John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was one of 10 children going to a family of Portuguese and German immigrants in Washington DC in 1854. His father played the trombone in the US Marine band and was Sousa’s role model in music study. Sousa learned the violin when he was six.
During Sousa’s lifetime, he spent 20 years as a US Marine, serving in the marine band. He was known as the march king because he composed over 100 marches in addition to concert pieces, 15 operettas, and multiple overtures and suites.
Sousa continued conducting and writing music right up until his death in 1932.
Resources
- Classics for Kids: https://www.classicsforkids.com/composers/composer_profile.php?id=70
- DSOkids: https://www.mydso.com/dso-kids/learn-and-listen/composers/john-philip-sousa
- Kids Britannica Encyclopedia Online: https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/John-Philip-Sousa/277145
- Book: John Philip Sousa (Getting to Know the Greatest Composers) by Mike Venezia
Portrait: By National Photo Company Collection – Library of CongressCatalog: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016833626Original url: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.07285, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86391063
