Weissert, Fred | Baritone | 1985 |
Wheeler, Kenny | Brass | 1964 to 1969 |
Wheeler, Kenny | Soprano | 1964 to 1969 |
White, Tony | Brass | 1969 |
Williams, Justine | auditioning on mello | 2006 |
Williams, Phil | Percussion | 1992 to 1994 |
Winchester, Edward | Baritone | 1973 to 1974 |
Witherell, Jeremy | Baritone | 1996 to 1997 |
Witherell, Jeremy | Contrabass | 1998 to 1999 |
Witherell, Jeremy | Drum Major | 2000 to 2001 |
Witherell, Jeremy | Brass Staff | 2002 to 2005 |
Woodfin, Aaron | Drumline | 2003 |
Zearfoss, Patrick | Bass Drum | 2003 |
bray jr, jim | horn section | 1979 to 1980 |
darcy, robert | dl | 1970 to 1972 |
del Rivero, Tony | Bassline | 2002 |
leverette, jeff | Soprano | 2009 |
madden, maureen | soprano | 1995 to 2001 |
matson-brown, cheryl | colorguard | 1969 to 1972 |
mitchell, kimberly | mellophone | 1999 to 2000 |
rojas, jeffrey | contra | 2002 |
sullivan, john | Bari | 1962 to 1968 |
CORPS 61 items
LOADING.....