For Jim Dugan, the Drum Corps river is both deep and wide. He began drumming with the Connecticut Classics from ’69 to ’76, moving to the Milford Shoreliners for their ’77 World Open Championship season.
By 1980 he was a part of the legendary Bridgemen snare line under the tutelage of Hall of Fame percussionist, Dennis Delucia.
Under Jim’s guidance the Bushwackers drum line won 6 DCA percussion titles to complement the corps’ 6 DCA Championships. During that run, along with Robbie Robinson, another Hall of Famer, he designed and developed the iconic “Triple-Stack” bass drum array. While at Bush, Jim served as both instructor and director.
Other lines who reaped the benefits of his instruction have included the Sunrisers, Hurricanes and Caballeros.
Jim Dugan has had quite an influence on the course of that Drum Corps river.