John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, DC. His father played trombone in the U.S. Marine band, so it was not surprising that John decided to devote his life to music. Whereas most youngsters learn one musical instrument, six-year old John began studying voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn.

In 1867, after he had attempted to run away to join a circus band, his father enlisted
him in the Marines as an apprentice. Five years later he published his first composition,
a walze entitled Moonlight on the Potomac.

In 1875 he was discharged from the Marines, and began performing, as a violinist,
and conducting theater orchestras. Five years later he returned to Washington to assume
leadership of the US Marine Band. He stayed with the band for twelve years, resigning
in 1892 to organize his own civilian concert band, which gave its first concert that
Septemebr at the Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Known as the March King, Sousa wrote 136 marches including The Washington Post, Liberty Bell, El Capitan and High School Cadets. Sousa conducted his last band in 1932, and the last piece he conducted was The Stars and Stripes Forever, a march he wrote in 1896.

One of Sousa's least known marches is The Salvation Army (which quotes the hymn tune 'O Boundless Salvation' which was written by William Booth, the Army's founder). Click on the flag to hear it.