Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps
The Crossmen is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the Crossmen is a member corps of Drum Corps International.
Corps History
The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps was founded on October 1, 1974, by a merger of two suburban Philadelphia drum and bugle corps, the Keystone Regiment and the 507 Hornets. The name "Crossmen" was chosen, from a list of 43 proposed names, by the members of the new corps in recognition of American Legion Post 507, which was named in honor of World War I veteran John Welsey Cross. Beginning in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the corps has, over the years, been based in several other communities. Their longest stays were in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Newark, Delaware.The Crossmen were competitively successful from the start, winning the Eastern States Circuit Championship from 1975 to 1981. In 1977, the corps won the American Legion Junior D&B National Championship in Denver. In 1981, they won the VFW Nationals in Philadelphia.
In the winter of 1996, on the verge of folding, the corps became one of the programs sponsored by Youth Education in the Arts, an organization which also included The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and the United States Scholastic Band Association. As a member of YEA!, the corps was then based in Allentown, PA. In the autumn of 2006, the corps relocated to San Antonio and separated from YEA! in late August 2007.
The Crossmen have been DCI Top Twelve Finalists twenty-nine times; the first time in 1977, the latest in 2019.
Sponsorship
The corps is a program of Crossmen Productions, Inc. of San Antonio, TX. This is a 501 musical organization aiming to "enrich and shape the lives of young performers through music education and the performing arts." As such, it has a Board of Directors, director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. Natalie Steele is the organization's Executive Director.Show summary (1975-2020)
Source:Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | Result |
| 1975 | Overture to a New Era by Caesar Giovannini / Spanish Trip by Stanley Myers / Gospel John / Journey to the Center of the Earth by Rick Wakeman | 68.800 | 24th | |
| 1976 | Overture to a New Era by Caesar Giovannini / Spanish Trip by Stanley Myers / Let's Hear It For Me by John Kander and Fred Ebb / Tico–Tico by Jose Abreu, Aloyosio Oliviera, and Ervin Drake / Color My World & Make Me Smile by James Pankow | Disqualified | ||
| 1977 | Marche Slav by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Let's Hear It For Me by John Kander and Fred Ebb / Nadia's Theme & Bless the Beasts and the Children by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr. / Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed | 81.300 | 11th | |
| 1978 | Jazz Rhapsody by Patrick Williams / Something by George Harrison / It's Gonna Be a Great Day by Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu, and Vincent Youmans / Let's Hear It For Me by John Kander and Fred Ebb / Tico–Tico by Jose Abreu, Aloyosio Oliviera, and Ervin Drake / Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed | 82.450 | 9th | |
| 1979 | Slavonic Dance No. 1 by Antonín Dvořák / Meeting of the Spirits by John McLaughlin / Tiger of San Pedro by John LaBarbera / Planet Krypton, Main Theme & Can You Read My Mind by John Williams / Theme from the Adventures of Superman by Leon Klatzkin | 81.700 | 13th | |
| 1980 | Pictures De Espana by Larry Kershner / Tiger of San Pedro by John LaBarbera / Spanish Fantasy by Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea / Jack Miraculous by Gino Vannelli / Superman Medley by John Williams | 81.900 | 8th | |
| 1981 | Explosion by Sol Kaplan / Something by George Harrison / Spanish Fantasy by Chick Corea / Bustling by Sammy Nestico / Overture to Rocky II by Bill Conti | 86.500 | 8th | |
| 1982 | Artistry in Rhythm by Stan Kenton / Shoshana by Mark Levine / Canto del Viento by Anthony Yaklich / Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed | 88.500 | 7th | |
| 1983 | Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla by Mikhail Glinka / Concerto del Rodrigo by Joaquín Rodrigo / Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed | 78.600 | 13th | |
| 1984 | Russlan and Ludmilla by Mikhail Glinka / Shoshana by Mark Levine / Canto del Viento by Anthony Yaklich / Let Me Try Again by Caravelli, Paul Anka, and Sammy Cahn | 86.300 | 10th | |
| 1985 | Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh / El Toro Loca / Yatrata by Tania Maria / Casals Suite by Larry Kerchner | 80.400 | 17th | |
| 1986 | Jazz Rhapsody by Patrick Williams / Not While I'm Around by Stephen Sondheim / Street Dancing by Kenneth Nash / Sweeney Todd Suite by Stephen Sondheim | 73.100 | 21st | |
| 1987 | Summertime by George Gershwin / Dance by Matt Krempasky / Rumble by Chick Corea / Space Shuttle by John LaBarbera | 81.600 | 16th | |
| 1988 | Cherokee by Ray Noble / The Waltz by Rob McConnell / Summertime by George Gershwin | 85.600 | 14th | |
| 1989 | Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico / The Waltz by Rob McConnell / How High The Moon by Morgan Lewis and Nancy Hamilton | 84.000 | 12th | |
| 1990 | Baroque Samba by Darmon Meader / 'Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk / Caravan by Juan Tizol / Now or Never by Caprice Fox, Darmon Meader, Kim Nazarian, Peter DeRose, Peter Eldridge, and Sara Krieger | 89.600 | 7th | |
| 1991 | Pat Metheny Suite | Last Train Home by Pat Metheny / Minuano by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Dream of the Return by Pat Metheny and Pedro Aznar / Third Wind by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays | 89.700 | 8th |
| 1992 | Songs for the Planet Earth | Begin Sweet World by Bill Douglas / Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley / The Four Elements by Matt Krempasky and Mark Thurston / The Rain Forest by Karl Lundeberg / Under the Sun by John Clark, Paul Halley, Paul McCandless, Glen Velez, and Paul Winter | 92.200 | 6th |
| 1993 | Songs for the Planet Earth Part II: A Celebration of Humanity | Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland / Myth America by Karl Lundeberg / Koto Song by Dave Brubeck / River Music by Eugene Friesen and Paul Winter / Freda by Kenny Baker / Anthem by Paul Halley | 89.600 | 8th |
| 1994 | Songs for the Planet Earth Part III: Suite Children | Land of Make Believe by Chuck Mangione / Children Will Listen by Stephen Sondheim / Pop Goes the Weasel / Songs for the Planet Earth - Finale by Michael Klesch | 88.400 | 7th |
| 1995 | The School for Scandal - Overture by Samuel Barber * Symphony for Brass and Percussion by Alfred Reed | 85.100 | 10th | |
| 1996 | The Voices of Jazz | The Sultan Fainted by Darmon Meader and Peter Eldridge / A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square by Manning Sherwin and Eric Maschwitz / Birdland by Joe Zawinul | 85.500 | 8th |
| 1997 | The Colors of Jazz | Birdland by Joe Zawinul / You are My Sunshine by Oliver Hood of The Rice Brothers Gang © by Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis / Niner Two by Don Ellis | 93.000 | 6th |
| 1998 | The Music of Pat Metheny | Third Wind by Lyle Mays and Pat Metheney, Letter From Home by Pat Metheney, First Circle by Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays | 91.400 | 7th |
| 1999 | Changing Perspectives: A Silver Celebration | Blue Shades by Frank Ticheli / When October Goes by Barry Manilow and Johnny Mercer / Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley | 87.000 | 10th |
| 2000 | Clubbin' with the Crossmen | In the Mood by Wingy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaf / Caravan by Juan Tizol / Nobody Does Me by Rod Temperton / Birdland by Joe Zawinul | 88.550 | 9th |
| 2001 | Late Night Jazz | Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers / Flying Home by Benny Goodman, Eddie DeLange, and Lionel Hampton / Guaguancó by Arturo Sandoval / Fire Dance by Allen Vizzutti and Jeff Tkazyik | 91.150 | 7th |
| 2002 | The Signature Series | The Heat of the Day by Lyle Mays and Pat Metheney / Candle in the Window by Frank Wildhorn / Strawberry Soup by Don Ellis | 89.100 | 9th |
| 2003 | Colors | Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg / Welcome to the St. James Club by Russ Freeman / Blue Rondo à la Turk by Dave Brubeck / Count Bubba by Gordon Goodwin | 86.900 | 9th |
| 2004 | E Pluribus Unum | Jubal Step by Wynton Marsalis / Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell / Puma by Full Circle | 87.425 | 11th |
| 2005 | Crossroads | Classical Gas by Mason Williams / Radar Love by George Kooymans and Barry Hay / So Far Away by Carole King / Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Jim Steinman | 84.050 | 14th |
| 2006 | Changing Lanes | Prelude to a Drive / Cruisin' by Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny / Caribe by Michel Camilo / If I Had My Way by Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy / Shortcut Home by Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer | 81.250 | 15th |
| 2007 | Metamorphosis | Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed / First Circle by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Birdland by Joe Zawinul / Symphonic Metamorphosis & Symphony in B♭ by Paul Hindemith / The Crow by DJ Food / P5 by Aaron Guidry | 81.600 | 16th |
| 2008 | Planet X | Jupiter, Mars & Mercury by Gustav Holst / What a Wonderful World by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss | 85.950 | 13th |
| 2009 | ForbiddeN | Dance of Vengeance by Samuel Barber / My Immortal by Amy Lee, Ben Moody, and David Hodges / ForbiddeN by Aaron Guidry | 81.650 | 16th |
| 2010 | Full Circle | First Circle & Heat of the Day by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Letter From Home by Pat Metheny / Minuano by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Full Circle by Aaron Guidry | 80.900 | 17th |
| 2011 | Renewal | Episode: Prelude by Nando Lauria / Ursa Major by Chuck Naffier / Spinning Wheel by David Clayton-Thomas / Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen / Back Home by Nando Lauria | 81.050 | 17th |
| 2012 | FRAGILE | Earth Song by Michael Jackson / Wailers by Bobby McFerrin and Roger Treece / PD7 by Anoushka Shankar / Here Comes the Flood by Peter Gabriel / FInding and Believing by Pat Metheny | 84.000 | 12th |
| 2013 | Protest | The Prophet's Song by Brian May / She's Too Good For Me by Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner / The Sound of Silence by Paul Simon / They Don't Care About Us by Michael Jackson / Some Nights by Jeff Bhasker, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, and Jack Antonoff / We Shall Overcome by Louise Shropshire, adapted & © by Pete Seeger, Guy Carawan, Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, and Myles Horton / Goodbye Blue Sky by Roger Waters / Find the Cost of Freedom by Neil Young | 84.850 | 14th |
| 2014 | Alma Gitana – A Gypsy Soul | Bulgaria by Peter Erskine / Erghen Diado by Peter Lionder / Emmanuel by Michel Colombier / Zambra by Macaco MonoLoco, Marina Abad, and Marina laCanillas / Habanera by Georges Bizet / Caravan by Juan Tizol | 86.225 | 12th |
| 2015 | Above & Beyond | Fly to Paradise by Eric Whitacre / Ascent by Andrew Markworth / Jubal Step by Wynton Marsalis / One Day I'll Fly Away by Joe Sample and Will Jennings / Butterfly by Mia Makaroff | 85.025 | 12th |
| 2016 | Continuum | Original composition by Andrew Markworth Inspired by The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi | 86.975 | 10th |
| 2017 | Enigma | The Question– Original composition by Andrew Markworth / Endless Possibilities– Kaleidoscope of Mathematics by James Horner / The Maze – Original composition by Andrew Markworth / Miranda by Michael Nyman / The Struggle – Exit Music by Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, and Phil Selway / The Lightbulb – Original composition by Andrew Markworth / Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson | 86.825 | 11th |
| 2018 | The In-Between | Funeral For A Friend by Elton John / Upside Down by Andrew Markworth / Symphony No. 6 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Sweetness Follows by Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry | 86.750 | 12th |
| 2019 | Valkyrie | Immigrant Song by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant / The Wolf by Andrew Markworth / Hurt by Trent Reznor / Ride Into Battle by Andrew Markworth, quoting Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner | 87.550 | 11th |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic |
Corps Traditions
Corps Music
There have been exceptions over the years, but the Crossmen have been widely known for playing jazz and world music programs. The official corps song is Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed, first played by the corps in 1977, the year they won their first national championship.Bones
Part of the mystique surrounding the Crossmen are references to "Bones." Immediately prior to the Crossmen's performance at major shows, Bones appears at the top of the back stands or in another prominent place to help inspire the corps' performance. Dressed in a 1978 Crossmen uniform with ankle-length red cape and a skull mask, Bones arrives as the corps enters the field, spreads his cape to audience approval, and then vanishes once the Crossmen begin their performance. Bones is considered by some people to be a mascot and apparent fan of the corps. The reality is that Bones is an unidentified alumnus who appears as a reminder of the corps' traditions.Bones is also the nickname for the corps and for the members who have marched there. The corps' most prominent motto is "When all else is gone, the Bones always remain."