Caption:
Photograph of Sousa taken during a visit to the White House on November 2, 1922 for President Harding's 57th birthday. John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 - March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known primarily for American military and patriotic marches. He began his career playing violin and studying music theory and composition. His father enlisted him in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice in 1868. After departing the band in 1875, he learned to conduct. From 1880 until his death, he focused exclusively on conducting and the writing of marches. He rejoined the Marine Band and served there for 12 years as director. On leaving the Marine Band, he organized his own band. He toured Europe and Australia and developed the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the tuba. On the outbreak of World War I, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander and led the Naval Reserve Band. Following his tenure, he returned to conduct the Sousa Band until his death in 1932 at the age of 77.