Collin Campbell began his drum corps life as a snare drummer in 1954, for his local fire department’s parade corps in East Rochester, New York. After five seasons, he played snare drum with the Ridge-Culver Statesmen of Irondequoit/Rochester. He was a snare drummer, drumline instructor and arranger for the Crusaders of Rochester, Irondequoit and Hilton from 1959 to 1969 and again from 1974 to1977. Under his direction, the Crusaders were the top drum line at the American Legion (AL) National Championships in Portland, Oregon, and took top honors the following year at the AL Nationals in Washington, DC. He was a performer, instructor and arranger with the Hamburg Kingsmen from 1970 to 1973. He was instructor and arranger for the Alpine Girls drum and bugle corps of Rochester for 11 seasons, and for three high school bands and three other junior corps. He was an active member of the All American and New York State Federation of Contest Judges in 1973-74 and from 1978 to 1980. He served on various Drum Corps Associates (DCA) committees from 1966 to 1977 and the Crusaders’ board of directors from 1960 to 1969.
