John Philip Sousa: The March King
American composer and conductor renowned as 'The March King' for his iconic military and patriotic marches.
Born in Washington, D.
C., Sousa showed early musical talent.
He joined the United States Marine Band as an apprentice at 13.
Served as its conductor from 1880 to 1892.
Formed his own highly successful civilian concert band, Sousa's Band, in 1892.
Composed over 130 marches, including 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' (national march of the USA), 'Semper Fidelis' (official march of the U.
S. Marine Corps), and 'The Washington Post'.
Also composed operettas, suites, and other works.
Pioneered the sousaphone, a large brass instrument designed for marching bands.
Led his band on extensive international tours.
Died of heart failure in Reading, Pennsylvania.
- Sousa was a staunch advocate for composers' rights and copyright protection, famously criticizing the emerging technology of recorded music for potentially harming live musicianship.
- His iconic march 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' was designated the National March of the United States by an Act of Congress in 1987.
- Sousa experienced a dramatic personal incident in 1910 when his wife, Jane, disappeared for several days; she was found unharmed but disoriented near their home, likely suffering a temporary mental breakdown.
- He died unexpectedly at age 77 of heart failure in a hotel room in Reading, Pennsylvania, mere hours after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band. His death occurred the day before a scheduled performance.
