Ray Baumgardt, notable arranger for the Madison Scouts in the 1970s, was selected to be a 2010 inductee to the DCI Hall of Fame. Joining Ray will be be Robert Smith who came to prominence as the brass arranger for the Suncoast Sound in the 1980s, and Brandt Crocker, the "voice of DCI" since 1972.

Ray Baumgardt is most remembered for his work with the Madison Scouts in the 1970s, but overall he was one of the drum corps activity’s most prolific music arrangers. At the head of early “concept shows,” Baumgardt arranged “Alice in Wonderland” for the Madison Scouts as well as the Cavaliers’ groundbreaking 1971 “Circus Show.” Throughout his drum corps career, Baumgardt created some of the most memorable drum corps arrangements of all time including “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” “McArthur Park,” “The Way We Were,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Ballet in Brass” and “Brian’s Song.” Also working with the Spirit of Atlanta, Cavaliers, Troopers, 27th Lancers, Colts, Capitolaires and the Erie Thunderbirds Senior Corps, his work influenced an entirely new generation of drum corps arrangers.Baumgardt served as the Madison Scouts’ musical director from 1969 through 1979. Hall of Fame member James Elvord, credits Baumgardt for the corps’ revival from its “dark ages” in the 1960s. Paul Litteau, who worked as a visual consultant with the Madison Scouts at the same time as Baumgardt’s contributions to the corps, sums up Ray’s contributions to the activity stating, “The loud and long standing ovations still ringing through stadiums many years later give testimony to the audience appeal and accessibility of Ray’s work.”Baumgardt passed away in Feburary 1998.READ MORE AT DCI.ORG >