The 2008 Boston Crusaders.

The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class drum and bugle corps based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are a charter member of Drum Corps International. The Boston Crusaders are under the direction of Executive Director Thomas Spataro.

[edit] Corps History

Founded in 1940, the Boston Crusaders are one of the oldest corps still in existence. Over the course of their history, the corps has been renamed twice, first called the Most Precious Blood Crusaders and then the Hyde Park Crusaders. During a financially bleak period in the corps' history, the corps competed only under the name Boston, returning to competition with their proper name after a return from near bankruptcy. The corps was also a very early adopter of electronic equipment, using a synthesizer during their 1985 show (electronic amplification was not legalized in the DCI circuit until the 2004 season, and electronic instruments will not be legal until the 2009 season; the Crusaders willingly took a large penalty (2 points) for illegal equipment used in the show).

The Boston Crusaders are consistent DCI finalists, making their first break into finals in 1999. Their highest finishes in DCI were in 2000 and 2002, when they placed fifth. The corps' 2000 show, RED, was selected by popular vote to appear on the 2005 Classic Countdown, a movie theater showing of the twelve voted best shows of DCI history, with one show for each corps.

[edit] Awards and Achievements

VFW National Silver Medalist - 1970
VFW National Bronze Medalist - 1953, 1954, 1966
VFW National Finalist - 1958, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1976

American Legion National Championships Silver Medalist - 1966, 1967
American Legion National Championships Bronze Medalist - 1977
American Legion National Championships - 1957

World Open Champions - 1966, 1967
World Open Silver Medalist - 1965, 1968, 1969
World Open Finalist - 1963, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
World Open Prelims - 1973, 1974

CYO National Champions - 1964, 1966, 1967
CYO National Silver Medalist - 1965, 1968
CYO National Finalist - 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980

US Open Finalist - 1978

DCI Finalist - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
DCI Semifinalist - 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
DCI Quarterfinalist - 1976, 1979
DCI Prelims - 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982
DCI Spirit of Disney award - 2000

[edit] External links

• Boston Crusaders homepage
• Corps' DCI Site
• Boston Crusaders repertoires at Corpsreps