Dennis DeLucia

PAS, DCI, WGI & World Drum Corps Hall of Fame

Dennis was the first percussionist inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame (1991), along with the late Fred Sanford. He has also been inducted into the WGI Hall of Fame (2006) and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame (1990) making him the only person who has ever been inducted into all three of the major “marching arts” halls.

DeLucia grew up in Bergenfield, NJ where he was mentored by the late Dr. Bernard Baggs, Mr. Donald Angelica and Mr. Bobby Thompson. He graduated from Bergenfield HS and Upsala College, and performed in the West Point Band’s prestigious “Hellcats” for three years. In 1981, his drumlines won the only “Triple Crown” in drum corps history, winning percussion honors with the Bridgemen (DCI), Sunrisers (DCA) and Fantasia III (DCI Class “A”). He has appeared as a commentator/analyst on every DCI broadcast since 1994 on PBS, ESPN2 and the Regal Cinema chains for Fathom Events. He is the narrator on the DVDs of “The Historic Drummers Heritage Concert” and “The Rudiment Project” for the Percussive Arts Society and “Hand Technique and Rudiments” for Hudson Music. DeLucia has judged band competitions since 1985 and WGI “Indoor” Percussion Championships every year since 1995. He was an Associate Professor of Percussion at Rutgers University from 1996 until 2003.

Although best known for his work with drum corps (Muchachos, Bridgemen, Star of Indiana, Crossmen, Sunrisers and Caballeros), the Rutgers University Band and many high school bands, including Piscataway HS in NJ and Bunnell HS in CT, DeLucia has also written four books on the art of drumming and has recorded video drum lesson apps for Drum Guru.

DeLucia is an artist/clinician/consultant for Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Malletech eMotion sticks and mallets and Row-Loff publications. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Rene, daughter Chelsea and dog Ernie.