Bob Morrison - DCI Hall of Fame

Bob Morrison

Inducted in 2019

Bob Morrison has been referred to by many as “the father of the front ensemble” and has long been a tireless advocate for music education in schools.

A former member of the Crossmen (1979-1982), he worked with DCI Hall of Fame member Thom Hannum on the Garfield Cadets percussion staff (1983-1986).

“With his guidance, Garfield became the first drum corps to incorporate a complete concert percussion ensemble into the activity and the era of the ‘front ensemble’ or ‘pit’, was born,” said Hannum. “This was history in the making and changed drum corps forever. Every marching ensemble around the world has embraced the approach Bob pioneered.”

After his time with The Cadets, Morrison worked with Santa Clara Vanguard between 1987 and 1992.

“Bob really invented the modern pit and brought new textures and timbres that had never before been heard in drum corps,” DCI Hall of Fame member Michael Cesario said. “His work exhibited such sensitivity and musicality that he changed forever the face of DCI.”

Morrison’s passion for music advocacy came to the fore when he accepted a leadership position with the National Association of Music Merchants in 1993 as Global Director of Marketing Development, a position he stayed in until 2008. He oversaw the promotion and implementation of the National Standards for Arts Education, led the battle to have the arts included in federal law as a core subject, and led the creation of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

In 1998, he was hired as the first CEO of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, raising more than $25 million to restore music in 1,200 schools. In 2006, he engineered the merger of the Music for All advocacy organization with Bands of America. His research into music education programs in California led to a $1 billion investment in restoring and expanding music and arts education programs for more than six million students. His prior work toward changing federal law resulted in music being listed in the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act federal education law as a necessary part of a well-rounded K-12 public education.

In 2002, Morrison was inducted into the Cadets Hall of Fame for his contributions as an arranger and instructor and was inducted into the Crossmen Hall of Fame in 2013. He has received a Prime Time Emmy Award and the distinguished Peabody Award for his work with Save the Music, and has also been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the State University of New York for his lifetime commitment to music education.

Hall of Fame Induction Speech