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Do you recognize this famous face?
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Did You Know This Famous Person?
By Mike McLeod
John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, DC, on Nov. 6, 1854. His father was
a member of the Marine Corps Band, which John Philip Sousa would eventually
become the conductor of in 1880 at the age of 26. As a lad, John wanted to join
a circus band, but he father forbade it and enlisted his son in the Marine Corps
Band. He left the band at 20 and returned six years later as director.
Sousa
wrote many marches, including "Stars and Stripes Forever" and the official march
of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis." His march-composing talent earned him the
title of "March King."
Sousa left the Marine Corps Band after 12 years to
form his own band. It toured the U.S. and Europe and was the first to go around
the world. Sousa's band was perhaps the only one to have its own baseball team,
and Sousa was the pitcher. The team played against local teams and other bands
as they traveled.
John Philip Sousa brought classical musical and
professional performances to towns and people all across America, many of whom
had never experienced quality music. Sousa was beloved by Americans everywhere
and people around the world.
Contrary to popular belief, he did not invent
the musical instrument called a Sousaphone. In a statement in the Christian
Science Monitor in 1922, he named the inventor as J.W. Pepper. As he related the
story, Sousa asked Pepper for a tuba that would not project sound straight ahead
during concerts, considering it too forceful. Pepper created an instrument with
an upward turned bell and called it a "Sousaphone" in honor of the March
King.
John Philip Sousa died in 1932. His gravesite is located in
Washington's Congressional Cemetery.
Group Photo above: Sousa's touring band also had a touring
baseball team. (Courtesy Bauer
Brothers Music Company, Library of Congress.)
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