In a drum corps career that spanned two decades from 1949 to 1969, Jim D’Amico was a lead soprano for both the Holy Name Cadets and St. Joseph Cadets before graduating to the senior ranks as both instructor and lead soprano for such top-ranked corps as Hawthorne Caballeros, New York Skyliners and Ballantine Brewers. He also served as executive director, horn instructor and music arranger for Garfield Cadets. On the contest field, he was a field horns judge with the All American, national and Eastern States judging associations.