Bill Kaufmann

ill Kaumann’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes his foundational role in creating the percussion identity that became one of the defining strengths of the Crossmen Drum Corps.

During the formative years of the organization, Bill helped establish an aggressive, forward-thinking style that would become a signature of the Crossmen percussion program. His approach to marching percussion was bold, distinctive, and often ahead of its time. Known for his unique and avant-garde ideas, Bill brought an energy and intensity to the drumline that helped set the Crossmen apart during a critical period in the corps’ development.

His work was especially evident in moments such as the 1978 “Tico-Tico” drum solo, which stood at the forefront of the aggressive percussion style that became closely associated with the Crossmen. Bill’s writing and teaching helped shape a line that was not only powerful, but also innovative — a percussion section that could stand among the best in the country.

Before the merger that created the Crossmen, Bill’s work with the 507 Hornets helped prepare a generation of talented and driven performers. When those members joined with the musicians from Keystone Regiment to form the new Crossmen organization, Bill’s influence became part of the foundation upon which the corps’ percussion legacy was built. Together with Eric Landis, he took a group of hungry young players and helped transform them into one of the most talked-about drumlines in DCI during the mid-to-late 1970s.

The impact of Bill’s teaching extended far beyond the seasons in which he directly served. The percussion tradition he helped establish influenced generations of Crossmen performers and educators. That legacy passed through names that would become deeply connected to the Crossmen and the wider drum corps activity, including Thom Hannum, Chris Thompson, Mark Thurston, Chris Feist, Darren Hazlett, and many others who carried the standard forward.

Bill’s influence can also be seen in the lives and careers of those he taught and inspired. Performers such as Thom Hannum, Chris Thompson, Rob Robinson, Mark Thurston, Eddie Boyer, Bob Gross, George Hopkins, and many others were shaped by the experience of being part of those early Crossmen percussion lines. For many, that experience was life-changing — not only musically, but personally.

As a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, Bill’s accomplishments in the broader percussion and drum corps community are already well recognized. But his place in the Crossmen Hall of Fame is rooted in something even deeper: the lasting and positive effect he had on his students, the standard he helped create, and the identity he helped give to the Crossmen percussion program.

For his innovative approach, his aggressive and distinctive percussion style, his profound influence on generations of performers and educators, and his role in laying the foundation for decades of Crossmen percussion excellence, we proudly honor Bill Kaumann as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame.