Alumni Feature: Kevin Armbruster

Kevin Armbruster: 1972-1980 Brass

Kevin Armbruster got his drum corps fix started before age 10, when the Marion Cadets sent their feeder corps to nearby town for a parade.  Kevin was hooked, and drum corps was in his future plans even at a young age.  Fortunately for the Bluecoats, Kevin's family soon moved to Canton, Ohio and a lo and behold, new drum corps was starting up in 1972.  The McKinley High School band member jumped in with the corps playing soprano.

Kevin marched through the 1970s and after the 1980 inactive year made a decision to age-out with the 27th Lancers from Massachusetts, coming off a 2nd place finish and an Olympics Ceremony performance.  He returned to the Bluecoats in 1982 to begin teaching brass. After the corps second inactive year in 1983, Kevin was tabbed to help staff and rebuild the third attempt of the corps.  Kevin served as Brass Caption Head for many years and was on board for the corps debut into DCI's top 12 in 1987.

Kevin's playing days are far from over.  He is the trumpet with a Northeast Ohio band called Verve Daddy, "a group of six guys with rock and roll, blues, country and garage roots." You can find band info on the web, Facebook and their most recent album that Kevin plays on over at iTunes or CDBaby.  Check him out on the band's video below of their original chart We Were Just Growin' Up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC5pcXrWPiM

Kevin's family serves as one of the true Bluecoat families.  Kevin's dad was the Booster Club president and designed the original logo and first corps jacket, as well as many other early souvenir items.  Siblings Jeff, Julie and Amy all marched with the corps, with Jeff and Julie serving briefly as staff.  Kevin married another Bluecoat, color guard member Renee Wood, who was also a key part of the rebuilt Bluecoats staff after 1983.   Married in 1986, Kevin and Renee have two children and now one grandchild.