September, 11th 2015- The Boston Crusaders is excited to announce the addition of Jay Murphy, Anthony Smith, and Brian Murphy to lead the 2016 design team.

JAY MURPHY– Legendary in the pageantry activity, Jay Murphy has spent years creating and staging successful indoor and outdoor programs.  Jay has collaborated and designed with the Blue Devils for nearly 35 years. Starting in 1981, Jay served in the role of Color Guard instructor until 1985. In 1986, Murphy became a member of the Blue Devils design team and in 1994 Murphy assumed the role of Visual Designer. Jay continues to help define the high standards of design and creativity for the Blue Devils organization. Jay Murphy will lead the 2016 Boston Crusaders Design team in the role of Program Designer.

An member of the WGI Sport of the Arts Hall of Fame, Jay Murphy has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the pageantry activity.  His programs credits include: San Jose Raiders, Blue Devils Winter Guards, Blessed Sacrament Color Guards, Imbue, St. Joseph’s Winter Guard, St. Anthony’s Imperials Winterguard, Clovis West, Mission Viejo and numerous marching bands throughout the United States and Canada.

Murphy states, “I worked with the Boston Crusaders from 1975-1980, 1994 and 1995. This role with Boston is like a homecoming of sorts and I am excited to be working with the Crusaders again in 2016. I believe that the Crusaders hold a unique position in our activity, and I am excited to see what the year has in store.”

Murphy is from Beverly, MA and currently lives in Walnut Creek, CA. Jay graduated from University Massachusetts Boston, MA and Marquette University, WI.

Boston Crusaders Executive Director Chris Holland states, “The Boston Crusader organization is committed to providing its membership and fan base with the very best possible drum corps experience. Jay Murphy is a master at program design and artistic design – and he brings that intimate knowledge of what is means to be a Boston Crusader. I couldn’t be more excited to have him leading the overall visual and musical design process.”

BRIAN MURPHY– We are honored to welcome back Brian Murphy to the 2016 design team. Murphy will take on the role of Visual Designer for the 2016 program. A respected WGI Sport of the Arts judge and visionary in the pageantry activity, Murphy was the lead designer for St. Ann’s Color Guard from 1991 to 2015, color guard caption head for the Boston Crusaders from 2000 to 2002, and the Visual Designer for the Crusaders from 2008 to 2012.

Murphy states, “ I am excited to get to work with the Boston Crusaders and alongside Jay Murphy. I have known Jay for years, but I have never had the opportunity to work with him directly. The Boston Crusaders has a great storied past and I look forward to adding to that story in the future.”

Holland states, “The heights of the Boston Crusaders modern success centered around Brian Murphy. I am thrilled that this opportunity to team up Jay Murphy and Brian Murphy presented itself. Our fans are in for quite a treat.”

ANTHONY SMITH– Anthony Smith will take on the role as Visual Design Consultant for the 2016 season. Holland states, “”I have had the privilege to know Tony for over 30 years.  He has had a tremendous influence on me personally and the Crusader organization.  His resume speaks for itself.  The work he has done in the marching arts and in his private work with ASI Designs has always been innovative and fresh.  We are fortunate to have him on board.”

With a drum corps career spanning more than 50 years, Anthony Smith has made a major impact on the activity as a percussionist, visual designer and through his work in administration and management.  He won several individual championships as a snare drummer.  As a member of Boston Crusaders at age 18, he helped design and played the first double bass drum in drum corps history.  When he auditioned for the United States Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps, not only was he accepted immediately but offered a teaching position moments after his audition.  However, he chose to attend private college instead of marching.  He helped restructure the Boston Crusaders in 1983 to keep the corps from folding then remained corps director until 1995.  Since he rejoined the Concord Blue Devils in 2006 as visual design consultant the corps has won three Drum Corps International (DCI) titles.  He had also been design consultant from 1979 to 1982.  As the visual caption chairman for Drum Corps Associates (DCA)), he has helped pioneer a new judging system that takes into effect the entertainment values of field programs.  He began judging percussion and visual captions for DCI, DCA and MJA in the early 1970s.  He has been a drill designer or consultant with such well-known units as New York Skyliners, Crossmen, Boston Crusaders.  He joined Boston Crusaders in 1962 as a baritone player then switched to play snare drum with the Valiants for two years before returning to Crusaders in 1965.  His brother Neal Smith was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2008.