author
John Philip Sousa
1854–1932
Best known as the "March King," this American composer and bandleader helped shape the sound of patriotic and military music in the United States. His marches, including The Stars and Stripes Forever, remain instantly recognizable more than a century later.
3 Audiobooks
The Fifth String
by John Philip Sousa
The Fifth String
by John Philip Sousa
The Experiences of a Bandmaster
by John Philip Sousa
About the author
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1854, he studied music from an early age and went on to become one of the most famous band conductors in American history. He is especially remembered for his lively, confident marches and for bringing band music to huge audiences in the United States and abroad.
His best-known works include Semper Fidelis, The Washington Post, and The Stars and Stripes Forever. Although he is most closely linked with marches, he also wrote operettas and other music, showing a broader range than many listeners realize.
He died in 1932, but his music never really left public life. It still turns up at concerts, parades, celebrations, and patriotic events, which helps explain why his name remains such a lasting part of American musical history.