John philip sousa biography
John philip sousa biography
John philip sousa family tree...
BIOGRAPHY OF
THE MARCH KING:
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
Sousa first received acclaim in military band circles with the writing of his march “The Gladiator” in 1886.
In 1888, he wrote “Semper Fidelis”, which he dedicated to “the officers and men of the Marine Corps.” It is traditionally known as the “official” march of the Marine Corps.
Under Sousa, the Marine Band also made its first recordings.
The phonograph was a relatively new invention, and the Columbia Phonograph Company sought a military band to record. The Marine Band was chosen, and 60 cylinders were released in the fall of 1890. By 1897, more than 400 different titles were available for sale, placing Sousa’s marches among the first and most popular pieces ever recorded, and making the Marine Band one of the world’s first “recording stars.”
After two successful but limited tours with the Marine Band in 1891 and 1892, promoter David Blakely convinced Sousa