Eric Landis

Eric Landis’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes his essential role in shaping the early Crossmen percussion tradition and helping build one of the most respected drumlines in the drum corps activity.

Eric brought a highly distinctive musical voice to the Crossmen organization. His unique approach to writing helped define the sound and character of the early corps, contributing to a percussion program that was musical, memorable, and deeply influential. During his tenure, his work included such notable charts as “Marche Slav,” “Something,” and the 1976 Chicago medley — music that became part of the identity and energy of the Crossmen during their formative years.

Before the merger that created the Crossmen, Eric’s work with Keystone Regiment helped develop a group of talented and motivated percussionists. When Keystone Regiment and the 507 Hornets came together, the merging of those two percussion traditions created something truly special. Eric’s teaching, writing, and leadership helped guide that transition and gave the new Crossmen percussion section a strong musical foundation.

Together with Bill Kaumann, Eric helped take a group of talented and hungry players and create a program that became one of the most talked-about drumlines in DCI through the mid-to-late 1970s. Each had his own style and strengths, but their shared commitment to the members and to the corps showed the value of working together for a greater cause. There were no egos — only the desire to give their lines the very best they could as a team.

Under that influence, the Crossmen percussion section became a force among the great percussion sections in the country, particularly in 1977 and 1978. More importantly, Eric helped establish a culture of excellence that would continue to shape the corps for decades. The foundation he helped build supported the development of future Crossmen percussion leaders and educators, including Thom Hannum, Chris Thompson, Mark Thurston, Chris Feist, Darren Hazlett, and the many students who followed in their footsteps.

Eric’s impact was not limited to notes on a page or performances on the field. His teaching helped shape people. The men and women who were part of those early Crossmen percussion lines carried the lessons they learned into their own lives and careers. Among those influenced by Bill and Eric were Thom Hannum, Chris Thompson, Rob Robinson, Mark Thurston, Eddie Boyer, Bob Gross, George Hopkins, and many others whose drum corps experience became a defining part of who they became.

As a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, Eric’s contributions to the activity have been recognized beyond the Crossmen. Yet his induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame honors something especially meaningful: his role in helping establish the corps’ percussion identity and his profound, positive influence on the people he taught.

For his distinctive musical voice, his influential writing and teaching, his leadership during the earliest years of the Crossmen, and his role in building the foundation for more than 30 years of Crossmen percussion excellence, we proudly honor Eric Landis as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame.