Tom
Float began his career in marching percussion on
the single tenor in a drum and baton corps in Pittsburgh,
PA. After moving to California, he
called a local trophy shop to get suggestions on
which drum & bugle corps to march and wound up
in the 1973 Diplomats (because in Tom's words, "I
called the Anaheim Kingsmen, but their phone was
busy). In 72-74, Tom marched
and aged out in the Kingsmen with Ralph Hardimon
- calling themselves "the heads" (because
they were easily a head taller than everyone else
in the line).
Tom's teaching career
began with the 1975 as an assistant to Sacramento
Freelancers' Don Silva. In 1976-77, Tom taught
with Al Murray at the Etobicoke-Oakland
Crusaders
and Spirit of Atlanta in 1978-81. Tom is probably
most remembered for his 1982-90 drumlines at the
Blue Devils, where he won 4 consecutive percussion
titles (1983, 84, 85, & 86). Since 1990, Float
has
worked
with the Velvet
Knights, developed music programs at Disneyland and
has performed marching percussion clinics throughout
the world. Tom recently was inducted into the D.C.I. Hall
of Fame. |
