From the June 6th Chicago Tribune "Made in America: A century later, John Philip Sousa's marches still quickn the pulse" by Howard Reich.
As we get ready for the second weekend of this nine-day 4th of July celebration, it is only fitting that we salute a man who could very-well be called Mr. Fourth of July, and that would be Mr. Sousa.
"What Scott Joplin did for ragtime and Jelly Roll Morton for jazz, John Philip Sousa achieved for another expression of the American spirit-- the march."
However, the first two created indigenous American genres whereas Sousa took on a European form and re-energized and took it to new heights.
His great grandson, John Philip Sousa IV, is co-author of the new book "John Philp Sousa's America: The Patriot's Life in Images and Words" written with Loras John Schissel.
Actually, besides marches, Sousa composed 17 light operas, plus books, concert pieces and songs. But it is the 136 marches that distinguish him.
His love of marches came from childhood as he heard them everywhere growing up in Washington, DC during the Civil War where his father was trombonist in the Marine Band and played on many occasions, including Abraham Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address.
In 1880,at the age of 25, he became the youngest leader of the Marine Band and that is when his marching career took off. The band began touring and eventually Sousa led an estimated 14,000 concerts during his lifetime. In 1892, he left the Marine Band to form his own ensamble and was launched at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
In 1900, he took his 60-piece band to Europe on the first of three European tours. On March 6, 1932, he led a rehearsal then went up to his room and died.
Got Me Humming "The Stars and Stripes Forever" Now. Thanks Sousa. --Cooter
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