Al Morrison, Drum Major

He was a soloist, section leader, writer and drum major. Al Morrison, AKA Blinky or Moe, originally started his drum corps career with Western Technical School Trumpet Band in Toronto. When the instructors left Western to go to Danforth Technical (Danforth Crusaders), Moe left Western to join them. When The Optimists invited those same instructors to form the Toronto Optimists, Moe was one of the first to move to the new Corps with most of the Crusaders. Moe became section head of the soprano section and was revered and feared by his charges. If you made a mistake, Moe would let you know. You didn’t want to make a mistake. At this same time, he was a soloist; his playing ability was outstanding.

Nineteen Sixty was Moe’s age-out year. He would become our Drum Major for Sixty-one. Because Moe had a musical background, he was one of the few Drum Majors who could handle the hornline as an instructor and was well respected for this ability. He also wrote fanfares for the Corps. He had a particular way of marching, always lifting one leg higher than the other when marking time – it became a trademark.

Moe designed his uniform as DM; it was a cadet-style jacket as opposed to the silks that drum majors for Optimists had worn previously; he retained the white pants and bucks. Moe’s uniform matched his no-nonsense demeanour when it came to playing in the line. His approach to being the drum major was more military than showy; it suited his personality. His tenure as a Major would only last one year. I had the impression that he never felt comfortable in that role.

Moe left The Optimists in the fall of 61 and became a featured soloist with the Jesters, later the Commanders. He would teach several Corps, including the Hamilton Firefighters, Oakville-Trafalgar Patrolmen, Hamilton Conqueror and De La Salle.

When the Optimists Alumni Corps was formed, Moe played for several years until his eyesight got so bad that he could no longer march. A friend of Al’s, the late Ed Law, wrote: “Al was the foundation of any corps he chose to be in—solid and reliable, level-headed and resolute in his belief that every member should give his best at all times when with the Corps.” “He could have gone to any corps in this area or any corps over the border with his talent level.”

Al Morrison, AKA Blinky or Moe, died in early April 2006. His funeral was held on April 12, 2006; the turnout for his funeral indicated how much his drum corps peers respected him.

(This page and the memories were written by Doug MacKenzie)