John Philip Sousa

Born Washington, D.C.

Known as the “March King,” John Philip Sousa created the brass band music that set the tempo for the parade of the United States into the twentieth century. As director of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892, and then of the Sousa Band from 1892 to the end of his life, Sousa sought to compose and perform music that would capture a “true American national air” to express “genuine American feeling.” He did this with such marches as “Semper Fidelis” (1888), “The Washington Post March” (1889), and “Stars and Stripes Forever” (1897).

A brilliant showman, Sousa used his influence to help organize the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1914 to protect against copyright infringement. He also invented the sousaphone, a bass tuba with an upright bell.

Nacido en Washington D.C.

Conocido como “el rey de las marchas”, John Philip Sousa marcó con su música para banda de metales el paso de Estados Unidos hacia el siglo XX. Como director de la Banda de la Marina entre 1880 y 1892, y luego de la Banda Sousa desde 1892 hasta el final de su vida, quiso componer e interpretar música que captara “el verdadero aire nacional” para expresar “un genuino sentimiento americano”, y así lo hizo en marchas tales como “Semper Fidelis” (1888), “The Washington Post March” (1889) y “Stars and Stripes Forever” (1897).

Maestro del espectáculo, Sousa usó su influencia para ayudar a organizar en 1914 la Sociedad Estadounidense de Compositores, Autores y Editores (ASCAP), a fin de combatir infracciones a los derechos de autor. También inventó el “sousafón”, una tuba bajo con campana vertical.

The Sousa Corporation [descendants of sitter]; gift 1969 to NPG.